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.

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
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
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
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 Photo: Provided by Hamilton County Parks
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
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
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
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
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 Photo: Provided by Hamilton County Parks
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
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
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 Photo: Paige Deglow
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 Photo: provided by Hamilton County Parks
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Burnet Woods 3251 Brookline Ave., Clifton This 90-acre park located near University of Cincinnati’s campus offers plenty of hiking trails, a disc golf course, nature center, a planetarium, fishing lake and more. Photo: Nick Swartsell Photo: Nick Swartsell
Sharon Woods Park 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville Sharon Woods has a few hiking options with different experiences including the Fitness Trail, the Gorge Trail and the shared-use Trail. The Fitness Trail is a mile-long paved path around the park’s border with fitness activities along the route. The Gorge Trail leads through less than a mile of woods; a common birdwatching trail according to Great Parks of Hamilton County. The shared-use trail is a 2.5-mile walk around the lake with chances to see animals that make a home around the water like ducks and a few different species of snakes. Photo: Izzy Viox