This place has great hiking trails and pretty scenery. It's always well kept and I love that dogs are allowed.

Ault Park is an absolute jewel of Cincinnati. Every time my wife and I go, she looks at me and says, "I can't believe we have this beautiful park here in our city." It's beautiful. The landscaping is impeccable. It gives you the European garden/park feel. There's plenty of room to run, play, sun bathe, picnic, read a book, bike, hike, site see, smell the flowers, play a guitar, fly a kite, dip your toes in a waterfall fountain, read plaques, look at statues, bring your stroller, have a catch, play hide and go seek, climb some monkey bars, enjoy beauty. It's beautiful. It's a great place for families. For singles. For couples. For old people. And for squirrels. I think you'll like it too. read more

Ault Park - Perfect picnic day. - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Beautiful park in Cincinnati!! I visited on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and there many others doing the same. Runners, families, dogs and plenty of photographers with their various clients. If you manage to make it up to the top of the pavilion (it's a climb, that's for sure), you'll have an amazing 360-degree view of Cincinnati. It was beautiful! The day we were there, a crew was setting up for a wedding later that day. It looked like it would be a really pretty event with lots of fairy lights. read more

I would consider this one of the most beautiful parks I have ever visited. It is right around the corner from my house and it is a lovely place to bring your canines. The upkeep of the park is optimal and it is always clean. Events happen and often you will catch a beautiful wedding taking place. My favorite is in the back were you can stare our into the open and see airplanes land on the airport landing strip. They have plants and flowers that have their scientific description, "angiosperms". Great place to bring friends, lay out on the grass in the daytime during spring and summer. families bring their children and newborns and take professional photos. read more

Ault Park - View in the posterior section of the park - airport strip - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Ault Park is simply gorgeous. Besides the fact that it's always clean and well maintained, the Pavilion is stunning. We had our wedding there on October 25, 2014 and all of our out of town guests were amazed at how beautiful it was that time of year. If you are looking for a wedding reception venue and want something outdoors, I highly recommend Ault Park or any of the other Premier Park locations in the Cincinnati area. read more

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One of Cincinnati's many parks, green abounds, well maintained, lots of activity throughout the year, you could say this is the Queen of East side parks in Hyde Park/Mt. Lookout vicinity. It just can be hard to find a parking spot especially when there's an event going on and you end up driving and driving and at times leaving. During my recent visit a friend lives nearby, so parked at her house and walked over to the park which recommend for a future visit. read more

A great spot for an impromptu cookout/picnic with friends; hiking trails or going for a run; or for just a walk through the gardens. Ault Park also boasts some fantastic outlooks and is one of my favorite hang out locales in the city. read more

Hard to believe this is in the CITY of Cincinnati. Per a Cincy police officer it is the safest park as well. Gorgeous clean spaces and something for everyone. There are hiking trails, paved trails, picnic areas, gardens, and challenging running. Great views of the east side. Love to pick up some Elis BBQ and bring it up on a nice day. read more

Ault Park - Picnic area - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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If you're a glutton for punishment, or have unresolved issues from your childhood, like I do, you should run here. Whether you're coming from Hyde Park or Mt. Lookout, the hills are beautiful, bucolic, and brutal. They also have drinking fountains, which come in handy when you're desperately gasping for breath. All the great things about Ault Park have already been cataloged: the play sets, the fountain, the green spaces, the flowers, the views. So here are some helpful things to keep in mind: Don't count on the bathrooms being open, especially in early spring if you've got a kid still potty training. If you run or walk here after dark, beware of skunks. Keep your kids out of the flowerbeds. If you don't, there are elderly people who WILL yell at you and make you feel ashamed for having unruly children. read more

Ault Park...I think you are just A-OK and here's why: Positives: + Beautiful green space. They really keep up with it. + Great view at the overlook + LOVE the castle in the middle (although you have to rent it out) Negatives: - SUPER annoying to maneuver. Weird round abouts and one ways that make no sense. - There is ONE, and correct me if I'm wrong, ONE shelter for a picnic area. We had our potluck in the park here and it was raining so we drove around the entire park multiple times and only saw this teeny tiny one. With as much space as this park boasts you should have multiple shelters. - Not a huge fan of the bathrooms. Seriously some of the girls were on the verge of peeing their pants and still refused to go in. Great place to run, rollerblade or play Frisbee, but I'd avoid this park for picnics or other functions. read more

