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    East Fork State Park

    3.8 (37 reviews)

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    Paul P.

    Enjoyed an late morning and afternoon here for a High School rowing competition. Ample parking for only three teams competing. Unfortunately the bathrooms were still closed - it's past the start of spring, folks...get your facilities un-winterized! Overall though, it's a nice park and lake.

    Morning kayaking
    Tabitha W.

    Not too many good-sized lakes near Cincinnati, so we drove out to check out East Fork Lake a couple times this summer. We were going to attempt kayaking, but when we arrived mid-afternoon on a Saturday, it was very crowded. There were many people hanging out by the launch area, and already quite a few boats in the area. We decided to try swimming instead, and had to walk down a fair ways to find a space that allowed us to keep distanced. Under the water, there are so many large rocks, it is hard to walk comfortably. Unsurprisingly, there was not a single mask on the beach - I know it's tricky in this kind of environment, but they're needed for when you're walking around. We came back early on a weekday morning, and the conditions were much better for kayaking. The beach was empty. We saw seagulls and herons, but no turtles. We kept an eye out for the bigger boats - one definitely didn't see us until last minute - and we had to paddle a lot to check out the far sides of the lake.

    View from the campground boat dock
    Elyse F.

    Huge park. We were there to paddle. As such, we did not check out any of the trails. Boat launch was fairly busy. If paddling, be aware that motorboats are allowed on the lake. There is a no wake area, but that is near the boat launch. It wouldn't be very enjoyable to just stay in that area and paddle. There were boats really hauling out there. Still, it was a nice lake to paddle in the Fall. Based on how busy it was, I think it would almost be too busy to enjoy in the summer. Despite a recent cleanup, I saw quite a bit of trash on the shores. It was interesting to see seagulls inland. I tried to get a picture of them but it just didn't come out well. One of the boat launch areas is currently under construction. (Fall 2019) The boat launch at the campground is still available. The day we went there was a trick or treat event happening later that night. As such, the streets were going to be closed at 4:30pm. It ment we had a limited window to paddle. I was shocked at how full the campgrounds were. People take this event seriously. Campsites were decorated for Halloween. This wasn't just a few decorations hung. Tents and campgrounds were adorned with inflatables, and other large-scale decorations.

    Cary S.

    My favorite place to mountain bike. Trails for beginner-advanced. Can get a little crowded on the weekend. Around 12 miles total w beautiful scenery.

    Backing packing trail
    Martha C.

    Decided to go trail running in East Fork State Park the other day. A couple of things I noticed. For pro's, the place is huge and offers a lot of space for many different activities. They have backpacking, mountain biking, boating, beaching, horseback riding etc. There are multiple camp sites and you can even pitch a tent in the middle of the woods, if your heart desires. During my run I saw more than a few deer and squirrel, so that is pretty cool as well. As for cons, the signage here is awful! I drove by the trails multiple times because I didn't realize where they started. During my run I noticed that a few other people were having issues as well, they were driving slow and looking all around trying to figure out where to go. Oh and also, bad signage doesn't just apply to the roads, it applies to the trails too. I ended up getting lost on a 12 mile trail because I couldn't make out the paint on the trees, which is what directs you through the trail. All I know is that my 30/40 minute trail run ended up being 3.5 hours. Yikes! Tip: Get a map at the "Marine Station". You will need it!

    Courtesy of Ohio State Parks Website
    Dan J.

    East Fork is a peculiar place. The center of the park is a manmade lake where the land was flooded but many trees were left standing, so be careful when taking a boat into certain spots of the lake. The fishing there can be decent, but sometimes East Fork even experiences bouts of Red Tide, which makes for a bad day at the beach. That's unfair because there is plenty good about it: a large campground, tons of hiking, biking, and even horse-riding trails for people with all kinds of different interests. East Fork Lake may not be the real deal, but for many on the east side of Cincinnati, it's a great way to get away.

    View from boat ramp
    Heather L.

    I struggle with what I really think of this park, because it is so big, and there is so much more that I havent even explored yet, so I may update in the future, but so far we are at 3 stars for what I have seen/used. The main thing I have done is kayaking, and I try to go at less crowded times when there isn't the threat of tons of bigger speed boats on the lake causing a lot of wake. On the most recent day I went, there were quite a few motor boats, but staying on the outskirts worked out fine, and there are some no wake areas near the 3 boat ramps and beach. Sadly when paddling the outskirts there is a TON of garbage on the shores. There is lots of cool wildlife, but the water is pretty murky, definitely wouldnt swim here. There is a small beach on one side, but it is pretty gravely sand. There are several nice docks for people without boats to walk out on. This lake must have a ton of fish because they were jumping up all around the boat, so bring your fishing pole! I have also done some hiking here, but so far the areas explored haven't been super impressive. There is also novice mountain biking which is nice. Not one time that i've been here have I seen a park employee which I think is odd. Havent tried the camping area or horse trails yet. Mostly, the draw of this park is it is within 3 miles of my house so I can ride my bike here, or barely secure the kayak for the short drive.

