28 Hikes in Greater Cincinnati That'll Make You Feel One With Nature

Sharon Woods

11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville
There’s no need to drive too far if you want to hike to a waterfall in Ohio. Great Parks’ Sharon Woods in Sharonville is home to several along its Gorge Trail. This moderate-level, out-and-back trail stretches about 0.7 miles one way. You start the hike at Sharon Lake and follow the creek, where you’ll spot several small waterfalls. As you take in their beauty, you’ll notice the alternating layers of shale and limestone rock in the gorge. These rocks are filled with fossils that date back to the Ordovician period – about 450 million years ago. The park also boasts a 2.6-mile paved, multipurpose trail around Sharon Lake and a 1-mile fitness trail.

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 formal gardens, a gazebo, the Mill Creek and a stone bridge. The Wetland Loop is a relaxing, peaceful nature trail that cuts through grassy meadows, woods and wetlands.

Fernbank Park

50 Thornton Ave., Sayler Park
This peaceful park offers a 1.2-mile paved walking loop that offers gorgeous riverfront views and shaded benches perfect for a break to rest or people-watch. Fernbank also has the 1-mile Sycamore Trail that takes you through the woods. It’s also just a short walk away from 13 Below, a microbrewery that makes delicious beers and hard seltzers (we recommended the orange cream one on a hot summer day). In the warmer months, Cabana on the River is also open, offering guests beachy foods, refreshing margaritas and amazing views of the Ohio River so you can relax and refuel.

Mt. Airy Forest

5083 Colerain Ave., Mt. Airy
Forest trails zigzag through the thick — and sometimes hilly — Mt. Airy woods with trails ranging from 0.7 miles to 4 miles. Mt. Airy is also home to Everybody’s Treehouse, Ohio’s only wheelchair-accessible public treehouse, as well as a beautiful arboretum, mountain bike trail and a dog park.

Ohio River Trail (Downtown Cincinnati)

Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park: 1135 Riverside Drive, East End; Smale Riverfront Park: 166 W. Mehring Way, Downtown
For an easygoing urban hike, you can’t beat the couple-mile stretch of the Ohio River Trail between Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park in the East End and Smale Riverfront Park downtown. Start your journey at either end and meander along the river, enjoying the views of the Roebling Bridge and Northern Kentucky. On the way, you’ll also pass through Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, which offers plenty of relaxing spots to rest. Or, you can go off-trail and onto the Purple People Bridge, which will take you over the river to Newport on the Levee where you can refuel with a drink or snack from Bridgeview Box Park.

Ault Park

5090 Observatory Circle, Mt. Lookout
Ault Park is nestled within a quiet nook of Mount Lookout. Here, the suburban rush slows to a lull. From early morning until late afternoon, the sprawling landscape is full of people traversing its paved loops and gravel trails. If the park were smaller than its boastful 224 acres, it may feel crowded.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

3380 Beaver Road, Union
If you're up for a short drive, Big Bone Lick State Park in Union has a collection of easy and moderate trails that pass through the historic site's woodlands, grasslands, savanna and salt-sulfur springs. Named after the Ice Age megafauna that once occupied the area and its saltwater streams, the park is still home to a collection of giant mammals: bison. The 10 to 15 on view are a link to the Ice Age and an attempt to reestablish a herd of the endangered animals at the park.

Woodland Mound

8250 Old Kellogg Road, Withamsville
Woodland Mound has multiple trails, including a 1-mile fitness trail through the woods, a half-mile trail called the Hedgeapple that takes you 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 takes you through almost 2 miles of woods and prairie.

Loveland Bike Trail

Loveland, Ohio
Ride for miles on a flat-paved trail next to the Little Miami River or hike it and enjoy the cool shade of the trees. You can also visit the many restaurants and businesses situated along the trail, including a pit stop the Loveland Sweets Shoppe for ice cream and candy.

Caesar Creek State Park

8570 OH-73, Waynesville
Caesar Creek State Park is popular for its lake and stunning hiking trails. The park has 18 trails that rank from moderate to difficult, including ones that offer a waterfall, swinging bridge, wooded ravine and views of the lake.

Glen Helen Nature Preserve

405 Corry St., Yellow Springs, Ohio
Scenic and beautiful Glen Helen was established in 1929 after Hugh Taylor Birch donated a wooded glen to Antioch College in memory of his daughter, Helen. Since then, it’s expanded thanks to other donations and today it’s the largest and most-visited nature preserve in the Miami Valley. Composed of 15 miles of footpaths and over 1,100 acres, Glen Helen is also considered the most ecologically intact area in Southwest Ohio, meaning while you hike, you can spot the yellow spring after which the city was named, as well as an array of wildflowers, 400-year-old trees and limestone cliffs with waterfalls and overhangs.

Burnet Woods

3251 Brookline Ave., Clifton
This 90-acre park located near the University of Cincinnati's campus offers plenty of hiking trails, a disc golf course, a nature center, a planetarium, a fishing lake and more.

Bender Mountain Nature Preserve

6320-6468 Bender Road, Delhi Township
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 of the ravine as well as the Ohio River. And if you like ghost stories, you’ll be fascinated by the old Darby-Lee Cemetery along the route, whose residents are linked to the local legend of Fiddler’s Green.

Devou Park

1201 Park Drive, Covington
Covington's largest park, Devou spans over 700 acres with scenic hilltop views of the city, plus paved and unpaved trails, a golf course, picnic shelters and playgrounds.

Shawnee Lookout

2008 Lawrenceburg Road, 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 Ohio River and Great Miami River valleys, as well as pass by Native American archaeological earthworks.

Miami Whitewater Forest

9001 Mt. Hope Road, Crosby Township
This sprawling park features four nature trails that wind through its forests. There is also a paved exercise trail that leads through woods, creeks, prairies and local rural neighborhoods, as well as a sheltered overlook that offers a stunning view of the wetlands. You can opt for the inner 1.4-mile loop or the outer loop of almost 8 miles, going on foot, bike or even roller skates.

Cincinnati Nature Center

4949 Tealtown Road, Milford
The Cincinnati Nature Preserve has 15 trails with assorted degrees of length and difficulty for hikers of every ability. This park also offers the "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.

Embshoff Woods

4050 Paul Road, Delhi Township
This classic neighborhood park is home to a stunning 1-mile nature and fitness trail. Don’t be fooled by the length of the trail, however: Hiking up the steep hills along the trail will give you a heck of a workout, but you’ll really enjoy the tranquil views along the way. And if your kiddos still need to burn off some energy after your hike, Embshoff also offers a fun, colorful playground with plenty of things to climb on and slide down, as well as a nine-hole disc golf course.

Caldwell Nature Preserve

430 W. North Bend Road, Carthage
Ranked as one of the top 10 hikes in Ohio by Marmot outdoors company in 2016, Caldwell Nature Preserve in Carthage has 3.5 miles of trails that include a paved and level path into the woods that is accessible to those in wheelchairs. The trails cut through a mix of old-growth forests and newer plants where a variety of animals make their homes.

California Woods Nature Preserve & Center

5400 Kellogg Ave., California
The California Woods Nature Preserve has a small network of short hikes with 13 acres of forest and year-round education programming for nature lovers. The park is home to 53 species of trees and 200-plus species of herbaceous plants, and animals and fish like kingfishers, snapping turtles, ducks and even beavers call the Lick Run Creek in the park their home. It’s also next to the Magrish Preserves, which has been designated an Important Birding Area, so you may see woodpeckers or owls on your hikes. There’s also a butterfly and hummingbird garden in front of the nature center. Dog parents note, however, that you’ll have to leave your pup at home for these hikes.