Okay, okay. I'll admit, I kind of always thought of Ault Park as JUST the main pavilion and gardens. Fun fact: Ault Park is the fourth largest in the Cincinnati Park network. Another fun fact: Ault Park is much more than just the main pavilion and gardens. There is an entire network of trails running through the park ranging from a pretty flat, easy to walk gravel path to some pretty steep, narrow, uneven inclines. It's definitely one of the more varied, fun hikes I've been on. The trails are well marked and there is a good map at the Ault Park Advisory Council website. We ended up winding our way through the trail system eventually following the cliff trail up (and up and up) to the Heekin Overlook, which was a great reward at the end of the hike. You're never far from the noises of the road, but it's so muffled, it's not distracting. The trail got pretty muddy at places, not an issue, just something to be aware of. One thing that's great is Ault Park kind of covers everything. Expansive green space for running around, picnic spaces, playgrounds, trails, gardens, event space, etc. read more

One of the things I enjoy most about Cincinnati is its wonderful park system. The entire tri-state area seems to take great pride in building and marinating some of the most beautiful, family-friendly parks you could ever hope to find. Even in some of the not-so-appealing sections of the city, you can find some decent parks. One of my favorites is Ault Park. Located in the Mt. Lookout area of Cincinnati, Ault Park became available for the fine folks of Cincinnati to enjoy in 1911 after an initial 142-acre tract of land was given as a gift to the city by Ida and Levi Ault. They continued to provide gifts to the city which allowed Ault Park to grow. The park had many ups and downs throughout the years until the 1980's when the park had become overrun by gangs and drug pushers. By that time much of the park had fallen into disrepair, including the historic pavilion. In an effort to combat that, an advisory council was created to take the park back and keep it maintained. And they've done a great job. The first thing was to completely renovate the pavilion. It is a beautiful structure, and it is not uncommon to show up and see a wedding taking place. With a lookout point that provides a beautiful view, numerous gardens that are a joy to walk through, plenty of open green space where kids can run around or adults can have a romantic picnic, a number of hiking trails to tackle, and even a playground area for kids to enjoy, Ault Park has a little bit of everything for everyone. I go here on occasion when I'm looking for some peace and quiet, a place both beautiful and tranquil. There are a number of events that take place throughout the year here. My favorite event is the 4th of July Fireworks. With vendors available and a brass band playing some of the most recognizable patriotic songs, the highlight is of course the actual fireworks display. Anywhere in the park is a great view and I would highly recommend spending at least one July 4th celebration here. Just a little note though; when looking for a place to park avoid the main streets and instead turn off onto one of the side streets. This will actually allow you to get closer to the park, and avoid the long walk up the hill. Ault Park is a great place for both kids and adults. Whether you're just stopping in for a visit or purposely planning to attend a scheduled event, Ault Park is well worth a look. Mahalo, and enjoy. read more

I love Ault Park and have spent many days walking around enjoying every aspect of it. There are nice trails that wind through the woods, up and down hills, and by the railroad tracks. There are so many different entrances to the trails from all sides of the park that it takes some getting used to if you are not already familiar with them. At the entrance to the park on Observatory Ave there is a nice grass hill with cherry trees that bloom wonderful white and pink flowers covering the hill in the spring. This winds down and back up to the main area of the park. There the grand looking pavilion sits surrounded by beautiful gardens and grass fields. There are many areas to picnic, walk around, or just relax and lay in the grass. The flower gardens are gorgeous when they are in full bloom. There are also some wonderful views at Ault Park. At Heekin Overlook you can catch views of the corner of Lunken Airport as well as a section of the Little Miami River. Below Heekin Overlook is the beginning of one of my favorite trails at the park. The top of the pavilion is another great view. Here you enjoy sweeping views of the entire park and it just gives you the feel of being a king looking out from your palace. This is also a great place to catch a sunrise or sunset. I have witnessed many of both and it is the perfect spot for a clear of view of either. The sun rises from behind the park and sets at the front. Watching the sunset over the grand fields and gardens is a wonderful experience. Ault Park also happens to be home to my favorite drinking fountain. This may be a little odd but I just love this water fountain. It sits just to the side on the front of the pavilion and is an old fashioned bubbler where the water gracefully and gently bubbles straight up out of the top of the fountain. It is perfect for drinking from and I always make sure to take a drink from it every time I visit the park. read more