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    3 years ago

    Awesome park for hiking, boating and fishing! Stay under the speed limit when driving around the park.

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    3 years ago

    Great park and fishing. Super get away for a few days from the rat race. Make new friends at the. Campground. Try it !

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    It was we all had a good but thay did not have Any percoions to keep us 6 feet that it the only this that was bad

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    Ask the Community - East Fork State Park

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    Cincinnati Nature Center Long Branch Farm & Trails

    Cincinnati Nature Center Long Branch Farm & Trails

    5.0(2 reviews)
    16.7 mi

    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.

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    Cincinnati Nature Center Long Branch Farm & Trails
    Cincinnati Nature Center Long Branch Farm & Trails
    Cincinnati Nature Center Long Branch Farm & Trails - This big guy floated up to see what was happening

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    This big guy floated up to see what was happening

    Redbird Hollow Preserve

    Redbird Hollow Preserve

    4.1(9 reviews)
    15.0 miVillage of Indian Hill

    Love this hidden, scenic and dog-friendly trail! We didn't take the entire trail but it is set on…read more54 acres and is complete with a marked trail and creek. There is a small parking lot at the entrance and is right off the roadway. We took our pup here and it's great for off-leash or on-leash exploring. A lot of dogs are off-leash so if your dog isn't comfortable around that, I would suggest finding a different trail. It's a beautiful walk and enjoyable exploration but my only mark is the sign into the trail, telling you to not let the dogs get in the water. Apparently there is a contamination in the water so it could be harmful for pups. Not sure how old that sign is BUT a lot of dogs were in the creek and by that I mean every single person with their dogs so I'm not sure what is up with that but that definitely marked a star off for us because Opie loves playing in the water. We'd definitely hit the trail again and we would recommend it to anyone looking for a good hike or wanting to spend an active afternoon with your pup!

    Great location for pets. Off leash. I love trails that are…read moreoff the beaten path. It's not overcrowded. I would recommend wearing comfortable/hiking shoes. It's not rocky, but it is not smooth (not pavement). I love coming here on the weekend mornings. It's quiet, peaceful and my pet frenchie loves it. One of my favorite walking spots. I would say it's roughly 2-3 miles long.

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    Redbird Hollow Preserve
    Redbird Hollow Preserve
    Redbird Hollow Preserve

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    Quiet Trails State Nature Preserve - Licking River.

    Quiet Trails State Nature Preserve

    4.5(2 reviews)
    31.3 mi

    Quiet Trails was my find of the year!…read more I am hesitant to write a review because putting it on the Yelp map might make it a little less secretive. I only found out about this place through word of mouth from a few friends as there is very little information online. For the locals in Harrison County, Quiet Trails has been a popular hiking spot along the Licking River. This year-round hiking trail loops 1.7 miles down to the river and back up. The loop is actually two different trails that meet up at the same point - so you can choose to go down and up the same path, or go back on the other path. We initially choose what we thought was the more difficult path (Challenger Trail) to get down to the river, and the 'easier' path back up -- but I think it should have been marked the other way around. One path is rather wide and easy to see -- the other (Deep Hollow) is very narrow and goes through some very steep areas. While some areas are clearly the path, some parts were a little bit harder to see and we had to use intuition to figure out which way to go. Yet, it is a stunningly gorgeous hike, especially on the Deep Hollow path. We were told that it would be an easy, short hike. It wasn't easy or short at all with a toddler that wanted to be carried nearly the entire time. Once we got to the river, we had a little bit of a break as he wanted to wade and splash, but we were eager to get out of the heat and back in the car. By the end of the hike, my back was so sore (can you guess who carried the kid most of the time?). We will try to come back when my child is a bit older and more willing to walk himself, or just without him on a day date. If your kids are used to hiking or over the age of five, they will most likely be fine. Also, the GPS will take you here -- but be prepared to be a bit confused as you drive through back roads to find this place. The little gravel pull-off [parking lot] with the gate and a small sign is actually the entrance to the preserve. You'll have to shimmy through the fence to get to the paths. We were so confused if we were even in the right place until we saw a person that was a seasoned hiker in this area. Thank goodness! Oh, and bring a stick to knock down some spider webs. I'm excited to come back here next summer and do more hiking!

