Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve

Park Hours: Open 8:00 a.m. to dusk

The Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve is 91 acres of natural beauty, encompassing a main hiking trail along an old railroad, access to the Mad River, natural dolomite cliffs reaching heights up to 50 feet for rock climbing, and a beautiful stream-side forest teeming with native wildflowers and ideal birdwatching opportunities. 

Park History

The Mad River Gorge & Nature Preserve was recognized by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association for our development efforts, by honoring the Clark County Park District with a first-place award in the Natural Resources & Conservation category in 2017. The Mad River Gorge is owned and operated by the Clark County Park District.

Download Mad River Gorge Map PDF

Features

National Trail offers seven nature preserves that provide rich and diverse habitats for resident wildlife as well as appealing rest stops for migratory birds.
National Trail offers seven nature preserves that provide rich and diverse habitats for resident wildlife as well as appealing rest stops for migratory birds.
National Trail offers seven nature preserves that provide rich and diverse habitats for resident wildlife as well as appealing rest stops for migratory birds.
National Trail offers seven nature preserves that provide rich and diverse habitats for resident wildlife as well as appealing rest stops for migratory birds.
National Trail offers residents and guests a variety of opportunities to discover and appreciate the richness and beauty of nature in its many forms.
Prairies are unique and complex ecosystems. Many species of animals depend on these ecosystems for their survival.
Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache container hidden at that location.
Discover the natural beauty, wildlife and history of our parkland by taking a hike through one of our nature parks. Hiking is a great way to get active and reduce stress while exploring our parks.
We all have a responsibility to care for Clark County’s waterways. National Trail maintains 12 miles of waterways throughout Clark County which includes all of Buck Creek, portions of the Mad River and other smaller waterways.
Gorge

Photos