Ault Park is one of my favorite Cincinnati spots. It has beautiful, well-maintained green spaces and gardens. It's a perfect spot for reading on a nice day. I always feel completely safe in the park when I go alone, not something I can say of all or most Cincinnati parks. It has some lovely overlooks and short hikes. The structure in the middle is absolutely gorgeous and a fun destination for a lookout on a walk or picnic. *The only drawbacks for me/the reason for 4 stars instead of 5 are the bathrooms, as they are only open during part of the year. I've had to leave the park to use the restroom on nice days in the off months (i.e. October and November in fall, March and April in spring) on nice days when there are hundreds of other people in the park likely having the same issue. For a park its size and for how popular it is, that's not okay. read more

Ault park used to be one of my favorite places in Cincinnati. The gardens always seem to have something new blooming, and the huge green areas are great for laying around, reading a book. I love to take out of towners here because it's so lush and has great views of the Hyde Park area. When I was a nanny I also took the kids here and we would play for a couple of hours on the playground. But then I got a dog. And guess what? Technically (although I don't think anyone obeys this), the dogs aren't allowed on those huge green spaces or in the gardens. What?! And all the dogs I always saw playing in the fountain there, also not allowed to do that. My dog and I started walking the trails, which I find confusing if you don't stay on one of the three main paths. They are not well marked, and while my dog loves forging her own trail, I don't like having to circle back because we hit a dead end somewhere. Another reviewer mentioned a map online, and maybe that would help, because there's only three that I know of at the park- one at each entrance. Once you get into the trails you're on your own. So now, I rarely go to Ault, because I feel like I can't share my favorite aspects of it with my four legged friend. And she loves to smell flowers! read more

Cincinnati and environs have many green parks. They are there for you! As a child, this was my park to explore and play. In an era, my family collected native arrowheads there. Today they have a pavilion, gardens and maybe snow sledding from the pavilion toward Lunken. Easy to visit by car and by foot, continuing. read more

Ahh, Ault Park. There are many reasons why this is my favorite park in Cincinnati. It's big enough that you can jog through it a few times and not feel like you're going absolutely nowhere. It has a couple little gardens and trees all over -- beautiful in the fall with the multicolored leaves, and also during spring when everything is blooming again. It's also surrounded by a neighborhood with those big, old houses and their unique architecture, which is cool to look at when you get bored of trees and flowers. There's the regular path, and then there's a trail. One time my friend and I followed that trail, which led to some cottage-shack in the middle of this clearing in the woods, which was under an abandoned rusty bridge. I got all excited and felt like a 10 year old discovering a new world. (Or something.) Last time I came to walk around with my family and bask in the sunshine, there was a girls' soccer practice going on, and just a few feet from them was a guy tossing a ball to his dog. Just a few feet from that was a sign that said "No Ball Playing/No Dogs", but luckily no one seemed to be able to read or care. I also saw Mr. Mom going for a jog as he pushed his son around in a stroller, and a few couples sitting on the long central lawn or benches. There's always someone around, but never a crowd, which is good cuz I hate crowds. I've never been one to go to the park just because, but this is where I'd go if I was! read more

Everyone's assessment of this park is spot on. It is one of the coolest parks around. It's got a pavilion that has a rooftop and makes you feel like a king. Well, in my case, a king with zubaz. Ya' see the last time I was there were the early 90's. And high tops, tie-dyed shirts and baggy pants were in style. As far as I saw in/around Cincy (since I didn't have cable tv and my knowledge of fashion was dictated by the 2nd season of "Saved By The Bell"). I also remember a cool fountain in the back. It's just great design! Oh side anecdote...they had a payphone there (when I was a teen) that a buddy and I use to use a paperclip to get free phone calls. We didn't even have anyone to call. But that was cool. Beautiful hikes. A place to make out. I was back this winter holiday. I was driving around my parents hoping to get a photo opportunity there, but overshot the place and ended up in Mt. Lookout...total failure. I guess my memory wasn't like it use to be. But I still have fond...uh...hazy recollections (?) read more

One of the many beautiful parks in the Cincinnati area! It is great for running, with lots of hills and variety. There are a few little hiking trails, and tons of wonderful scenery and flowers (so great for pictures)! Ault Park is a place to visit year round, and a lot of people do their senior pictures/prom pictures/weddings here. Come visit one of our best parks in Cincinnati! read more

