we were bored and looking for something to do that day .. my husband knows I have an interest in playing with my point and shot camera and wildlife. He read something about having birds of prey at this park .. we'd never been there and didn't realize it was going to take an hour to get there. When we arrived there were naturalists who had birds they had rehabilitated after illness or injury. All of them were not going to be able to be set free which is always sad but we got to observe them from a short distance and they answered questions about the bird which was interesting. YOu never know till you try .. if I had know that was all it was I'm not sure we would have drove that distance. we looked at the birds for about 30 minutes and drove back. there was no fee for the park or the birds of prey read more

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A lovely little park on the northern side of Cincinnati! There's a great one mile nature trail with markers and educational markers that makes for a nice brisk walk. The lake is great for catch and release fishing and is 1/3 mile loop with lovely views of the water and woods. The bike trail has two loops. The A loop makes a great 4 mile trail run with lovely wildflowers and trees. The B loop is a little more rigorous and woodsy. Highly recommend this park! read more

Mitchell Memorial Forest - Parks Near Me - Cleves, Ohio

Excellent hiking and mountain biking trail. First time i saw so many mountain bikers in the parking lot and on the trail. We walked on trail A, 3.9 miles walk, took us 1.5 hours, a little muddy, i guess it's from the snow in previous days. There is a stream along the hiking trail, but at this season, not much water in it. read more

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An amazing park with great trails, If you plan on writing this with a mountain bike I would say that this is an intermediate level trail system throughout the park. As far as walking/hiking it is great for beginner to intermediate hikers. There is a pond where you can fish as long as you have the licenses and during the summer you will have to pay a small fee to enter, however in the off-season you do not read more

The Wood Duck Nature Trail here is my escape. It's very well maintained and pretty: there's a stream going through, a lake / wetlands alongside, and a variety of trees. Also, it's not too intense (I don't leave dripping with sweat) nor too easy (there's a hill that definitely gets my heart pumping). I usually do 2-3 loops, depending on how much stress I have to walk off ;-) There is a shorter, paved path around the lake that my mom likes to walk. And there are always several fishermen along the sides. I've never been on the mountain bike trail but have heard it is great as well - certainly a unique feature of the park. read more

I grew up in the woods, near the woods, and loving the woods. In a small town in the Northwest, that's what you become accustomed to. Here in Cincinnati, much more of a concrete jungle, I've adapted. That said, a walk with a canopy of vegetation above me is VERY welcomed. Hearing birds, seeing a few ducks, and relaxing on a bench here or there made for a great first day of spring. One complaint, which has nothing to do with the forest, is a big BOO to the engines revving from afar- race track, hillbillies in their natural habit, whatever- I can hardly hold this lovely space accountable for people who waste fuel and drive around circles for fun, but it was quite annoying. I had no idea this park was near us and look forward to many more weekends spend wandering and maybe trying out the picnic area or bike trails. The trees are smaller and the path only about a mile (the bike is around 8 miles), but this hidden park really hit the spot for me. It doesn't look to be too packed, though we ran into plenty of people. It's well spaced with trails, playground areas, shelters, picnic areas- all walkable, but not flat and crowded. I'll update as we see more, but this was a great find. Thank you Hamilton County Parks. This is why you get such good reviews. read more

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Mitchell Memorial Forest is well maintained, without being over maintained. Trees that have fallen across any trail, (but are too big to move,) have been cut out of the way. Trash cans have been placed around the grounds. A nice fishing pond is situated near the front of the park. There is a play structure for children. The structure looks to be relatively new. There is a fresh layer of rubber chips to help cousin any falls. A set of bathrooms are not far from the play structure. They was still a "closed for the season," sign up so I can't rate the bathrooms. Wood Duck Trail is a nice escape. We were the only people not walking their dog, on the trail. Many tall trees. I can't wait until later this spring/ summer to see all the trees with their leaves. A couple of benches are along the path. We walked by a nice duck pond and stream. After 2 hours, we still had more park to explore. Both kids were worn out after walking around the lake, playing on the play structure, and exploring Wood Duck Trail, so we decided to call it a day. My son asked if we could come back another day. He wants to see the rest of the park. So do I. read more

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Mitchell Memorial Forest is, by far, my favorite Hamilton County park. Situated in a pretty remote spot between the western suburbs of Cleves and Grandview, this park is about as quiet as you are going to find. Sure, this park lacks some of the features of other county parks. There is no Frisbee golf or nature center. There's no paddle boats or snack bar. But, what it lacks in amenities, it certainly makes up in charm. Near the entrance, there is a small lake open to fishing. There is a short paved trail around it, and it's a great place to spot wildlife and shoot the breeze with the old-timers who are always out fishing. Nearby, there is the "Wood Duck" nature tail. It's a nice, short hike if you are pressed for time. Further down the road, there is a small playground. A bigger one would be nice, but this one is clean and in good shape. My kids manage to entertain themselves there just fine. Towards the rear of the park, you'll find my favorite area. The "Tall Pines" picnic area is absolutely stunning, aptly named for the slender, tall pine trees that cover it. Even in the heart of summer, you will almost never have to fight for a grill here. Across from the picnic area, there is a large brushy field where, if you are lucky, you can watch deer graze. We've had late summer cookouts here a lot, and the deer never disappoint. Also in this area is the entrance to a 7.8 miles mountain bike trail. While best suited for bikes, this trail is also open to hiking. It offers a few different length loops and provides a great chance to explore the woods around the park. Overall, this is a great park to head to if you're trying to escape from the hustle of city-life. You are surrounded by nature, and the ranger staff here is extremely friendly and accommodating. It's a great place to hike, have a picnic, or just bask in the sun! read more

I really love this quiet little park, great for family photos but there is not much for very small children. There is a nice fishing lake (small) and a small playground but that's it. The rest of the plot is nature trails, rough bike trails and picnic areas so I will come back more when my kids are older. read more

I love it here! I live right along side the park, and it has great walking trails! Sometimes when I feel more adventurous I hike alongside the creeks rather than the trail. After heavy rain, the creek transforms into about a 2 foot deep stream with a moderate current. read more