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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Lebanon & Yellow Springs, Ohio
Pick lavender near Clarksville and Enon from June into July, then walk 2,000-year-old Fort Ancient or the Clifton Gorge rim trail.
10 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
Sunset Ridge Lavender Farm · White Barn & Blooms Lavender Farm · Irons Fruit Farm · Peifer Orchards
✏️ Report outdated info
This stretch of southwest Ohio runs along the Little Miami River from Warren County, where Lebanon's brick downtown sits between Cincinnati and Dayton, north to the college town of Yellow Springs and the limestone gorge at Clifton. A paved rail trail follows the river most of the way, and the land in between is a mix of orchards, dairy farms, state park lakes and some of the oldest earthworks in North America.
Four lavender farms are scattered around the edges. Onederings Lavender Farm near Clarksville and Sunset Ridge Lavender Farm in Enon both welcome walk-in visitors during the season, White Barn & Blooms in Ross Township west of Hamilton opens on set dates and by appointment, and Sunshine Acres near Morrow is closed to the public but sells its lavender goods online. Plan a lavender stop for June or early July, then fill the rest of the day with a hike, a museum and lunch in one of the old mill towns.
The lavender farms
- Onederings Lavender FarmLavender farm · Clarksville
Late May into mid-July
Free entry; u-pick and walking the fields late May–mid-July (Thursday–Saturday 10 AM–2 PM in 2026); limited off-season hours and ticketed workshops.
- Sunset Ridge Lavender FarmLavender farm · Enon
Early June start; best color mid-June to mid-July
Free entry on posted days, June 11–July 24, 2026; walk-in u-pick ($12 bundle); off-season shop days October 10 and December 12, 2026.
- White Barn & Blooms Lavender FarmLavender farm · Hamilton
Late June through July, with a shorter bloom in September–October
By appointment and on announced public days (July 2026); u-pick dates go first to the email list; Lavender Bloom Festival in July 2026.
- Sunshine Acres Lavender FarmLavender farm · Morrow
Late June through mid-July (when open)
Not open to the public (2026); u-pick suspended; products sold online.
Best time to visit
Lavender comes first. Onederings offers you-pick from May through July, Sunset Ridge's 2026 season opened June 11 with color expected from mid-June to mid-July, and White Barn & Blooms opened to the public on set July dates in 2026. June and July are also the months for the lake beaches at Caesar Creek and Cowan Lake, where American lotus spreads across the shallow coves. Fall is orchard season: Young's Jersey Dairy runs its fall farm festival from September 19 to November 1 in 2026, with pick-your-own pumpkins through October 25, and Irons Fruit Farm in Lebanon opens its corn maze and pumpkin patch on October weekends. From November 27, 2026, Clifton Mill lights up the gorge for its holiday light display, which runs nightly through December. Winter is quiet, but John Bryan State Park allows sledding and cross-country skiing when there is snow.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve🏛️ Historic site · Oregonia · about 9 mi, 15 min drive
A hilltop enclosure built about 2,000 years ago, with earthen walls up to 23 feet high broken by more than 67 gateways. It is part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage listing, and 3 miles of trails lead to overlooks above the Little Miami River.
Wednesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday noon–5 p.m. (last admission 4 p.m.); closed Monday, Tuesday and some holidays
Adults $7, seniors and ages 6–17 $6, under 6 free; grounds-only $8 per vehicle
- Caesar Creek State Park🌳 State park · Waynesville · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
A 2,830-acre lake, about 150 feet deep and the deepest in Ohio, with a 1,300-foot swimming beach and a pioneer village of 15 early-1800s buildings. Short hikes include the 0.7-mile Horseshoe Falls trail and the 3.3-mile Fifty Springs Loop.
Open daily 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; marina April 1–October 15
No entry fee listed
- Little Miami Scenic Trail (Little Miami State Park)🥾 Trail · Corwin · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
About 50 miles of paved trail along the Little Miami River through Corwin, Oregonia, Morrow, Loveland and Milford. The Corwin staging area has parking, picnic tables and seasonal restrooms.
Dawn to dusk daily
free
- Harmon Museum🏛️ Museum · Lebanon, 2 min drive
The Warren County Historical Society's four-floor museum on South Broadway, with a recreated 1800s town square, a Shaker gallery, art galleries and the Glendower mansion display.
Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Cowan Lake State Park🌳 State park · Wilmington · about 20 mi, 32 min drive
A 700-acre lake with a 10-horsepower motor limit, where American lotus with leaves up to 2 feet across fills the shallow areas, plus a 1,000-foot beach and more than 8 miles of trails. The lake will be drawn down 13.5 feet starting November 1, 2026, for dam work expected to last into 2028.
Open daily 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
No entry fee listed
- John Bryan State Park🌳 State park · Yellow Springs · about 38 mi, 50 min drive
A 752-acre park where the Little Miami River drops 130 feet through a limestone gorge that is a National Natural Landmark. Trails run from short loops to about 2 miles, and leashed pets are allowed.
Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset
No entry fee listed
- Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve🌲 Preserve · Clifton · about 39 mi, 52 min drive
A 268-acre preserve with 3 miles of trails, including the 1-mile Gorge Trail and 1-mile Rim Trail, along a narrow channel the river has cut into dolomite. Pets are not permitted, and the trails connect to John Bryan State Park.
Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; exploration center Friday–Sunday 10–4, April–October
free
- Glen Helen Nature Preserve🌲 Preserve · Yellow Springs · about 38 mi, 50 min drive
A nonprofit preserve at the edge of Yellow Springs with the spring the village is named for, Birch Creek Cascades, a trailside museum and a raptor center. The Inman Trail is an easy loop of about a mile, and leashed dogs must stay on the trail.
Trails open sunrise to sunset
Parking $10 per car for non-members
- National Museum of the U.S. Air Force🏛️ Museum · Dayton · about 30 mi, 40 min drive
The world's largest military aviation museum, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base about 6 miles northeast of Dayton. Admission and parking are free, so it works well as a rainy-day stop on the way to Yellow Springs.
free
- Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum🌷 Garden · Hamilton · about 27 mi, 40 min drive
A 470-acre park of gardens, ponds and hiking trails set with more than 60 large outdoor sculptures, plus a gallery museum and the Pyramid House of antiquities. It is a few minutes from White Barn & Blooms in Ross Township.
Park daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., museums noon–5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays
Paid admission (tickets sold through their website)
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Historic Clifton MillRestaurant · Clifton
Breakfast or lunch overlooking the gorge at a water-powered grist mill, and a huge holiday light show from November 27, 2026.
- The Golden LambInn or B&B · Lebanon
Lebanon's inn since 1803, with lunch and dinner Monday–Saturday from 11:30 a.m. a block from the Harmon Museum.
- Irons Fruit FarmApple orchard · Lebanon
A Lebanon fruit farm with a market of cider, apples and baked goods, plus a corn maze and pumpkin patch on October weekends.
- Young's Jersey DairyFamily fun farm · Yellow Springs
Homemade ice cream since 1983, a carousel and mini golf, and pick-your-own pumpkins daily September 19–October 25, 2026.
- Peifer OrchardsApple orchard · Yellow Springs
Family orchard north of Yellow Springs with 25 apple varieties and fresh-pressed cider in its farm market.
- Valley VineyardsWinery or vineyard (21+) · Morrow
A Morrow family winery founded in 1970 that also pours its own beer, with live music and cookouts; guests must be 21 or older to taste.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMFort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve
Walk the earthen walls and the overlook trail above the Little Miami, then see the museum. About 1 hour 15 minutes; open Wednesday–Sunday.
- 11:35 AMOnederings Lavender Farm · about 20 min drive
On a Saturday from May through July, pick a lavender bundle and try the herbal tea. Allow about an hour; check their social pages for weekday hours.
- 1:05 PMThe Golden Lamb · about 27 min drive
Lunch in the historic inn's dining room in downtown Lebanon. About an hour.
- 2:10 PMHarmon Museum · about 2 min drive
Walk down South Broadway for the 1800s town square, Shaker gallery and Glendower display. About an hour; closes at 4.
- 3:35 PMCaesar Creek State Park · about 20 min drive
Hike the 0.7-mile Horseshoe Falls trail or cool off at the beach. About an hour.
- 4:50 PMLittle Miami Scenic Trail at Corwin · about 10 min drive
Stretch your legs on the paved riverside trail from the Corwin staging area. 30–45 minutes.
- 6:00 PMValley Vineyards · about 20 min drive
Dinner and live music in Morrow (open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday). Plan a designated driver if anyone is tasting.
Tips
- Lavender days are limited: Onederings is open Saturdays 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Sunset Ridge lists set open dates each June and July, and White Barn & Blooms opens on announced dates, so check each farm's website the week you go.
- Bring cash for Sunset Ridge: they prefer it, and cards have a $10 minimum outside of you-pick sales.
- Dogs are welcome on leash at Sunset Ridge (not in the picking field), Fort Ancient's grounds, John Bryan and Glen Helen, but not at Clifton Gorge or White Barn & Blooms.
- Fort Ancient is closed Monday and Tuesday, the Harmon Museum is closed Sunday and Monday, and Pyramid Hill is closed Tuesday, so pick your day with care.
- Glen Helen charges $10 to park for non-members; John Bryan and Clifton Gorge, a few minutes away, list no parking fee.
- Cowan Lake will be drawn down from November 1, 2026, for dam work, so plan lake outings there for before then or after summer 2028.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is lavender in bloom near Lebanon and Yellow Springs?
Mostly June into mid-July. Sunset Ridge expects good color from mid-June to mid-July, and Onederings offers you-pick from May through July.
Is there a fee to visit the lavender farms?
Onederings and Sunset Ridge are free to walk around; Sunset Ridge charged $12 per you-pick bundle in 2026.
Can I bring my dog?
Leashed dogs are allowed at Sunset Ridge (not in the you-pick field), on Fort Ancient's grounds, at John Bryan State Park and Glen Helen. Pets are not allowed at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve or White Barn & Blooms.
What is Fort Ancient?
A hilltop earthwork built about 2,000 years ago above the Little Miami River, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing, with a museum and 3 miles of trails.
What else is open in fall?
Young's Jersey Dairy's fall festival runs September 19–November 1, 2026, Irons Fruit Farm has a corn maze on October weekends, and Peifer Orchards sells 25 apple varieties and cider.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
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