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Hiking Near Cincinnati — Go on Hike, Any Hike will Do

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 Finding time to hike is hard.

Hiking Near Cincinnati

I know sometimes life comes at you from a thousand different directions and finding time for hiking near Cincinnati or any hiking is difficult.

We all have family and employment responsibilities that add to our stress but if you can slip away just for a few moments…

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Maybe you can do something just for yourself for a change.

You are the glue for your family and friends.

You need to be strong, clear headed, and happy.

I encourage you to go for a hike for yourself — there are plenty of hiking places near Cincinnati.

Even if it is just a wee-little hike

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Take a moment for yourself when you are running errands or taking your break.

When I worked for the state, the building I worked in had lovely ponds behind it. The ponds were the remnants of an old fish hatchery and filled with scores of small fish.

I would slip away several times during the day, to stroll around the ponds to clear my head.

On my breaks, I did yoga while watching green and great blue herons stalk little fish.

In the fall, scores of migrating cedar waxwings would curl into the protected oasis of these ponds. The flock would fly in great right-handed swirling patterns, scooping low over the surface of the water stirring up the insects, and then the cedar waxwings would take turns diving through the cloud of insects much like various species of whales hunt.

You can capture time like this too.

Maybe wake a little earlier — this only works if you promise and keep your promise to yourself that this time is for you! Not so you can get done more stuff. Stuff to do will always accumulate.

Or, what if you actually took your lunch break?

Take a side trip on the way home and let the traffic clear while you go hiking.

Recently, we were returning from a trip to Indiana and since I don’t commute anymore, I forgot all about rush hour traffic. I was on 275 between Mosteller and 42 going no where fast when I realized, we don’t have to sit in this traffic we could be hiking in Hamilton County Park’s Sharon Woods or hiking at Trammel Fossil Park.

I took the Sharonville exit and we went fossil hunting at Trammel Fossil Park for almost two hours or hiking and exploring Cincinnati’s rich history!

We got a little carried away but I was watching the traffic from our vantage point and peeking at Google maps.

We wouldn’t have been home any sooner than we eventually got home because there had been a couple of accidents on all the roads we could have taken. Instead of sitting in a car with two bored children, we collected tiny brachiopods, corals, and hiked the rocky bots of Cincinnati’s ancient sea floor!

The kids still talk about it!

A hike through the woods sure beats sitting in rush hour traffic that isn’t going anywhere.

The holiday season is bearing down. Family is coming into visit. Your traveling to visit family. Ads are screaming for you to spend, spend, spend.

I’m begging you to spend time on yourself!

Here is my poem to help you remember to go hiking around Cincinnati or where ever you are:

Go on a hike

Any hike will do

Just go on a hike

A hike just for you.

California Woods (1)

 

HIKE OFTEN. LIVE MORE.

 

Press Release: 5 Cincinnati Fall Hiking Destinations Inside of the I-275 Loop

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For Immediate Release

October 3, 2014

Media Contact: Tammy York, author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati

 

5 Fall Hiking Havens

By: Tammy York, author 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH – As the leaves start to change color and cool weekends beckon us outdoors, it is good to know that you don’t need to travel far to find a great place to hike in the Cincinnati area. Be prepared for your hike: wear comfortable sneakers or hiking boots and good water wicking socks. Bring at least 8 ounces of water and, of course, a snack. And, follow Leave No Trace Principles by packing out what you packed in.

Great Parks of Hamilton County’s Winton Woods and Sharon Woods feature paved pathways that allow greater access for all levels of mobility. Winton Woods Kingfisher Trail meanders through a wooded area, wetland, and near a stream before heading up hill and returning to the start.

Sharon Woods paved trail includes the fitness trail as well as the trail that encircles Sharon Lake. This is an easy place to hike with kids whether they are on foot or in a stroller. Photographers will find a plethora of fall photo opportunities.

Cincinnati Parks’ Caldwell Preserve trails zigzag and loop under the forest canopy of old growth and new plantings. Treading up and down the hills is a decent workout. A paved section of trail near the nature center is accessible so everyone has a chance to enjoy the woods. Several stopping points allow for you to step off the trail and take in the beauty of the forest.

Another Cincinnati Parks is Ault Park with trails that weave up and down hillsides and along a stream corridor. Catch a glimpse of some of Cincinnati unique geology as well as taking time to wander around the gorgeous gardens and pavilion.

Mount Airy Forest, a Cincinnati Parks’ property, is an enormous greenspace with 1,459 acres of woodlands waiting to be explored via the extensive network of trails. Maps and a good sense of direction will help you a lot here. Plenty of hills and steps to climb make for a fantastic workout.

Remember trail safety begins with you. Always tell someone you trust where you are going and when you expect to be back. Pack plenty of water, a snack, trail map, mobile phone, and a small first aid kit. Know what the weather is and never go hiking if there is severe weather. Know your limitations and don’t over exert yourself. Take time to enjoy being outdoors in the fresh air.

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Tufted titmouse seeking seeds.
Ault Park (3)
Chipmunk at Ault Park.

Tammy York, author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati, is a seasoned professional naturalist, hiker, and writer.