Our last couple trips out, we have stayed local and camped out at a place called The Narrows Reserve, a small nature preserve in Beavercreek, Ohio.
We’ve already camped there five times this year, and it is easily becoming one of our favorite spots.
The Narrows is not necessarily a place that is known for camping (more hiking and canoeing), but we’re almost sort of thankful for that.
Below we’ll explain what we mean, and we’ll give you a full breakdown on what to expect if you decide to hike, camp, or visit at The Narrows. I
f you live in or near the Dayton, Ohio area, we highly recommend that you do.
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What is The Narrows Reserve?
The Narrows Reserve is a small collection of trails, located in Beavercreek, Ohio.
It is part of the Greene County Parks and Trails system, and it is a great place to go for a hike or to simply enjoy the tranquil quiet of nature.
It is situated along the Little Miami River home to a variety of different animal species and plant life.
How Do I Get There?
The Narrows is located at 2575 Indian Ripple Road, Beavercreek, Ohio, 45385.
It is down the street from the Ankeney Soccer Complex, and is only a short drive from Highway 35.
There is a large sign near the entrance that is hard to miss, and there is a parking lot not too far off the main road that gives you direct access to most of the trails in the park.
Heads Up: The parking lot is on the smaller side and tends to fill up quickly on nice days. If needed, you can find additional parking up the hill from the main parking lot at the nature center.
What Activities Can I Do There?
The Narrows Reserve, while small, has a wide variety of permitted uses and things for you to do.
This includes:
- Hiking
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing (with permit)
- Bird-watching
There is also a nature center in the park where you can learn about beekeeping or view some of the birds and animals that the park takes care of.
A canoe launch is located close to the parking lot for convenient access, and there are various rope swings along the river for swimming.
How Long Are the Trails?
If you walked all six of the trails in the park, you would end up walking just a bit under six miles.
The Narrows is great for short hikes or walking your dog, but the trails are not nearly as long as some of the other parks in Greene County.
Still, the hikes here are always quiet and enjoyable.
I enjoy that each trail seems to have its own distinct vibe, with one running parallel to the river, one swinging around a flowery meadow, and another taking you up a long wooden/stone staircase.
You get a nice variety of scenery as you progress through the park, without feeling like you’re walking past the same tree a hundred times.
Can You Camp at the Narrows?
Well, hell yeah you can camp at The Narrows.
In fact, it is probably the cheapest, most secluded, campsite around the Dayton, Ohio area.
The fee to camp is only five dollars (a little more if you pay with card), and since you can burn downed wood from around the campsite, you don’t have to worry about spending money on firewood like you would at a traditional campground.
Simply pack your bag, plan your campfire meal for the night, and hit the trail.
The meadow where you set up your tent is located about a mile and a half in from the parking lot, so plan on carrying all of your equipment with you.
If you are used to backpacking, this should be no problem. Even if you aren’t, you should still be okay. There is very little elevation gain on the way to the campsite, and the trails are quite manageable.
To get to the campsite, take the River Trail until it veers to the right and brings you to a wooden bridge. Cross the bridge, take a left, and you’ll find a nice large clearing with a fire pit a short walk up.
(The stretch of trail between the bridge and the campsite is the place where we find the most downed wood when we go, so keep your eye out on the way in.)
The site is simple. It is just the fire pit and a whole lot of empty space. There are no other amenities. No toilet, no picnic table, no water, no nothing.
And we love it.
There is (as of writing), however, a nice large log that I pulled out of the woods and left next to the fire pit as a stool/table, that has been there now for a few months. (Please enjoy it, it was quite heavy.)
For tips on how to get your fire going (and keep it going) click here.
Note: There is only one campsite available for reservation at The Narrows, so make sure to call ahead of time to ensure you get the date you are looking for. You can call the office and make your reservation over the phone, or you can go in and speak to the office in person to reserve the site.
The Narrows Reserve: Final Thoughts
If you have never camped or visited The Narrows Reserve, I highly recommend it.
It is the perfect little park, and though it feels small, it has a whole heck of a lot to offer.
The hiking is peaceful, the canoeing is good, and the camping vibes are immaculate.
It is cheap, fun, and simple.
The ability to burn downed wood will always be at the top of my priority list when judging a campground, and that helps propel The Narrows toward the top of our campsite list.
Aaron and I have had some of our biggest and best campfires here, and the isolation of only having one campsite available makes it the perfect place for a little cigar around the campfire conversation and tranquility.
It is also great for beginner backpackers who want to hike into their campsite, but don’t want to ease into carrying their gear on their back.
The perfect little hidden gem campsite, tucked away in a forgotten corner of Beavercreek, Ohio.
Overall Campsite Rating? It’s getting a solid 9/10.
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