The Cincinnati Nature Center at Rowe Woods is such a treasure in our city. You can visit many times and never have the same experience twice! A yearly membership is a great investment that your family can use year-round because the center is open and there are even events during the winter. **NOTE: Make sure to check their website to see their policies on daily visit reservations and more.
Here are my top 10 favorite things to do at the Cincinnati Nature Center, in no particular order. Don’t try to do them all at once, though!
1. The Man Made Stream
This gem is inside the Nature PlayScape area, which is perfect for the littles. Even my 9 year old loves this spot. This man made stream offers mini waterfalls, a great creek stream and treasures to be found. Wear boots, water shoes or just let the kids play barefoot. Hunt for fossils, traverse down the rocks (a bit slippery) and look for creatures! There is no shade in this part, but there is a small canopy with bench nearby to watch them play.Ā
2. The Nature PlayScape Area
The Nature PlayScape area is perfect for the littles to run and play. Kids who are just starting to walk will love this area – parents, you’ll love it too because it’s gated! Even my kids older kids (7 & 9) enjoy it, but eventually want to adventure further.
Inside the area includes: * Little ‘trails’ * A mud pie zone (that you can easily avoid if you want) * Benches to relax in the shade * A cool area with logs and tree stumps to build with *A small sand area * Interactive maps and questions about nature, butterflies and more that you can assist with along the wayĀ
3. events in the playscape
They are often hosting really fun family friendly events in the Nature PlayScape. From nature storytime to crafty Tuesdays to nature painting and more. Heading there for an event is a great way to get familiar with the place! Check out the Calendar of Events in the PlayScape. Don’t forget to check out all the awesome events they host year round.Ā
4. Mashburn Family Discovery Trail
We love to trek this trail starting near the parking lot of the playscape. The orange trail, the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail is a super easy, flat hike (more like a stroll, so even the new walkers can do it.) There are tons of treasures along this hike including Matt’s Pond, but be sure to hold little ones hands here because there are no railings around the deck! The trail loops around so your family will see many different things that I highlight below, including the Lotus Pond and the Log Cabin.Ā
5. the Log Cabin & THe lotus pond
Follow the Orange trail (Mashburn Family Discovery Trail), a super easy, flat hike to find some great places to play and discover in nature including: * Matt’s PondĀ * An old log cabin. My kids could play house in this cabin for hours while I enjoy the rocking chair on the front porch. * If you keep walking past the house and turn left, you will find the lotus pond. There are frogs for days here in this green, lilypad filled pond. And if you’re there late spring, you can’t miss them because they are loud. And I mean LOUD because it’s mating season. It’s really cool if you happen upon that timing.
6. Houses in the woods made from branches
Keep going past the Lotus Pond on the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail to find a collection of branches, sticks and tree stumps that have been made into ‘houses’. This area is nestled in the shade and really fun for kids to play and make believe in, especially if it’s hot. There’s usually an area where kids can rebuild the big houses or make teepee.
7. Classes for tots to tweens
The Covid concerns have canceled a lot of things, including some of the nature programming. But, under normal circumstances, there are weekly classes, year-round, for kids ages 1-13! Check out their schedules to see if openings are available. Also, did you know they host an accredited nature preschool? It’s a really cool hands on learning experience. Their yearly open house is usually in late January or early February if you or someone you know may be interested in learning more!
8. Hiking and creekin' on the Geology & Discovery trails
There are some really awesome hiking trails at the Cincinnati Nature Center and there’s something for everyone. If you have tots who just want a nature stroll, try the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail as I mention above.Ā
Check out the trail map here (image below) and trail descriptions to find out which best suits your mood and skill level. My favorite trails are the pink (Wildflower) and the purple trail called The Geology Trail. They are family favorites and has a pretty easy decent into the creek. Bring water shoes or old gym shoes you don’t care get wet. Tons of fossil hunting and treasures to find in the creek.Ā
9. feeding the fish and turtles at POWEL Crosley Lake
Feeding the fish & turtles at Powel Crosley Lake is a perfect break from hiking. We like to do the purple trail and then come back up to the Rowe Woods Visitors Center to purchase the brown bags of fish food – just from the cashier there. Bonus, there is a SUPER cute gift shop here with a range of gifts for kids and adults that are unique and not something you can find elsewhere.Ā
The turtles and fish LOVE to be fed and get super close. Be diligent with the little ones as there is no railing on the walkway. I always make my kids sit before giving them the fish food, and then of course obsessively watch them to make sure they don’t fall in ;)! Is my mom anxiety showing?! š
10. Adult EVENTS You WILL LOVE
There are tons of cool events for adults to enjoy the nature center. The annual event, Hoots & Hops, is a great date night or GNO option. There are food samples from local restaurants in the lodge, plus food trucks and local brews to sample along the trails. It’s a super casual event and a great way to get to see more of the nature center, without your kids! Plus, they often host events like trail yoga, nature photography walks and more!
Looking for some outdoor activities with kids in Cincinnati? Here are some of my favorites. These adventures will burn energy, make memories and help your family stay busy.
BEYOND HIKING WITH KIDS
Depending on your child’s ages, hiking might look more like a stroll with lots of stops. š So, I like to have ideas of what to do once you find the right hiking spot. Speaking of the right spot, be sure to check out my favorite Cincinnati Hiking Trails with Kids.
The kids love to collect treasures as we hike and keep them in aĀ kids gardening bagĀ or look the part and hide treasures in the pockets of theirĀ hiking vests. But, as my oldest daughter and self-proclaimed nature expert says, nature stays in nature. So after we collect, we return before we leave. No one seems to fight me on this because I tell them BEFORE we collect and they make the connection that nature
“Playing together in nature is as much about us as it is about the child. Children get to celebrate and be themselves, while we are reminded of our inner child ā the essence of who we are.”
Nicolette Sowder
Adventure Beyond the Hike
There are plenty of outdoor adventures in Cincinnati worth exploring. Depending on what you’re in the mood for, you can choose your own adventure. My favorite outdoor adventures include:
The driving range to hit golf balls with the family.
Frisbee golf, also known as disc golf to some, is a great adventure to try as a family. Find a Disc Golf Course in Cincinnati.
Putt-putt golf courses at the local parks. They are nothing fancy, but a great way to work on your putting skills for the real course!
Fishing with the family is fun for ages 4+. I have found that kids younger than that don’t have much patience for it.
Paved trails in Cincinnati
Biking trails in Cincinnati
We are a participant in an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. The cost of the product for you is the same, but we appreciate the small kickback we get when you click and purchase our suggested products!
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!
California Woods
Withrow Nature Perserve
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!
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
Sharon Woods Trail
Sharon Woods Trail
Sharon Woods Trail
Sharon Woods Trail
Sharon Woods Trail
Previous
Next
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.