You can find plenty of places to go hiking with kids in Cincinnati in many parks all over the city. While hiking with the younger kids might be more like creekin’ or hunting for nature treasures, here are my favorite places to hike with kids in Cincinnati. Be sure to bring a scavenger hunt or two from my post on outdoor adventures with kids in Cincinnati.
Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails on Cincinnati's East Side
Ault Park – 5090 Observatory Ave, Mt. Lookout 45208
There are 9 hiking trails at Ault Park, but our favorites for smaller legs are The Kids Tree Trail (with Brook Trail added) and Tree Trail. The Kids Tree Trail is super easy and short, but you can add on the Brook Trail to make it more of an adventure including crossing a stream. Note, the start of the Brook Trail is pretty steep but it levels out after that. You’ll find a great path deep into the woods and a stream to cross before turning around. Tree Trail is 0.7 miles with access from the service road off Observatory Circle near Ault Pavilion. This is great for more of a true hike, but might still be tough for the little legs. So, bring a backpack for the little one if you have it.
California Woods – 5400 Kellogg Avenue California, OH 45228
A great place to go creekin’! Park in the lot near the main house/office and you can explore the expansive creek. There’s a spot to the right of the metal bridge that offers natural clay kids can find and sculpt with. Trails are great, but they can get pretty steep for little legs since it lies right by the river bed.
Withrow Nature Preserve – 7075 Five Mile Rd Anderson Township 45230
We love this trail because it’s a pretty flat loop with a short, steep start. This is a great trail for trail runs for tweens and adults. Tons of great uprooted trees and other unique discoveries. And a great place to bring the dogs for a hike!
Johnson Hills Park – 7950 Bridle Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244
The full, wooded trail is 2.1 miles with some fairly steep parts, but my 4 year old had no problem. You can also take a shortcut on the trail and and just do one side or the other. We like to head to the right from the parking lot and do that loop part of the trail for a wooded, but less steep climb. Dogs are welcomed. You can find the Johnson Hills trail map here. Be sure to check out the photo scavenger hunt at Johnson Hills Park and other self guided activities for nature hunts without the big hikes. BONUS: They have a great disc golf course here that would be perfect after a hike!
Cincinnati Nature Center – 4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford, OH 45150
Rowe Woods at the Cincinnati Nature Center is an amazing place to hike and adventure with kids. There is an admission to enter ($9.00 Ā Adults, $4.00 kids 4-12, Free for kids 3 & under, $2.00 Dogs. They sell yearly passes for very reasonable prices and they have some of the best nature events and kids camps in the entire city. For all the details, see my 10+ favorite things to do at the Cincinnati Nature Center.Ā Ā
French Park Short Loop Trail – 3012 Section Rd. Amberley Village 45237
1.2 miles along a creek, so bring the boots and find treasures to play with!
Avon Woods Nature Center and Preserve – 4235 Paddock Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45229
Great moderate hiking here with rolling hill trails and a stream.
Otto Armleder Park – 5057 Wooster Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45226
This is not your typical nature hike. There is a great paved path for walking or riding bikes that leads to the Armleder-Lunken Connector trail. That trail runs along the Little Miami river to Lunken trails for even more exploring. The path is flat for the little legs!
Woodland Mound Park – 8250 Old Kellogg Rd, Anderson Township
2 pretty easy nature trails which are both less than a mile. This would be fun to do before or after playing disc golf with the family.
Sharon Woods – 11450 Lebanon Road Sharonville, OH 45241
There is a great, flat hike out and back wooded trail called the Gorge Trail with places to sit and view the waterfall. At the end of the trail, you can climb down the steps at the dam for more fun and adventure. There is also a 2.6-mile paved trail around the lake called the shared use trail and a 1.0-mile fitness trail with exercise challenges along the way.Ā
Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails on Cincinnati's West Side
Caldwell Nature Preserve – 430 West North Bend Rd Carthage 45216
3.5 miles of nature trails with a level-paved trail that makes it possible for wheelchair users to go into the woods. Also a great option for when we’ve seen alot of rain and you want to avoid the mud!
Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve – 3455 Poole Rd, Colerain Township, OH 45251
The Pin Oak trail is easy, less than a mile and offers the trifecta of trails. A wooded trail, open land to explore and a creek. Plenty to discover.
Mt. Airy Forest – 5083 Colerain AveĀ WestsideĀ 45223
3 great hiking trails for families but the main attraction is ‘everybody’s tree house’, Ohio’s only wheelchair-accessible public treehouse.
Miami Whitewater Forest Trails – 10245 Winton RoadĀ Winton Woods 45231
There are 4 nature trails that are moderate level with all of them being 1.5 miles or less. The Oakleaf trails seems to be the most popular for families with a stroll past the river.
Creekin' Adventures with Kids in Cincinnati
If you’re looking for more creekin’ adventures or hunting for nature treasures be sure to bring a scavenger hunt or two from my post on outdoor adventures with kids in Cincinnati.