    This is a nature preserve and doesn't allow dogs, including on a leash. There is a large sign at…read morethe start of the trail. It's a lovely area and the trail looked promising.

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    Quiet Trails State Nature Preserve
    Quiet Trails State Nature Preserve

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    Edge of Appalachia Preserve

    Edge of Appalachia Preserve

    5.0(2 reviews)
    40.8 mi

    Great all around destination for a hike. Trails are well maintained, and the Buzzardroost Rock…read moretrail was a good out and back with some variety, about 4.5 miles overall. Glad we arrived early in the morning due to the Summer heat, but also because once we arrived at the overlook, the fog was moving through the mountains and valleys creating an even more scenic experience. Anxious to return in the Fall! And my husband thoroughly enjoyed the curvy driving roads we took to get there!!

    DO NOT GO ALONE! Well I did but I wouldn't suggest it! This trail is way out there on an…read moreAppalachia mountain. Not an easy trail to find or to hike! Storms that have came through have left trees blocking path. Going over the trees is not that difficult but there was this one tree trunk that came to a sharp point. I don't think very many people travel this path (hence why there's a box so that if you're never heard from again someone some day might find your name in the box). I went in the trail at 7pm figuring I could get a good hike in in an hour (but that didn happen barely made it out before dark). but because the trail is long i just wanted to keep going; however, definitely remember the BEARS - something I wasn't expecting either. Oh, and FYI when you do sight a bear you are supposed to let the local ranger know - which I'm not even sure where a ranger would be up there?... Again nice hike but don't go alone. I survived but I also came across a bear and almost broke my ankle (high ankle sprain) and I could still be out there hoping someone would travel this path.

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    Edge of Appalachia Preserve
    Edge of Appalachia Preserve
    Edge of Appalachia Preserve

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    Carter Park

    Carter Park

    5.0(1 review)
    25.1 mi

    WOW, OH WOW! I've been trying to hit a different park or hiking trail each weekend during these…read morewinter months, and most of the time, it includes a 40 minute drive from Loveland, Ohio. I stumbled upon this park about 15 minutes from my house, right behind Kings Island. I actually have had a few local friends suggest this park to me, and when I looked up the park on AllTrails, all of the trails were about 2 miles. I didn't really think it would be worth the time... And oh, how I was wrong! This park is directly next to a Kings Mills elementary school. There is a huge mansion, and a driveway to the left of this large house. There is a small parking lot in front of this beautiful old barn with a mural painted on it. At first, I thought I must be in the wrong place, as it did not look like a hiking trail. There is a blacktop version of a trail close to the old barn with signs for an archery shooting range, but if you go behind the barn towards the elementary school, there is a patch of woods and a hiking trail to the right (it's kind of hidden). You want this trail! I did pull up the AllTrails app, but I got curious, trying to explore all of the trails that lead off of the main trail. I did 3 miles, and I didn't even hit the trail that was marked through the AllTrails app. I'm always looking for a place to mountain bike, and you can tell that there have been some people biking through these trails. They have put logs over a creek beds, and placed rocks in muddy places. It is a fantastic, hiking trail, especially if you were in the mood to explore-- but I can't wait to bring my mountain bike next time! There are several trails that head towards the river. So if you were looking for an opportunity to explore the Little Miami riverbed, choose the trails that head down towards the river. Honestly, the most fun of this hiking trail was getting off of the trail to explore. Since the water level was very low, I was able to walk out to the edge of the Little Miami River and hang out in the riverbeds. I definitely had the park to myself... So definitely be aware of your surroundings. I did feel completely safe; however, you can tell they are definitely some kid to hang out towards the water. There is lots of graffiti down by the river and a place people have had fires. Regardless, it is a super cool property to explore. Interestingly enough, the guy who used to own this property started Kings Mills, Ohio. He supplied gunpowder to the famous Peters cartridge factory that has just been redone into a brewery. This mansion and park sits at the top of the small town of Kings Mills, and the property weaves down to the river, not too far from the Peters factory. If you are local and have not been to this park yet, check it out! I'm learning that you don't have to drive 45 minutes outside of the city to find some really neat places to explore! What a gem!

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    Carter Park
    Carter Park
    Carter Park

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    East Fork State Park - hiking - Updated May 2026

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