We took a "field trip" here while learning about trees in our homeschool unit and we really…read moreappreciated three things: the walking trails are very nicely maintained and paved well, all of the natural shade with benches to rest, and all of the labels & information panels on the various types of trees! The area is beautiful and a great place for a walk. My 4 star rating is coming from a desire for a better map, the ones they have are ok but I had a little bit of trouble at times, and then for being let down on 2 things I promised my kids. The "children's garden" has definitely seen better days and is very lackluster in general. There's nothing to do inside of it and we were honestly just confused. The other thing was the butterfly garden, all of the bushes were gone on our visit. In general, these things aren't a big deal but considering I had 4 small kids with me, these were 2 things advertised that we were looking forward to.

What a lovely little paved path just off the main road in the Union-Florence area! Don't let the…read morebaseball fields fool you - just follow the trail in to experience a wonderful little oasis of nature. There's plenty of parking - regardless if you're there for a baseball game or for a nice walk. We brought our dog with us, and ended up doing the entire loop in just under an hour. We'd initially pulled up this trail in the AllTrails app, and it told us this was 1.1 miles ... we're not so sure that's accurate, since it felt like we were walking for much longer than that. Next time, we'll make sure to measure how far we've gone. Either way - what a gorgeous way to start your day! The plants and trees are all labeled, and sorted into various collections. The Magnolia Collection was by far our favorite, although that's about as far back into the loop as you can get. The trail itself is well-maintained, and wasn't too busy at all on a Saturday morning around 9 a.m. There was a good age range among the folks walking ... it was nice to everyone from families to elderly couples out for a morning stroll. We'll definitely return to this paved trail - it's especially convenient after a big rain, when you don't want to hike through the mud!

I'm new to the area and can't believe all the beauty within minutes from my parent's house. This…read morenature preserve in Loveland is apparently a hidden gem. There were very few people in the park. There is a parking lot right by the entrance and the trails are well manicured and easily walkable even for a little dog. Signs and maps are located throughout the park. Benches are available too for those who need a break or just to sit and enjoy the beauty. I'm anxious to head back here again especially with the changing seasons.

This is a really nice, but small nature preserve. It's really flat with nice walkable trails. The…read morecreek is fun to look at for fossils. There is major construction going on right now so it can be loud. There is parking right before where the constructions starts.

we were bored and looking for something to do that day .. my husband knows I have an interest in…read moreplaying 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

A lovely little park on the northern side of Cincinnati! There's a great one mile nature trail with…read moremarkers 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!

What a neat little low key trail. I would love to see it in the Spring/Summer. So much history…read morebehind the McCullough Family & their significance to the Norwood Area. Definitely a place to check out. They have restrooms, picnic tables under cover & they have benches close to the parking lot for anyone not able to walk the trail or do any kind of slight incline. Loved this little spot.

I met my Mother, nephew, niece and their children at McCullough Nature Preserve for a wonderful…read morenature walk. It is a lovely place with beautiful plants and trees (some very old), and interesting old architecture to explore. The trails that we took were clearly marked and easy. After the walk we sat at the covered tables socializing and recounting parts of our adventure to a new friend that we found sitting there upon our return. We had a great time.

This is my favorite place to walk in the woods because the path I prefer is flat and trees cover…read moreall of it. My dog really enjoys sniffing everything and when the weather is nice, we love just strolling because it's out in the fresh air for both of us.

Withrow Nature Preserve is a good place for exercise and hiking. It has several miles of trails…read morelooping around the park. The trails are marked with interesting facts about wildlife. It's not too grueling, if you want to walk all of it. The park has a spot overlooking the Ohio River. It has signs directing you from the 275 exit. It's very helpful. The park is located along Five Mile Road. It has a good size parking lot at the entrance. There usually is more than enough room. At the beginning of the trails is the Withrow home. This is the only location of bathrooms in the park. It has a couple trails through the woods that each loop around. The better one is the Trout Lily Trail. It's a couple of miles to walk all of it. The best part is the overlook of the Ohio River. It has a small clearing with some benches. The view isn't great because it's far away, but you can still see parts of the river. If you're in Anderson Township and have a few hours for walking, this is the best place for it. It could use some more bathrooms. There's a few located at the Withrow home, so go before you hit the trails.

If you are into birding this is a great spot ... there are other critters and bugs if thats your…read morething but birds and turtles are the easiest things to find. in the past I have seen deer, snakes, some weasel thing possible ferret. I thought I saw a beaver but in looking at pics it was a huge rat in the water eeek. But today only birds, turtles and dragonflies. Had hoped to see beaver or snakes but no luck. saw cedar waxwings but they were turned away so not the best pics and when I repositioned they flew away. sighhh. I got there late in the day and was already tired but it was a perfect weather day and got 2 days worth of steps in, but you have to be patient and bit lucky.

The Fernald Feed Materials Production Center has been a part of many people's lives. My family,…read moreincluded, so going to the preserve and museum has been on my to do list for a long time but always felt weird. Finally, I saw they were hosting tours of the museum and I drove out. It's a beautiful preservation. I was informed by my wonderful tour guide who I believe was named Penny, that there have been over two hundred different bird species spotted on the grounds. You cannot bring dogs there. The tour was fantastic and my tour guide could not have been better. The museum starts with acknowledging the families the land was taken from with eminent domain and goes through life at the plant. They have the video about duck and cover playing in a little fake living room. You can search records if you know someone who worked there. Lots of stuff. There's also a conference room free for nonprofits. I thought the museum would disappoint me. And I do wish it acknowledged the people who lived there more but my tour guide was really thoughtful in that respect and I'm so glad I met her. She took me on a tour of the land where the debris was encased that's now sectioned off with fencing, too. They are not, as of this date, allowed to have a Facebook so finding their events can be challenging but definitely worth it if you have any interest is local history or military history, the cold water or uranium clean up or just nature. I learned a lot and definitely will go back.

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.

Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park is a beautifully designed riverside space that…read moreblends art, culture, and nature in a thoughtful and inviting way. The paved walkway along the Ohio River is exceptionally well‑maintained, offering a smooth and scenic route for walking, biking, or simply enjoying the view. The park's sculptures and garden areas add a unique cultural element, making each visit feel both peaceful and visually engaging. The grounds are consistently clean, the landscaping is carefully tended, and the layout encourages a calm, reflective experience. Whether you're looking for a quiet place to unwind, a scenic spot for exercise, or a meaningful space to appreciate public art, this park stands out as one of Cincinnati's most thoughtfully curated outdoor areas. Parking is free.

International Friendship Park offers free parking that allows visitors to access the riverfront all…read morethe way to downtown Cincinnati. This is one of our favorite walks to do with our dog, starting at the park and walking all the way to Moerlein Lager House, where we get a beer and snack and a bowl of water for our pooch before walking back to our car. Along the way, we pass the statue of Cincinnatus, Sawyer Point, the Serpentine Wall, Purple People Bridge, Reds Stadium, Smale Riverfront Park and more. It's a good long walk with nice views and a natural spot for a break at one of many establishments at the Banks.