Conveniently located around the corner of the prominently featured tank at the national guard,…read moreGilmore Ponds Metropark is credited with keeping me alive through a harrowing year. This is my favorite type of park - a hidden gem of true nature among the warehouses and blight of industrialism. If you have the Merlin bird app, keep it listening here. I always get at least 15+ different birds in my loop around the ponds. In the trees you can see hundreds of birds nests, they look like little apartments. You can often find people out here with giant lenses hoping to catch a glimpse. The walking loop is a perfect distance for me. It's about 2.1 miles and if you take the optional traces you can make it even longer. My dog is not really into walking that far, but too bad for him. Also got my first mosquito bite of 2026 here! Be warned that when it rains, the beginning path at the Gilmore entrance can flood and come up through the holes, so watch your step. One of my favorite places in this part of Ohio, and I'll miss it dearly! Big gratitude to the people who keep this a wonderful place to experience nature. PS - Dogs are supposed to be on leash here. But in fall/winter, there aren't many others around, so they may not be...

Nice wetland space with a bird blind to look out at the water and forest to see what critters can…read morebe found. We headed left onto the boardwalk from the small parking lot and headed through a wooded area before we found ourselves walking alongside the ponds. The way the woods and boardwalk are situated, it seems likely they are seasonal wetlands, but on the cold crisp day of our visit, the ponds were the first water we spotted. We headed back to check out the bird blind, which is nicely constructed and features some helpful signage. Unfortunately, someone had left poop inside of the structure. Other than that unpleasant surprise, the area was very nice and a good place to visit.

Such a wonderful park. There is a little bit of something for everyone. Sports fields, playground,…read morewalking/hiking trails, picnic shelters, disc golf and lakes. Grounds are well kept. Fishing is a popular activity at this park. We did not catch anything. People around us (socially distanced,) had much better luck. Signs indicate restrictions on how much of each species of fish a person is allowed to keep. The other lake is more of a wetland area, and more of a walk from the parking lot. I'm not sure if fishing is allowed there. A paved walking path snakes around the lake, allowing for beautiful views your whole walk. The clouds picturesquely reflect off of the water. Mature trees keep walkers cool. Benches are available to enjoy the scenic views. Path itself is wide. It is an easy walk. I like that the playground and sports field are a bit separated. It keeps the lake a peaceful place. Parking for the two areas is a bit seperate as well. There are a series different terrain trails. These are paved, gravel and natural trails. I for one look forward to exploring this peach of a park more. Our visit barely scratched the surface of what Alexandria Community Park has to offer.

The littering and vandalism is getting out of hand. This morning I was greeted with the sight of…read moreone of the large garbage dumpsters full of trash in the lake. It was a hell of a way to start off my morning walk on an otherwise beautiful day. Oh, the usual litter was about and I picked some up, but it gets tiresome spending your walk picking up litter.

Nice state park. Staff is sparse but friendly. Minimal infrastructure in campground but…read morebathrooms are relatively clean. Price to value for camping is a little off but not extremely out of line with current average camping rates. Tons of sites, most of which were unoccupied on weeknight in late June. Not a destination but an acceptable option in area.

Fairly large state park with a a nice size lake and beach area. We visited with the intent to…read morehike. However we checked out the lake and beach area before heading to the trail. It's a nice size sandy beach area and there were a large number of people enjoying the sunny day. We chose a trail that was shared with bicycles (unknown until we saw trailhead). And although the trail was a beautiful walk through wooded areas it was rather distracting to have to move over and be on the look out for the bikers (and they definitely outnumbered the walkers) If we visit again we will have to do more research for a footpath only trail.

Large tall play area. My kids loved it and we went early enough we were the only people around. We…read moredid not make it to the creek due to it being too far away to walk with a 2 year old and 5 year old considering it would be uphill walk on the way back.

