Ohio River Bluffs Preserve

Arc of Appalachia Preserve System
About 45 miles from the Appalachian Forest Museum, Caves Canyon, Highlands Nature Sanctuary

Estimated Driving time from CavesCanyon, approx. 1 hour 15 minutes

For exact distance and time from your departure point, consult Mapquest on-line with the following address:

Ohio River Bluffs, 6200 US Rt. 52, Manchester, OH 45144-8421

Ohio River Bluffs lies just west of the Ohio River town of Manchester on Rt. 52, the state route that parallels the southern border of Ohio on the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Portsmouth.

Directions from Cincinnati to Bentonville.

Your final destination of the Ohio River Bluffs is approximately 60 miles from Outerbelt 275. We haven't test-driven from Cincinnati, but we are estimating it is a one hour and fifteen minute drive from the 32 exit on the Outerbelt. Be sure to add on how long it takes you to get to that exit to estimate your total driving time. To Begin: Get on the 275 outerbelt around Cincinnati and go to to the Newtown area (southeast corner of the metropolis on 275, if 275 were a clock the exit would be at 5:00). Exit on Route 32, the Appalachian Highway. Follow 32 east approximately 40 miles to the town of Winchester. Turn right or south on SR 136. SR 136 will join with 41 -- BUT STAY ON 136. Skip down now to the Directions from Bentonville to the Ohio River Bluffs.

Directions from Columbus to Bentonville.

Your final destination of the Ohio River Bluffs is approximately 135 miles from Outerbelt 270. We haven't test-driven from Columbus, but we are estimating it is a two hour and thirty five minute drive from the Outerbelt of Columbus. Be sure to add on how long it takes you to get to that exit from your starting point to estimate your total driving time. To Begin: Get on the 270 Outerbelt around Columbus and head south toward the SR 23 Exit. Exit on SR 23 and go south. (If 270 were a clock, the exit is at 6:00). Follow Route 23 all the way past Circleville, past Chillicothe, past Waverly, staying the entire distance on 23. Five miles south of Waverly turn right or WEST on the Appalachian Highway, Route 32. Follow it approximately 18 miles to its intersection with Route 41 (near Peebles, but you won't visibly see it from the highway). Turn south or left on 41. Follow 41 seventeen miles to West Union, and stay on 41 all the way, following the signs as it jogs through town. Follow 41 another four miles to Bentonville. Skip to directions below, from Bentonville to the Ohio River Bluffs.

Directions from Cave Canyon to Bentonville

Take Cave Rd. South to Barrett Mill Rd. (Cave Rd. dead ends into it) Turn LEFT on Barrett Mill Rd.

Travel 3.1 miles. Barrett Mill Rd dead ends into State Rt. 41 in a town called Cynthiana

Turn RIGHT on State Rt. 41.  (Now you are going South)

You will travel approximately 35 miles on State Rt 41, driving through the towns of Sinking Spring, Locust Grove, Peebles, Dunkinsville, and West Union. You will need to watch the signs carefully in the town of WEST UNION, as State Rt. 41 jogs through the town. About 4 miles south of West Union you will reach Bentonville. Skip to  directions below.

Directions from Bentonville to Ohio River Bluffs

When you reach a small town called BENTONVILLE, you will turn LEFT, following the signs for State Rt. 136.  SR 41 will separate and go off in another direction.

Follow State Rt. 136 approximately 5 miles into MANCHESTER.

Turn RIGHT on State Rt. 52. (Rt 136 dead ends into Rt. 52)

Follow Rt. 52 WEST through the town of Manchester.

As you leave the corporation city limits on the west side of town, set your odometer. It is one mile to the trail head.

After leaving Manchester, look for a road to your right called Yates Road, and immediately after Yates, Gilkison Hollow. Continue on 52 past these roads. The slope on the right is the hill containing Ohio River Bluffs Preserve. On the second pull-off after Gilkison Hollow you will see a sign on your right hand side that says “School Bus Stop Ahead.”  There is a pull-off here where you can park well off the highway. The trail starts just thirty feet or so before the sign. Look closely for a break in the vegetation and the trail will be easy to detect once you get into the woods. If you are here for the Wildflower Pilgrimage, your leader will be waiting for you.