Happiness, Connections, & Hiking
Hundreds of scientific studies show the benefits of hiking for not only your physical health but also your mental health. We humans crave being in nature and when we are deprived this green-forest-bathing experience – we get cranky.
For more detailed information, on Fort Thomas Landmark Tree Trail (pages 308-312), Cox Arboretum MetroPark (pages 55-59), and California Woods Nature Preserve (pages 162-166) in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati.
Top 10 Health and Wellness Benefits of Hiking:
- Decrease your stress levels
- Increases your contentment.
- Lowers your risk of heart disease.
- Decreases your blood sugar levels.
- Lowers your blood pressure.
- Increases bone density.
- Increases the strength of your leg and core muscles.
- Increases your ability to balance.
- Decreases your risk of mental health issues.
- Increases your sense of well-being.
- Bonus: Hiking makes you not want to smack people.
However, for some hiking is a challenge because hiking alone is an obstacle to you getting more time in nature. You might not know where to hike, be able to find the
Hiking clubs and groups are a solution to a few of those hurdles.
Let’s get you on the trail!
Here are some local…wait for…you guessed it…hiking and walking clubs to get you started!
I can’t say enough nice things about the wonderful people who run the Tri-State Hiking Club of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Here is their official spiel: This regional non-profit group dedicated to creating a community of friends who enjoy hiking. Meet other fun people who love the outdoors as much as you do! Our group meets weekly for hikes. All are welcome from beginners to experts; locals to new transplants. Come experience the outdoors with us! We hike all around the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana area. Most members are from greater Cincinnati, Dayton, or Northern Kentucky.
Hiking with Baby or Little Ones?
Hike it Baby is a group of parents who regularly meet and hike together with their children.
Hiking and learning have never been more fun (makes me wish I was a kid again) than with the Free Forest School of Cincinnati
Cincinnati Area Hiking Clubs
Cincinnati Parks Foundation Hiking Club
Great Parks of Hamilton County Walking Club
Dayton Area Hiking Clubs
Southwestern Ohio Hiking Clubs
Sierra Club International (Miami Group)
Buckeye Trail Association: Miami Rivers Chapter
American Walkers’ Association of Greater Cincinnati
Hiking Challenges
There are several hiking challenges and hiking staff programs around. Start your hiking challenge with these two Cincinnati favorites.
Cincinnati Nature Center Hike for Your Health Challenge
Great Parks Hiking Staff Program
“The Hiking Staff Program
requires that you hike seven different trails in the park district in a year. You
then become eligible to purchase a wooden hiking staff for $3. Each year
following, when you hike seven Great Parks’ trails, you are eligible to
purchase an annual metal emblem for your hiking staff for $2 (limit one emblem
per year). Additional emblems for the following parks may be purchased for
$3.95: Glenwood Gardens, Miami Whitewater Forest, Shawnee Lookout, Sharon
Woods, Winton Woods, Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve, Fernbank Park and Woodland
Mound.”
Hiking Staff Program Form PDF