Everything you need to know before you hike:
You are Entering a Highly Protected Nature Preserve. Regulations exist to protect natural communities from the impact of public visitors. Please follow them to leave Junction Earthworks as beautiful as you found it. Remain on trails at all times, walking in single file to protect bulbs of native wildflowers bordering the trail. Do not disturb, pick, or collect flowers, plants, rocks, or wildlife. Hunting, caving, fishing, trail biking, rock climbing, wading, campfires, and swimming are prohibited. Click here for a list of full regulations.
Dogs are not permitted at Ohio River Bluffs. A dog owner’s guide to hiking Arc Trails.
Address: 400 Gilkison Hollow Rd, Manchester, OH 45144
Directions south from West Union: Follow the signs for OH-41 as it jogs through the town. About 4 miles south of West Union you will reach Bentonville. Turn LEFT on OH-136 and follow 5 miles into the town of Manchester. Turn right on US-52 and travel through the town of Manchester. As you leave the village limits on the west side of town, set your odometer. Ohio River Bluffs is one mile from town. After leaving Manchester, look for a road to your right called Yates Road, and immediately after Yates, turn right onto Gilkison Hollow Road. The parking lot will be on your right.
Interpretive Kiosk: An interpretive kiosk is at the trailhead. We recommend snapping a photo of the trail system before setting out on the trails.
Ohio River Bluffs hiking trails are open from sunrise to sunset. Please note parking lots are not winter-maintained and the trails are not safe to hike during periods of heavy rain, ice, and snow. Trails are closed during our annual Deer Management Hunts which take place on 1) the Monday through Sunday following Thanksgiving, and 2) the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas.
Hiking Trails’ Difficulty - Moderate Difficult. The Ohio River Bluffs trail has a gradual time to the top of the bluffs.
Ohio River Bluff’s Three Trails:
Ohio River Bluffs Trail - 1.0 mile loop begins at the Trailhead Parking Lot on Gilkison Hollow Road. During the first two weeks of April, it takes visitors through one of the most breathtaking spring wildflower displays in the Eastern United States. Because of its botanical richness, it is of vital importance that visitors stay on trail at all times to avoid stepping on the bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes of the wildflowers that surround you. Soil compaction will destroy the flowers that currently lick your ankles as you walk by. The loop trail follows along US-52 and climbs gradually to the top of the bluffs with vistas overlooking the Ohio River.
Blue-eyed Mary Trail - 0.7 mile loop begins at the Trailhead Parking Lot and follows Gilkison Hollow Road a short distance before meandering through one of the densest and largest populations of blue-eyed Mary spring wildflowers in the state.
Ginger Ridge Trail - 0.7 mile loop originates off of the Ohio River Bluffs trail and takes visitors on a trail encircling Ginger Ridge on higher elevations.