Overlooking the New River from the Endless Wall Trail. Photo by Jared Musgrave.
Believe it or not; Cincinnati sits between some notable natural areas that are nationally, if not globally, recognized and praised. Due to Cincinnati’s picturesque placement at the confluence of the Ohio River, the city historically was known for river commerce and various manufactorings. Because of the city’s strategic placement and liveliness in the late 1800’s, it was often referred to as the “Queen City of the West”.
Jumping forward through the Industrial Revolution and emergence of natural area conservancy, Cincinnati’s strategic placement led it to being graced with numerous other accessible cities and parks.
As warmer weather approaches, many venture far from Cincinnati to go on vacation or experience scenic nature; not knowing that some of the most beautiful areas of the country are a short road trip away from the inner city.
Let’s dive into 5 of my favorite hikes within a 5 hour radius of Cincinnati. Yes, there are plenty of moderate hikes with gorgeous scenery EVEN CLOSER than an hours drive; but this is for those who are looking for a little more adventure to spice up their summer road trip.
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5. Gunpowder Creek – Burlington, KY
6750 Sperti Ln, Burlington, KY 41005
Gunpowder Creek comes in at number 5 because of its accessibility. This is an easy day hike coming from the city and is surprisingly hidden in the middle of suburbia in Burlington, KY. So, you won’t have to go far to reach the trailhead and have plenty of surrounding lunch options to wrap up your day. Parking is limited in the main lot so you may have to find street parking. The approach starts with a steep decline, which is easy to walk down, but you will definitely feel the burn coming back up. After following the trail down into a few switchbacks, your jaw will job at the beauty of the stretch of river you quickly approach. From there, you can follow Gunpowder Creek for a seemingly endless amount of time, but it does eventually connect to the Ohio River. The trail stops long before the river, but if you’re adventurous enough to follow through downstream, you will be gifted with awesome swimming holes and small waterfalls. At a glance, this may be the cleanest stretch of river in the Northern Kentucky area.
4. Glen Helen Multi Trail Loop – Yellow Springs, OH
405 Corry Street, Inman Trail, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
Glen Helen is a nature preserve right outside of downtown Yellow Springs. The city of Yellow Springs is an absolute Ohio gem and, until recently, one of Ohio’s best kept secrets. You can easily spend the whole day hiking in the surrounding areas and exploring the various happenings of this quaint city and make it back to Cincinnati for dinner. You can also stay for the
night at a campsite or one of the various Bed and Breakfasts! The Glen Helen Multi Trail loop connects some of the best hikes. The loop trail is about 3 miles long and will take you along some gorgeous rock structures and waterfalls as the Little Miami River carves its way through the area. This hike is also very well known for bird watching and is a moderately / heavily trafficked area, so be prepared for other hikers. Also, due to the park almost shutting down due to a lack of funding, there is a $5 parking fee to help with donations and mitigate the amount of cars parked in the limited lots. A great day trip, or stay for the weekend if you want to fully explore the small city of Yellow Springs!
3. Highlands Nature Sanctuary – Fruitdale, Ohio
7660 Cave Rd, Bainbridge, OH 45612
A lot of people are surprised when told that Ohio has beautiful, natural attractions. Before heading west, try heading east; specifically to Fruitdale, Ohio. This area has yet to be overrun with tourists and is, in my opinion, Southern Ohio’s best kept secret (which was once Yellow Springs until famous comedian Dave Chappele moved to the area, thus shining national attention on this once hidden city). Only an hour and a half east from the city, you will begin to enter the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. The area is home to a large Amish community and has deep Native American roots. There are loads of riverways perfect for kayaking, long hikes that loop upwards of 14 miles, and great climbing boulders. A perfect getaway for the city adventurer who is trying to get some serious sends in and really push their trail hiking experience.
2. Indian Staircase, Red River Gorge
3451 Sky Bridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380
This would not be a legit list of Best Hikes in the area if it didn’t have at least one in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, the crown jewel of the state. For those that are familiar, you know that the Gorge could have an extensive list of it’s own, but one if it’s most notable is Indian Staircase. Known for its near vertical rock scramble up it’s sandstone rock face, this hike will make you work for its beauty. The 3 mile loop takes longer than most hikes of that length due to the 643 feet of elevation gain, of which is mostly vertical with some heavy switchbacks at the start. The journey though is very much rewarded when you reach the top and are surrounded by one of the most unique views in the whole park. Atop of this horse shoe like rock structure that loops all the way around to other great hikes like Cloud Splitter, you will experience a vastness of beautiful treelines and distant sandstone. Bonus points if you go in the fall while the leaves are changing colors, a breathtaking spectacle.
1. Endless Wall Trail
Endless Wall Trail, Edmond, WV 25837
As the idea of what would be considered “the most beautiful” is subjective in any matter, I don’t think it’s up for debate that the New River Gorge holds the east coast title as it was just recently / finally recognized as a National Parking; making it America’s most recent National Park,
protecting it from ever being industrialized or developed. The New River being one of the oldest rivers on the continent and also a part of the long stretch of Appalachian Mountain, this is the furthest drive from Cincinnati, but easily roadtrip-able, clocking in at about 4.5 hours. In the heart of the park, trekking alongside the gorgeous new river, you will find the Endless Wall Trail. The trail is well-kept with numerous small bridges over creeks and some stairs down inclines. You can even climb down ladders to get to the bottom of the 300 foot cliff you are hiking along, which is great for rock climbers, of which you’ll see plenty of on this hike due to the world class sandstone rock face heavily sought after by any climbing enthusiast. As you exit the wetter areas and begin to enter the sea of sandstone boulders, you will eventually approach the most gorgeous overlook within driving distance from Cincinnati, a surreal gaze over the New River with a seemingly endless wall structure vectoring into the distance. From there, you will continue to walk along the ridge with nothing but panoramic beauty at all angles. This is a must do hike for those willing to go the extra mile.
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As there are plenty of gorgeous hiking, climbing, kayaking, bird watching, adventure opportunities within a short radius of Cincinnati, these top 5 are sure to satisfy any nature enthusiasts or someone new to hiking, looking to get out of the city.
Getting to your destination is vital, and having the right transportation will allow you to even be more prepared. The new Ford Bronco Sports are perfect everyday drivers as well as camping vehicles with accessories geared towards adventure enthusiasts. We also have Jeeps and trucks that will rip through any backcountry situation you find yourself in.
You can review our extensive collection of vehicles at MarkWilliamsAutoGroup.com and find your perfect adventure vehicle.
Please read any rules and guidelines of these areas before approaching and ALWAYS respect the wildlife and these preserved areas. BE SAFE when going on more difficult hikes and wear proper gear. Most importantly, get outside and have fun!
Nick Schultz
Creative Specialist
Mark Williams Auto Group
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