Yellow Birch Ravine Nature Preserve

A split waterfall in Yellow Birch Ravine Nature Preserve

​On a warm January afternoon, we visited the Yellow Birch Ravine, near Taswell, Indiana.  This area is a 441 acre nature preserve that contains many deep valleys and steep rocky cliffs.  The combination of tall cliffs and narrow valleys, at times, creates a microclimate more like you might find in the Appalachian Mountains.  Hemlock trees and even a small cliff side patch of mountain laurels can be found on the slopes in this area.

​The parking area and trail head is not much more that a pull off on a gravel road and the trails are not marked or cleared.  Expect to hop or climb over many fallen trees and step over several small streams or creeks.  Don’t let these small obstacles keep you away from a great hike in the woods. 
The hike can be broken into two different parts.  The first part on the side of the parking area will lead down a trail along a creek.  While this trail is not maintained, it was easy to follow.  This trail lead to a nice area with a seasonal waterfall.  A short while later, the trail will ended with a very nice waterfall with two pour offs at the end of the valley.    This hike will have the biggest creek crossing, maybe two or three steps on rocks across the water.  It is only about a mile and a half out and back.

This sign will greet you at the gravel pull off, Yellow Birch Ravine

On the side opposite of the parking area is a trail that will lead to the main attraction of Yellow Birch Ravine, the arch.  This trail is very well worn and easy to follow.  About 3 tenths of a mile down the main trail is a faint trail following a small creek, this will lead to a hemlock lined valley that ends in tall cliffs and two seasonal waterfalls.  The main trail will continue past this and wrap around a ridge eventually leading to an arch.  ​

The arch is the main attraction in the Yellow Birch Ravine

The arch is not visible at first, but continue up the valley, walking in the creek at times.  If you are willing to do a little rock scrambling you can easily get in behind the arch.  When we visited water flowed from the cliffs above on to the arch making for the most unique water fall we have seen in the Midwest. 
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Overall, this hike makes for a great day hike with lots to see in every valley. It is a high interest hike that is good for kids as well. Winter offers the best opportunities to appreciate the cliff walls and to scope out each and every crevice, waterfall, or arch. 

Finally, if your in the area you might want to check out Hemlock Cliffs, it is not too far away and has a similar hike.​

Many small cave like areas beg to be explored, Yellow Birch Ravine

Climbing up behind the arch, Yellow Birch Ravine

One of the many stream crossing in Yellow Birch Nature Preserve