These 24 Cincinnati Hiking Destinations Are Calling Your Name

By CityBeat Staff on Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 7:16 pm

Greater Cincinnati is home to myriad free parks with their own unique vibe offering plenty of reasons to get outside. The outdoors increases serotonin levels and gives your immune system a boost — it’s a natural energizer. Got a dog? Walk it. Have kids? Tire them out. An old friend? Reconnect with them. Or, go Walden-style and wander alone to your heart’s content. This handy guide of local parks is just a sampling of where you can go in the Queen City for an outdoor outlet.

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Caldwell Nature Preserve

430 W. North Bend Road, Carthage
This 2.6 mile hike leads through ridges carved by the Mill Creek Watershed. Gorges, bridges and sights of trees and flowers fill this loop for an easy walk or jog.
Photo via Facebook.com/CaldwellNaturePreserve

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Mt. Airy

5083 Colerain Ave., Westwood
Forest trails zigzag through the thick — and sometimes hilly — Mt. Airy woods with trails ranging from .7 miles to 4 miles.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Withrow Nature Preserve

7075 Five Mile Road, Anderson Township
The Trout Lily Trail in the Withrow Nature Preserve is a moderately difficult 1.7 mile nature trail through verdant green woods, bushes and grass. This trail is rarely crowded so it makes a great peaceful walk.
Photo: Paige Deglow

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Miami Whitewater Forest

9001 Mt. Hope Road, Harrison
Miami Whitewater is the go-to park for people living in Harrison. Four nature trails wind through the Miami Whitewater Forest. The paved exercise trail leads through views of woods, creeks, grasslands and local rural neighborhoods for a 1.4 mile loop or the outer loop of almost 7.8 miles.

Photo Provided by Hamilton County Parks

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Amberley Green

7801 Ridge Road, Amberley Village
Three hiking trails around grassy and wooded areas make up the Amberley Green park. Trails range from a half mile to almost 2 miles.
Photo: Madeline Meeks

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Cincinnati Nature Center

4949 Tealtown Road, Milford
The Cincinnati Nature Preserve has 15 trails with assorted degrees of length and difficulty. This park also offers their ‘Hike for Your Health’ program. Grab a Hike for Your Health passport and get a stamp at the front desk after every hike. Complete all 15 trails and win a special prize.
Photo via Facebook.com/CincinnatiNatureCenter

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Bender Mountain Nature Preserve

6480 Bender Road, Delhi
Bender Mountain Loop Trail is a 2.3 mile hike past scenes of wildflowers and woods. This trail is considered moderately difficult and is great for a small challenge with beautiful scenic payoffs.
Photo: Paige Deglow

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Ault Park

5090 Observatory Ave., Mount Lookout
A variety of forest trails and views sprawl through Ault Park. Trails are mostly less than 1 mile each to make for some easy strolling through the park.
Photo: Izzy Viox

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Woodland Mound

8250 Old Kellogg Road, Withamsville
Woodland Mound Overlook trails include a 1-mile fitness trail through the woods, a half-mile trail called the Hedgeapple (past two ponds home to frogs, salamanders, snakes and more), another nature hike with a view of the Ohio River and a shared-use trail that leads to almost 2 miles of woods and prairie.
Photo provided by Hamilton County Parks

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Big Bone Lick State Park

3380 Beaver Road, Union
Big Bone Lick has a handful of short walks and a featured 4.5 mile Discovery Trail through grasslands, woods, the salt-sulfur springs and a bison viewing area.
Photo via Facebook.com/BigBoneLickSHS

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Devou Park

1201 Park Drive, Covington
Covington’s largest park, Devou spans over 700 acres with scenic hilltop views of the city, plus trails, a golf course, picnic shelters and playgrounds.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Tower Park

900 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas
Tower Park has a list of short walking trails adjacent the Ohio River.
Photo: Paige Deglow

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Shawnee Lookout

2008 Lawrenceburg, North Bend
Shawnee Lookout Park is known for its views and historical values. The park has a small series of nature trails between 1 and 2 miles long that lead to views of the forest and of the Ohio River and Great Miami River valleys.
Photo provided by Hamilton County Parks

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Glenwood Gardens

10397 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn
Glenwood Gardens has the Garden Loop Trail and the Wetland Loop Trail. The Garden Loop is 1.1 miles of paved trail leading past a gazebo, the Mill Creek and the stone bridge. The Wetland Loop is a nature trail past grassy meadows, woods and wetlands.
Photo provided by Hamilton County Park

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California Woods Nature Preserve

5400 Kellogg Ave., California
The California Woods Nature Preserve has a small network of short hikes. Trails are open to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. This park is 113 acres of woods filled with all types of woodland and aquatic wildlife including beavers, ducks, owls and more.
Photo: Izzy Viox

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French Park

3012 Section Road, Amberley Village
French Park has a trail almost 3 miles long and open year round. Enjoy a stroll, jog or run past woods and a creek for a fairly easy hike.
Photo: Madeleine Meeks

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Hueston Woods

6301 Park Office Road College Corner
Hueston Woods has 12 hiking trails including a handicap-accessible trail called the Sugar Bush Trail, an 18-mile bridle trail and a 20-mile mountain bike trail.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Johnson Hills Park

7950 Bridle Road, Dry Run
An easy and relaxing walk through the Johnson Hills Park trails through forest areas is perfect for walking, running and hiking. Park trail is a loop a little over 2 miles and open for all skill levels of hikers.
Photo: Izzy Viox

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Winton Woods

10245 Winton Road, Greenhills
Views of the lake, dense woods and vibrant grass fields can be found at Winton Woods. This park has 2.6 miles of paved trails, a fitness trail, two nature trails and a horseback-riding trail.
Photo: Izzy Viox

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Little Miami State Park

1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington
Little Miami State Park opens up bikers and hikers to the largest network of paved trails, according to the park’s website. Miles and miles and miles of roads span around Cincinnati and surrounding areas covering all types of views and leading past all types of stops. Full map of trails can be found here.
Photo via Facebook.com/LittleMiamiStatePark

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These 24 Cincinnati Hiking Destinations Are Calling Your Name

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