The Bluffs

Overview

I noticed that there were SP provisions for all U.S. states and some states with less than prominent landforms were represented. Without mentioning them by name, I will let the reader verify my claim.

This "eminence" is the only significant elevation in Oxford, Ohio. Rising boldly above a curve in Bull Run, it is a haunt of my youth. It is of convenient access to the 16,000 or so students at Miami University in Butler County Ohio. It is a bluff carved out of the clay by a bend in Bull Run a tributary of Talawanda Creek itself a tributary of the Great Miami River and down to the Ohio river. Pieces of flat creek rock protrude from its sides offering kids a tempting but not safe access up its steep slopes. Located on the south side of Oxford it is part of a nature preserve and there are some interesting trees. Sycamores (Plane Trees) and Cottonwoods (Populus species) grow along its base. Its top is crowned with Red Cedar (Juniper species) and oaks. Among the many types of Oak are the interesting Shingle Oak(Qercus Imbricaria) with leaves entire and Black Oak(Q. Velutina) rather large typical oak leaves here. Easiest walk is from the Murstein House (Miami University) at the corner of Patterson Ave. (U.S. 27) and east Chestnut Street. One walks south downhill to the creek valley and walks upstream 1/4 mile westward. Seeing the Bluffs one takes a path along the ridge to the top with the bluffs and south on the left. Enjoy the vista of cornfields and woods from its precarious summit. This walk does have moderate risk due to the height and unstable substrate. It was 1/2 mile from where I grew up and I played here as a small kid. The other day I went back down to check how much it had receded to the north since I was young. It has moved and there is now a new "lovers leap" to the west of what I recall. Please note that Miami and Maumee are Miami Tribe names and are original to Ohio and not Florida. Miami U. existed before Florida was a state.

Getting There

Oxford is 30 miles north of Cincinnati Ohio and 40 miles southwest of Dayton. Coming from the north leave Interstate 70 a few miles east of the Ohio/Indiana line on U.S. 127 traveling south through Eaton and Camden (home of the writer, Sherewood Anderson, and the novel Winesburg Ohio). Continue on to the intersection with Ohio 73 and travel(right) west 5 miles to the end of that road on Patterson Avenue in Oxford.
Turn left (south) on Patterson Ave. to Chestnut Street and Park at the Murstein House on the south west corner of this intersection.
Approach from the south Leave the I-275 beltway and drive north on U.S. 27 through Ross, Millville and McGonigle. After 20 miles you will reach Oxford at the east end of Chestnut Street. Park the car and visit the Bluffs.

Red Tape

Don't pick the wild flower and other plants.

When To Climb

A hot summer's day might be the most challenging and rain or snow would make it quite slippery.

Camping

One can camp at Hueston Woods State park 5 miles north of Oxford. The state fees for non-electrical camping are around $14 a night.
Hueston Woods State Park
6301 Park Office Road, College Corner, OH 45003
Park Office (513) 523-6347
Golf Course (513) 523-8081
Campground (seasonal) (513) 523-1060
Lodge Front Desk (513) 664-3500
Lodge Front Desk Fax (513) 523-1522

Mountain Conditions

513 529 1809 is Miami U. info.

Weather

External Links

• Miami University Home Page
  Lots of interesting things about Miami University here
  
• Bull Run
  Remarks on Bull Run AKA Collins Run (creek)
  

Images

View The Bluffs Image Gallery - 23 Images