As a native West-sider, I've been accustomed to decent parks. Not so great, but good enough in my young mind because of the swings and such. Clearly, I was missing out. I've heard of Ault Park but had never really checked it out. One day, I decided that I wanted to go hiking and checked out trail maps in Cincinnati. Lo and behold, in my backyard, Ault Park has some gnarly trails or at least that's what the map indicated. I was overwhelmed by how gorgeous this park is. The roads are hilly and windy. Runners sprinkle the sidewalks as they power through borderline-mountainous inclines. The shelter is pretty and the flower garden not far from the shelter is like a little peace of rest and relaxation. Seeing all the colorful flowers with the sunsetting in the background just brought a smile to my face. The flowers made me happy but the trails made me excited! Once you meander into the woods, you feel transported to the Smokey Mountains. There are steep drops, wild flowers, fallen trees to climb/hop over (don't try to hurdle these...you will end up with scrapes and bruises - yes, this is from personal experience) and makeshift wigwams. I'm not kidding. They are giant and a little startling to come across at first... perhaps startling is the wrong word, maybe confused? Also, You can make a game of the trails by flipping a coin to decide which trail to blaze as you reach the many junctions. Note: make sure you bring proper gym shoes and keep your eyes open! Don't want to slip and hurt yourself! All in all, this is a decent hiking trail that will make you sweat if you put in the effort. read more

Great space! Parking is nice and the park has a lot of green space! The on site shelter is really pretty and has Victorian flare. Beautiful views as well! read more

Ault Park is one of the reasons I decided yes, I could live in Cincinnati after four years of New York. It's no Central Park, but it has a few of the things that Central Park boasts without the crowds: beautiful, spacious lawns where you can sprawl and sunbathe or throw a frisbee (to the chagrin of the sunbathers), stunning views of the city, running trails, Greco-Roman architecture, and stroll-able gardens. read more

I love this park. In the summer, there are weddings here almost every weekend. The beautiful gardens are perfect for a summer stroll, or you can sit under the vines on a bench to enjoy a good book, or to people-watch. If you're a photographer, there are so many place to take photos-- trails, pavilion, fountain, the architecture. There's a nice playground for kids, and a larger grassy area to play other group sports. Parking is plentiful, so this is a park that is perfect to visit again and again. read more

Coolest park in CinCity (cheesy, I know). Ault Park is a great place to play with your kids, go for a bike ride/jog, have a football game, or simply relax. Also, the park is big enough so that nobody feels cramped in the midst of the various activities. In the summer, there is a 4th of july fireworks display, which is always fun to attend. There is also a wedding pavilion in the more quaint side of the area. Great place. Ideal if visiting the Cincinnati/Hyde Park area and family gatherings. read more

My daughter and now son-in-law were married at Ault in their beautiful outdoor gardens, then the reception in the building with much outdoor. If you are planning a wedding....THE BEST BEST BEST!!!! read more

On any regular, beautiful day (and even the not-so-beautiful ones) you'll find couples getting their engagement photos done here, and for good reason: Ault Park is one gorgeous place. The first time I went to Ault Park was to watch and photograph a friend during a bike race; the second time I went to Ault Park was to photograph an engagement shoot. Even if I weren't photographing anything specifically, I'd be a fool not to bring my camera. There's always something new I learn about this park each time I go (for instance, the lap around the common area and pavilion is not flat, a lesson I learned the hard way while trying to run as hard as I could for a mile). I can't imagine a season or time of the year when this park isn't spectacular, and that goes for all of the parks in the incredible Cincinnati Park System, something I've come to appreciate and love in my few years of living in the area. read more

This is a park worth visiting over and over again. It's so large, it's hard to experience it all in one trip. And as the seasons change, so does the landscape. Ault Park is really as beautiful in the winter as it is in spring. If you're a flower lover, check out the huge garden area. If you're a runner, there are plenty of sidewalks for you. If you have kids, the south side of the park has a nice playground area. Going hiking? Start at the northern side and there are plenty of trails to choose from. The fancy shelter that sits at the highest point in the park is rented out for several weddings every weekends, but there are plenty of other areas with picnic tables (some with great views) if you're looking to host a get-together. Parking is easy. This is definitely one of my favorite Cincinnati Parks. read more

My first visit to Ault Park! I hear a lot of people talking about what a great place this is for Senior Pictures! I had to check it out! This place is a dog's world! Lots of fur babies here! I was surprised the locals weren't familiar with the train tracks! There are a few obvious sites but the real secret is on the hiking trail. Find the train tracks here! It was a little muddy today but we still had fun! Definitely worth the visit and a great workout for anyone! Plan to check it out again early spring! read more

