 John
Bryan State Park
3790 State Route 370
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
(937) 767-1274
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
752 |
|
|
River, miles |
2.2 |
| Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
|
Hiking/Biking Trails, miles |
9 |
|
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
|
Picnic Shelters |
1 |
|
|
Summer Nature Programs |
yes |
| Winter |
Sledding |
yes |
|
|
Cross-Country Skiing |
yes |
| Camping |
Non-Electric Campsites |
89 |
|
|
Campsites with Elec. |
10 |
|
|
Pets Permitted |
yes |
|
|
Dump Station |
yes |
|
|
Group Camp, capacity |
100 |
|
|
Rent-A-Teepee |
1 |
John Bryan is the most scenic state park in western Ohio. The park contains a
remarkable limestone gorge cut by the Little Miami River which is designated as
a state and national scenic river. A portion of the gorge itself is designated
as a national natural landmark.
Camping
The family camp area at John Bryan has 10 sites with electrical hookups and 89
non-electric sites. Most campsites are partially shaded and are equipped with
picnic tables, fire rings, latrines, drinking water and a dump station. Campers
with pets are premitted on any site.
One Rent-A-Tepee campsite sleeps up to five and comes equipped with a camp
stove, cooler, lantern and sleeping pads. Reservations can be made by contacting
the park office.
A 100-person group camp area is available for organized groups on a
reservation basis.
Two adirondack shelters are available in the group camp area.
Day Lodge
The day-use lodge is available for rentals from April 1 through October 31
each year. The lodge is equipped with two fireplaces, restroom facilities, large
screened-in porch and kitchen with stove, refrigerator and a 50-cup coffee
maker.
Fishing and Hunting
The Little Miami River provides excellent stream fishing opportunities for
anglers. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and panfish are in abundance. Several area
are designated for bow hunting only. A valid Ohio fishing and/or license is
required. Fishing is prohibited in the state nature preserve.
 Picnicking
The park has four different picnic areas: upper, lower, Wingo and Orton. The
lower area has a shelterhouse available on a first come, first-served basis. All
areas have tables, grills and latrines. Some areas also have drinking water.
Boating
The Little Miami River is excellent for canoeing. A launch area near the park on
Jacoby Road provides access to this scenic river. As the river twists and bends,
visitors will discover steep rock cliffs, towering sycamores and many historic
sites along the way.
Trails
Nature lovers can enjoy any of the nine different trails found in the park.
Trails follow the scenic river gorge and meander through majestic woodlands.
Portions of many trails are wheelchair accessible with assistance to some
degree. Trails are four to five feet in width and have packed earth or crushed
stone base.
Rock Climbing and Rappelling
A rock climbing and rappelling area has been established within the park. Please
stop at the park office to register for an available site. Organized groups may
reserve the rappelling site by calling the park office at (937) 767-1274.
Nature of the Area
Much of the history of John Bryan State Park is "written in the rocks" of the
Little Miami River gorge. Entering the area at Clifton, at 980 feet above sea
level, the Little Miami drops 130 feet through layer upon layer of bedrock. Each
layer has a story to tell of times when the area was covered by warm, shallow
seas or was a part of a muddy river delta or was scoured by tons of slow-moving
glacial ice. Each layer has its own characteristics as well. Some of the shale
layers are easily worn away by the forces of erosion, causing undercutting in
the cliff face. The more erosion-resistant dolomite or limestone rocks above are
weakened by this undercutting and large "slump blocks" fall away, creating
unusual rock formations including Steamboat Rock. Springs feeding small
waterfalls and cascades are common.
The glaciers did not only affect the land forms, they also had an effect on the
vegetation found here. As the last glacier retreated and the climate warmed, the
cool shaded recesses of the gorge valley provided a suitable habitat for several
Canadian plant species: Canada yew, redberry elder, mountain maple, arborvitae
and even a few hemlocks.
More than 100 different trees and shrubs have been identified in the park. More
than 340 species of wildflowers grow wild here. Snow trillium, Virginia
bluebells, bellworts, wild ginger, Dutchman's breeches, Jack-in-the-pulpit and
wild columbines are only a few to be seen in the park. The dominating trees are
oaks and maples, but large numbers of sycamores and cottonwoods can be found
along the river. Wildlife is also abundant in the park. For instance, more than
90 different varieties of birds live in or visit the park area during the year.
To fully appreciate the beauty of John Bryan, one needs to experience it during
all four seasons.
History of the Area
Some of the first people to experience the area's beauty were the
Moundbuilders, and later, the Shawnee Indians. Just five miles south of Yellow
Springs, approximately where the town of Oldtown is now, was the site of Old
Chillicothe, one of the leading Shawnee settlements in Ohio. The great Shawnee
warrior, Tecumseh, was a frequent visitor here and to the nearby James Galloway
House, which has been kept intact by the Greene County Historical Society.
This portion of the Little Miami River was a vital, economical source of power
for the early settlers in the 1800s. The Cincinnati-Pittsburgh stagecoach road
served the area and several enterprising settlers began establishing
water-powered industries in the gorge. The town of Clifton prospered from the
textile mill, grist mills and sawmills located there.
By the late 1800s, most of the industrial activity in the area ceased. Water was
no longer an economical source of power and many mills were abandoned. However,
one of the grist mills built in 1869 is still in operation. Located in the
village of Clifton, the Clifton Mill is open to visitors.
The park takes its name from an ambitious businessman who was responsible for
the preservation of much of the area as a state preserve. In 1896, Bryan
purchased 335 acres along the gorge and called these acres, "Riverside Farm."
John Bryan had a great respect for the natural world. In 1918, he bequeathed
Riverside Farm to the state of Ohio, "...to be cultivated by the state as a
forestry, botanic and wildlife reserve park and experiment station," which would
bear his name. In May of 1925, John Bryan's land became one of the state's first
forest parks. In 1949, John Bryan State Park was transferred to the newly
created ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation. John Bryan State Park and the
adjoining Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve overlook the beautiful Little
Miami River gorge that has been designated as a National Natural Landmark by the
U.S. Department of the Interior.
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