I almost didn't want to write this review ... because this truly is a hidden gem and I don't want…read moreit to get too crowded! But, I think I've kept this awesome Burlington trail a secret for long enough. Let me start by saying that there is a park area with a playground and covered shelter and grill that looks nice and clean! On our most recent visit, there was a big cookout going on, and all of the parking spaces in the small lot were full. Don't be concerned if that's the case when you arrive ... there's plenty of street parking available in the surrounding neighborhood. And - even if the play area is full of people, we've never seen another person on the actual trail beneath the park. This trail is not for hiking amateurs. You can except a VERY steep climb back uphill at the end of your visit. There is a side path that's a little less steep - but it's very rocky with lots of switchbacks. I definitely recommend this trail for more experienced hikers. If you are a beginner and still want to check it out, just be sure you know what you're getting into. It's definitely worth the climb! My husband and I often bring our dogs for a quick spin around this trail, on both weekday and weekend mornings. When you get down to the actual river, there's plenty of wildlife to check out. Most recently, we enjoyed the blooming Honeysuckle plants, but steered clear of a few snakes in the water. Be sure to watch where you step. Check out Gunpowder Creek the next time you're looking for a unique nature hike with a bit of a challenge. You won't be disappointed.

Great park that is part of the Hamilton County Parks system and requires the affiliated parking…read morepass. It appears that the former golf course may no longer be available. There are several trails, playgrounds, some historic buildings, picnic areas, and extremely clean and well maintained restrooms. We opted for the Miami Fort trail, which offers fascinating signage about the earthworks and mounds that can be seen along parts of the trail, and about the Hopewell and Adena people who constructed them. If you take a close look at the map at the trailhead, it shows you where to look for the fort walls (to your right as you enter the fort, and there is very clear signage on the trail that indicates when you are entering and leaving the fort). We found that helpful for initially orientating ourselves, plus watching for additional signage along the way. The trail is 1.4 miles long, and you can loop all the way around the interior edge of the fort, if desired, or you can go out to the Ohio River Valley Overlook (or do both). We opted to do an out-and-back to the overlook because the other section of the loop seemed a bit overgrown. It's a very pretty forested area, and the overlook is excellent - you can see both Indiana and Kentucky from that point. There's a nice bench to sit and relax. It was definitely a popular spot as we saw several other groups moving along the trail and stopping at the lookout point. Signage at the lookout indicates that the last native group to use the area were the Shawnee, which is how the park's name was chosen. We really enjoyed the historical information and experience the lovely nature on the trail, plus the stunning view!

This was a great place for a family hike in Cincinnati. Great scenery and view of the Ohio River.read more

Right in the middle of Colerain Twp is this walking and woodsy park. You might be able to get…read moreclose to two miles if you tread on all the asphalt and graveled areas. There is a barn and activities with the Hamilton county Parks. It's so close, I can walk to the park, so I don't need my parking pass. You could park in the church parking lot next door, although I like to support the local parks. Get out and hike!!!

This is my spot! I bring my hoops, army backpack, hiking stick, etc. and go to get lost in this…read moreincredible park that feels like another world!!

Such a beautiful, family-friendly park! I had no trouble getting down to the creek with my young…read morekids, which made the visit even better. They absolutely loved playing and exploring in the water. It was also so fun seeing dogs and even horses along the trails it really adds to the charm of the whole place. We'll definitely be back!

Just across from the historic Dinsmore Homestead, this nature park doesn't have playgrounds or…read morelighted picnic shelters or basketball courts--just unblemished, idyllic countryside. The park is comprised of 230 acres and contains several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. The shallow, winding Middle Creek snakes through the verdant park and doesn't get more than a couple feet deep at its maximum depth. The hiking trails are geared toward moderately experienced hikers, because sections of the trails are steep and potentially slippery. Because of mosquitoes and other critters, it's best to wear long pants when navigating the wooded trails to avoid getting eating alive. Seriously, the bugs can get pretty nasty, but the scenery is worth a few bug bites.

Avoca Park is such a peaceful spot tucked right along the Little Miami Trail. The paths are…read morewell‑kept, the scenery is beautiful, and it's an easy place to unwind whether you're walking, biking, or just sitting by the water. Parking is convenient, and the whole area feels clean and safe. A great local escape when you want some fresh air and quiet.

Avoca seems to be more a part of the Little Miami Bike Trail than it is a park on it's own. That is…read moreunless you are there for the soccer fields/open green space. The trail itself is a paved multi-use trail that connects to other trails and parks. On a Saturday morning the trail is super busy. Cyclists, skaters, runners/joggers and walkers are all in account. There was even a guy riding his skateboard like a paddle board. The trail is smooth. There are some inclines that add a degree or three of difficulty if on a bike. From the Avoca connector trail it is an easy walk to Fifty West's new Burger Bar, as well as the Bass Island connector. A Hamilton County Great Parks parking pass is required for parking. Passes are not sold at this location.