Dave Miller's Adventures

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Holly Eller

Date: June 21, 2026

This was my second park that we visited to hike on Father’s Day. As we pulled up to this 24-acre forested wildlife sanctuary park, the historical marker at the park entrance really caught my attention – the site of many mysteries including tales of bigfoot, hidden mines and lost skunks. Wow! I will have to research these cryptid/paranormal claims and the legend and lore of this park land. The name Devil’s Backbone comes from the dramatic, rocky, limestone ridge that towers over Paint Creek (similar to the Devil’s Backbone in western Moraine overlooking the Miami River). Signage states it is dangerous and off limits and warns hikers to stay away from it.

We hiked two trails. The Blue Trail was only .3 miles long and took us down to Paint Creek but what a gold mine it was. Everywhere along this deep gorge were rocks and we easily found dozens and dozens of fossils such as horned coral, brachiopods and bryozoans along the creek bank. We ascended back up to the parking area and then took the one-mile Orange Loop Trail. This trail took us deeper into the thick woods eventually coming to a small loop trail which branched off this larger loop trail. This trail had a tall canopy of trees giving us plenty of shade on this hot day. However, we had no sightings of Bigfoot or lost skunks.

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Holly Eller

Date: June 21, 2026

On Father’s Day we hiked 2.1 miles on this 33-acre forested area which was part of the Preble County Park District. We began with the Main Loop Trail walking across a long boardwalk which led us to a 200–300-year-old Bur Oak Tree whose tree trunk is over 14 feet in circumference. The trail had four small bridge crossings over a meandering creek. We then took the Wetlands Trail past Sandpiper Wetlands, a small pond full of frogs, birds and aquatic insects. Joining the Bicentennial Trail, the forest opened into a beautiful wheat field.

Hiking Team: Dave Miller

Date: June 20, 2026

Beginning at the barn and pond area, I hiked just over three miles on three different trails – the Creekside Trail, the Spotted Turtle Trail and on the southeast side, the Out & Back Trail. On this hot, muggy day, the trails were comfortable due to the tree growth along the wetlands and marshes. There were four small bridge crossings over Beaver Creek as the trail led north into the Beaver Creek Wetlands Reserve. Just off the east side of Spotted Turtle Trail was the Loop Trail was the Beaver Creek Overlook observation tower. Along the trails and along the creek I saw ducks, large catfish, chipmunks, frogs, turtles, dragonflies and rubyspot damselflies and heard lots of birds. My favorite, a tiny inch work hanging face high from an invisible thread right in the middle of the trail. Make sure you carry insect repellent with you when you hike.

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: May 8, 2025

One of four beautiful falls in this forest, the .8 mile up and back trail ascends through thick forest. There are 2 views of the falls, one at the base, where you can only see the bottom falls, and a second upper overlook that lets you view the entire falls. Triple Falls is a 125-foot waterfall and flows on the Little River through the forest. It is a very beautiful waterfall.