Day Hikes – East Cincinnati

I live on the east side of Cincinnati and I enjoy hiking in the great outdoors.  A hike through the woods is a great alternative to the gym plus it is relaxing for the mind.  Luckily, I have access to enjoyable places to day hike within 15 minutes of my house.  All of these locations provide access to both forest and meadow as well as bordering either a lake or part of the Little Miami River watershed.

Day Hiking Options

Cincinnati Nature Center (CNC) is a member-sustained nature center with two locations (bullets below).  It has miles of well-marked and maintained trails bordering on ponds and streams.  Trails are free to members. A daily fee is charged to non-members.  Restrooms facilities available.  A Playspace, gift shop and educational exhibits are also on-site and quite nice.  Educational events, volunteer led tours and other activities available year-round..

• Rowe Woods in Union Township is the main property for CNC and has 16+ miles of trails through woods and meadow, so there is plenty to explore before you run out of trail.  Certain trails are moderate in difficulty and offer more of a challenge.  The property also has plenty to explore for kids of all ages.
• Long Branch Farm is located in Goshen and has a 4+ mile circuit around the property along streams, woods and meadow.  There are also various trails cutting through the property and around some great ponds and overlooks.

East Fork Wilderness Area is located south of Batavia and offers over 40 miles of trails to explore, including bike trails.  The park is filled with woods and streams surrounding the beautiful East Fork Lake.  Access to the park is free and restroom facilities, boating, fishing and camping are available.

Valley View Foundation is located in Milford along the banks of the beautiful East Fork of the Little Miami River.  5+ miles of cleared trails through the meadow and in the woods next to the river.  Fishing is allowed.  Access to the trails is free.  No facilities or restrooms are available.

East Loveland Nature Preserve is located within walking distance of downtown Loveland.  The park borders O’Bannon Creek and has a couple of miles of trails and nice access to the creek, including a secluded bird blind.  We love to take the dog there to tromp around in the creek.  Admission is free and paved parking is available at the adjacent Moose Lodge. No restroom facilities are available. After hiking, take a quick walk or drive to downtown Loveland. You will find many quaint shops and plentiful food, ice cream, and drink selections.

Kelley Nature Preserve is located in Miamiville along the banks of the Little Miami River.  The park has 2 miles of hiking trails, scenic vistas overlooking the river and a fantastic meadow for bird watching.  It is old growth forest and plenty of big trees.  Canoe access is available and there is a shelter for a picnic lunch.  Admission is free.  Primitive facilities in the parking lot.

Stone Lick State Park is located in Pleasant Plain and surrounds a beautiful lake, which is perfect for boating, fishing and swimming for dogs and people.  4+ miles of hiking traverse the park through woods, around the lake and across meadow.  Admission is free and facilities are available, including camping and boating.

Get On Out There!

There is something different in all of the parks and plenty of areas to explore, view wildlife and have a snack or a picnic lunch.  Any of these parks would be great for kids.  In this part of the country, the trails are no more difficult than moderate and streams and creeks run through all of these parks.  Who doesn’t love water?  For the tree lovers, you  will run across plenty of old-growth woods and birds galore.

If you are on the east side of Cincinnati, you have access to any of these places within 15 minutes.  When you arrive, you will have plenty to do for an hour or several.  Come on, get on out there and enjoy our beautiful woods.