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Perhaps the best of the 100+ City parks with over 200 Acres. Stunning building "recovered" in the 80' and 90's. Proud to have been part of the rebuilding the Gardens and helping to encourage fund-raising-one of the winners is the children's playground. A perfect place for picnics, group parties, 4th of July celebration, birthday parties and weddings to name a few. read more

I love going to the park! It's always wonderful. It's clean and has the most amazing structures! Gorgeous gardens. Wonderful walking paths. I wish you could have access to the restrooms at the pavilion during the day. Apparently, they're only open during events. read more

This park is absolutely gorgeous! The scenic views are awesome! This park is very popular with Photographers and I understand why. My daughters and I have been here to have pics done. You can walk, bike, play on the playgrounds, or enjoy a picnic. read more

Ault Park is one of the more well known parks on the east side of town. This large park is also one of the most picturesque in the city. If you follow Observatory Avenue in Hyde Park, it will lead you directly into the heart of the park. The park has beautiful rolling grassy hills and very few roads through the park. There are pretty gardens and a stunning pavilion like a cherry on top of the hill. If you climb to the top of the structure, you can see pretty far! There are several trails that lead through the park and feature views of local trees and a historical hike that shows some of the oldest forests in the park. I've been to many picnics here in the park and always had a wonderful time. There are grills in some of the picnic areas that I've used to barbecue and they work pretty well. There is also a field just south of the pavilion that is perfect for playing football or soccer. Don't forget to check out the gorgeous art deco fountain! read more

I can't believe the Pavilion at Ault Park was at one time condemned by the city and almost torn down! It's a true example of how people need to band together to save and transform our city gems! read more

Been going here since I was a kid and is it a beautiful place to go just to walk around preferrably during spring time . Good place to do a family lunch too . read more

Beautiful park..it has everything, nice views and pretty nature. it's also perfect for grilling with plenty of grills. it has one kids playground with swings and slides and another small one with only swings. The hiking trails there are beautiful, a little bit challenging though (if you like going up and down small hills). There are wide spaces in some areas people use to throw and catch Frisbee disc or play football/soccer. my one complaint is that when we went there for grilling on a weekend early April, the park had many people BUT no restroom was opened to public at that day. they had a sign saying Restroom closed for the season! it's really weird not to find restrooms opened in such a popular park. read more

Beautiful park for a picnic, a relaxing walk, or doing some nature or portrait photography. Free entrance and plenty of parking. I was there most recently for an outdoor photography class and it was a great setting with lots of beautiful scenery to serve as subject and backdrop. read more

This park is gorgeous! My husband and I did our engagement photos here. It was the perfect spot for fantastic photos with the beautiful European style gardens and the stone buildings. read more

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I just adore this place! From the gardens which are a great place for photography in spring/early summer, to the pavilion, to the trails. The separate lawns are good for a game of frisbee or even a picnic. Seems to be the place to take a honey. They also host some fun events during the summer, check the schedule. On wednesdays they have cycling races which are a blast to watch, they just go round and round, also good for photography. Some thursdays they have dancing and I even heard of Yoga. Also host the Reggae Run. Beautiful place to get out and enjoy fresh air. read more

Most Beautiful Park in Cincinnati! It's huge, has great views. Lots of swings for the kids or room to play wiffle ball. Take a long stroll through the gardens, visit the fountain or pull a picnic table and put something on the grill while you enjoy a glass of wine. This park seriously has it all! Lots of easy parking and many places to go and explore. read more

Ault Park is one of my favorite parks in Cincinnati. It is vast, for one thing, and gorgeous for another. It's a fun place to do amateur nature photography, and it seems quite a few people do the non-amateur variety. I have seen everything from wedding photos, engagement photos, and even first communion photos in and around the gardens and pavilion. I love strolling through the adopt-a-plot gardens, from early spring to fall, watching how they change with the seasons. In early spring, a trip to Ault Park is a must, just to see the cherry trees in bloom. From the top of the pavilion, the view is amazing. You can even see the top of the observatory from there, which I think is really neat. The nature trails are not for the meek, as they are incredibly hilly, but totally worth the climb down and back up, as they provide a fantastic workout. There are tons of events at the park, so always check to see if there is something going on, as you might end up having to park along the side and walk up the hill into the park. Honestly, that's not the biggest deal if you were going to the park to run around anyway. I find this to be one of the most peaceful parks to jog around in, even when there's a bit of a crowd. I especially enjoy turning on my zombie runner app and pretending the park is infested with biters. read more