I absolutely love this hidden gem of a park. My husband and I have taken our dogs many times to go…read moreon the hiking trails and splash around in the creek. The creek runs into a river that you have to be a little more careful about since the current can be strong and sweep them away. I wouldn't recommend going too far from the shore. I often see people posted up on the beach, enjoying a picnic and/or swimming. The trails are not terribly well kept, but that's OK with me because it just is wild nature and I like that. Most recently, I took my baby and wore him in a hiking backpack. While it was a workout, we had a good time. I even let him splash in the creek for a little while and enjoy a banana while sitting in the mud. Grateful to have parks like this in our city that allow us to escape to a little slice of nature.

Caldwell Nature Center is a nice park in northern Cincinnati. It's located about a mile or so off…read moreVine Street in the Carthage area. The park has several miles of trails. It also has a beautiful nature center. This is usually a good place for kids. The best way to get there is to take the Galbraith exit off 75, get on Vine, and then get onto North Bend. It has a small parking lot just off the road. The park has miles of beautiful trails. It's a good place to exercise. The trails are mostly shaded by trees. It makes it a nice place to run when it's hot. The indoor nature center is a good educational experience, and there's lots of opportunities to see wildlife. It usually is kid friendly. As one reviewer noted, sometimes unsavory things may happen. That kind of stuff is usually later at night when it's closed though.

I had never heard of this spot before, until I signed up for the Clermont Tail Trail! It is a…read moreprogram by the Clermont County Visitors bureau. You register, then receive a list of places that are dog friendly. When you have checked it at all the stops your dog receives a special tag! Some of the stops even have discounts. So anyways, about the preserve... This is a little off the beaten path but all in all not too far off 275. It runs along the river and has some nice views of such. There is ample parking in the lot, along with dog waste bags, trash cans, a Port o Potty, and a covered pavilion (although it has no tables right now). There is a non motorized boat launch, although it is a little far for carrying your kayak from the parking area. The trail map is easy to understand and the trails themselves are well marked. There is a woodsy area and a grassy area of trails. Its really all beginner stuff, so not too strenuous, just nice scenery. The place seemed clean and well maintained.

The park is now open, after much renovation. The paths are different, and need new signage. It…read moreadded more concrete to the trails. It was harder to find where we were and where we were going. I wish the trails had more shade.

A beautiful park I didn't know existed until a recent visit to the area. Be sure to check out the…read morecentrally-located Visitor's Center to get lots of handy info, trail maps, a visit to the gift shop, and even pet a friendly snake!! I decided to hike the Gorge Trail, which was very do-able, and ambitiously hoped to even follow the trail around the lake. Oooooops... There is NO LAKE, for the moment, anyway, as they've emptied it for maintenance (!!) Wasn't able to hike around the (dry) lake, as I think that trail was closed, but no worries, I headed back on the Gorge Trail (took a zillion pictures along the way, it's GORGEous!!) and made it back just in time to attend the Hispanic Festival taking place right outside the visitor's center. Looks like there's LOTS of community activities offered here, and it's a GREAT area resource!! Beautiful scenery, some waterfalls apparently, once the rain returns, picnic areas and multiple fun playgrounds for the kiddies, nicely marked trails, TONS of community events, and so much more!! Don't miss it if you're in the area!!

My wife and I used to rent (back in 1986-1992) the Horse Barn and were given free rein of the…read moreproperty at Johnson Hills Park B4 it became a park. My daughter loved horses and I fell into that "horse lover" trap myself, so we bought horses for her and my wife and I. Then we accidentally found Mrs. Johnson's' property and were given permission by Mrs. Johnson to rent her barn and the entire property and additional stalls in the barn at Johnson Hills. We tried sub-leasing some stalls to other horse lovers for a short time but soon decided against it. (Some folks weren't "fit" to have horses. We considered them pets, others seemed to consider them as "slaves" or " just animals to treat (or mistreat) in any way they wanted.) But we have many fond memories of riding around the hills and in the woods that were plentiful and beautiful.

Johnson Hills is a well maintained park. The fields, including the frisbee golf course look as if…read morethey are mowed regularly. The frisbee golf couse was quite busy when we arrived. Covered shelters are free of trash. The parking lot is clean. The sidewalk leading to the covered structure with fire pit has cute animal tracks inbeded in it. The structure would be perfect for a party. (When people are allowed to gather again.) The surrounding areas are shaded as well. A port-o-potty is located near the parking lot. Discovering a butterfly garden was an exciting surprise. Many of the flowers were in bloom. Butterflies were infact attracted to the area. Several even landed on our legs. Some signage near the parking area directing to the trails would be much appreciated. (The park is in the process of being redesigned/upgraded so this may have been here previously, or be coming.) We thought a short paved trail might be it. We were about to leave when some fellow visitors yelled to us (they were practicing good social distancing,) if we could direct them to the nature trails. We informed them that this was our first visit, and that we had not found the trails on the side of the park we were on. They then said the trails must be on the other side. We followed them (at a safe distance,) to the other side of the park. (We did not think to walk through the field to get to the trails.) The easiest way to the trails seems to be through the field, that is past the parking lot and covered structure. Paved walkways are apparently coming to that side as well. There is a yellow, red and blue trail. The first trail we came across, just after the butterfly garden, was the blue trail. We decided to take it. Trails are easy to follow. The canopy is fairly dense. It offers much appreciated shade on a hot summer day. The rays of light cascading through the trees are rather beautiful. Trails are on the muddy side. There are various gradients along the route. There are also a lot of exposed roots. Young hikers may need help at times. During our hike we discovered several species of fungi, a few flowers, a creek, an Eagle Scout project, and even a geocache. There is quite a bit of stinging nettle along the trails. Thankfully, the plant is courteous enough to stay along the edges of the path. As long as you stay on the trail you should be fine. There is also Jewelweed growing amongst the stinging nettle. That will help with the stinging if you find yourself in need of relief. We will definitely come back to this park to experience the red and yellow trails.

After Cincinnati Nature Center made Yelp's list of best places to hike in the country, I knew I…read moreneeded to try out a yearly membership. During COVID-19, Cincinnati Nature Center (as well as Long Branch Farm) are exclusively for members (normally, you can pay a daily rate). A yearly fee of $64 (which includes a guest each time) seemed reasonable. Also during COVID-19, they have time slots for you to sign up for to access the park. I wanted to take advantage right away, but all the time slots for Cincinnati Nature Center were booked, so I decided to book a time slot at Long Branch Farms and Trails. I hadn't received my access card in the mail yet, but someone at the gate was able to let us in. All of the Trails are pretty short (the longest being about 1.5 miles). If you're feeling ambitious, you can totally tackle all the trails in one visit. I believe we walked almost all of them. Definitely plan on wearing some hiking boots if there is any moisture on the ground, you WILL get muddy. You can also stand in the shallow stream to clean off your boots a bit. The trails were well-kept. I'll definitely venture back to spend more time on the trails and find some good spots to put up a hammock!

I would live here if I could. This place is amazing…read more The trails are great and offer varying hikes in length, terrain and scenery. There are constantly improvements being made as well, showing a real commitment to the place and the people who love it. There are maps available that list the trails and can be recycled when you are done as well as trail journals scattered throughout for jotting down quick thoughts or discoveries to share with fellow hikers. Mother Nature's guestbook! The main lodge has restrooms and a gift shop as well as a great little selection of books to read. There is also one of many areas available throughout the park where you can observe local birds as they go about their bird business. The naturalists are very knowledgeable and just as excited about nature as you would hope. Some trails are equipped with little learning stations that offer more information about local flora and fauna and there are descriptive boards along each section of trail that detail the type of area, improvements etc. The feeling that comes from spending time here is priceless. Every time I leave I feel like I'm breathing more easily and deeply at peace. They offer a wide range of activities and social events year round to help build the community. The trails are dog friendly and there are pet pick up bags and disposal stations throughout. For quiet hikes, try one of the longer trails or one that takes you farther from the main lodge. And be aware that on week days there tend to be class trips, so if large groups of children aren't your thing, the longer trails might be a better option too.

I have such a great experience here always. This park truly has a little bit of everything, and…read moreit's one of those parks that is welcoming for all ages. One of my favorite parts was the nature center. The staff and naturalists were incredibly kind and helpful, and the space itself is really well done. There's a cute gift shop, educational displays, and even a small children's museum feel with a few live animals to see. It's a great spot to learn something new or play around. Outside, the park is incredible. The trails are extremely well maintained, both the wooded paths and the paved ones, making it perfect for an easy walk or a hike. There's also an outdoor fitness trail that I loved. It has different workout stations along the way, and it's actually really fun, not just functional. It's a great way for both kids and adults to be active. There's also a huge playground and a mini water park area for kids, plus accessible bathrooms and good seasonal amenities. It's very family friendly without feeling overcrowded. If you're into disc golf, this place is a gem. There's a large disc golf course, and they even sell discs and gear right inside the nature center. Another thing worth mentioning is how amazing Great Parks of Hamilton County is overall. They offer so many programs like beginner fishing, guided hikes, plant swaps, art workshops, amphibian hunts, and even owl pellet dissections. Not all of these are specific to this park, but many are hosted here, and it really adds to how special the experience is. Overall, this is an extremely pleasant place to spend time. Whether you're walking the trails, working out, bringing kids to play, or just exploring the nature center, there's something for everyone.

This is an expansive park with a wide array of paved and unpaved trails, great for dog walking and…read moreexercise with beautiful views of the Ohio River. For the little ones, there's a splash park in season (check for cost) with a snack bar. Frisbee golf, nature center, shelter rentals, very clean bathrooms and other amenities available. You will need a parks pass to get in but the yearly rate is worth it and gets you in to all the parks in Anderson Township.

Otto Armleder Memorial Park is one of Cincinnati's best spots for anyone who loves the outdoors…read more The wide, smooth trails are perfect for walking, biking, or skating, and the dog park is huge with plenty of room for pups to run. The fields are well‑maintained, the scenery is peaceful, and there's always plenty of space to spread out. It's a clean, relaxing place to enjoy fresh air without leaving the city.

No toilet paper in either restroom. Since I have to type at least 85 characters, then that's what I…read moredid. But, yeah, no tp,

This was a cute little trail, we walked around for about an hour. Be prepared to walk steep down…read moreinto the trails and have a steep incline to get back to your car. Save your energy for the end! I'd say this is a beginner to moderate trails, since some pathways are covered with roots or leaves which could be uneven or slippery. Also, there are so many different trail options so don't go too close to dark if it's your first time, wouldn't want to risk getting lost. Dogs on leashes are welcome!

I really enjoyed hiking this urban park. Trails are accessible from multiple locations and the…read morewebsite was very helpful in helping me find a good place to start. Most of it is dirt with little rocks so if it recently rained, I would steer clear. All trail junctions had a marker so I knew I was on the right path. Overall a great and long hike through a dense forest smack in the middle of Cinci. Would recommend to urban trail enthusiasts and those just looking for a close and strenuous-ish hike.