Tamara York - 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Cincinnati: Including Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana

60 HIKES WITHIN 60 MILES: CINCINNATI

Copyright 2009, 2014, 2021 by Tamara York

All rights reserved

Printed in China

Published by Menasha Ridge Press

Distributed by Publishers Group West

Third edition, second printing 2021

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: York, Tamara, author.

Title: 60 hikes within 60 miles, Cincinnati : including southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana / Tamara York.

Other titles: Sixty hikes within sixty miles, Cincinnati.

Description: Third edition. | Birmingham, Alabama : Menasha Ridge Press, 2021.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020042792 (print) | LCCN 2020042793 (ebook) | ISBN 9781634042369 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781634042376 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: HikingOhioCincinnati RegionGuidebooks. | Cincinnati Region (Ohio)Guidebooks. | HikingKentuckyGuidebooks. | KentuckyGuidebooks. | HikingIndianaGuidebooks. | IndianaGuidebooks.

Classification: LCC GV199.42.O32 C528 2021 (print) | LCC GV199.42.O32 (ebook) | DDC 796.5109771/78dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020042792

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020042793

Cover design, cartography, and elevation profiles: Scott McGrew

Cover and text design: Jonathan Norberg

Back cover and interior photos, unless otherwise noted on page, by Tamara York

Indexing: Rich Carlson

MENASHA RIDGE PRESS An imprint of AdventureKEEN 2204 First Ave. S., Ste. 102 Birmingham, Alabama 35233 800-678-7006, fax 877-374-9016

Visit menasharidge.com for a complete listing of our books and for ordering information. Contact us at our website, at facebook.com/menasharidge, or at twitter.com/menasharidge with questions or comments. To find out more about who we are and what were doing, visit blog.menasharidge.com.

DISCLAIMER This book is meant only as a guide to select trails in the Cincinnati area and does not guarantee hiker safety in any wayyou hike at your own risk. Neither Menasha Ridge Press nor Tamara York is liable for property loss or damage, personal injury, or death that result in any way from accessing or hiking the trails described in the following pages. Please be aware that hikers have been injured in the Cincinnati area. Be especially cautious when walking on or near boulders, steep inclines, and drop-offs, and do not attempt to explore terrain that may be beyond your abilities. To help ensure an uneventful hike, please read carefully the introduction to this book, and perhaps get further safety information and guidance from other sources. Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the areas you intend to visit before venturing out. Ask questions, and prepare for the unforeseen. Familiarize yourself with current weather reports, maps of the area you intend to visit, and any relevant park regulations.

Dedication

To my husband, who demanded that I mention him by namethanks for always believing in me.

To my daughters for being my hiking buddies, cheerleaders, and comedy team.

To my mom for taking me hiking in the woods near Grandma and Grandpas farm.

To my brother, who answers all of my weird questions.

To all of my fabulous readers and hikersthanks!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPENDIXES AND INDEX

OVERVIEW MAP

Map Legend

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wouldnt have been able to write this book without the continuous and overflowing encouragement from my family. My husband, Allen, is a tremendous support; without his devotion to my success, Id still be using a typewriter. My daughters, Margaret and Madaelynne, never fail to show me the lighter side of life and provided comic relief in the midst of thunderstorms, simmering hot days, and 16 inches of snow.

Thanks to my mother, who discovered some of the trails less traveled and took care of the girls when they were little while I hiked the more difficult trails. My brother, Michael, graciously provided GPS, Google Earth, and mapping tech supporteven though I tended to call in the middle of the night.

I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to so many behind-the-scenes people who help bring a book from an idea to a reality. The third edition is no less of an undertaking than the first, and I would like to thank Amber K. Henderson and Molly Merkle for their support and Richard Hunt for guiding the way. Thanks to Holly Cross for patiently leading me through the maze of writing my first edition; Ryan Jacobson for helping market the book; Emily Beaumont for her proofreading; Annie Long for her incredible graphic design work; and cartographer Scott McGrew for creating easy-to-read maps.

When you see a place to sit, take a break, relax, and enjoy the surroundings ().

Special thanks to naturalists and land managers with Great Parks of Hamilton County, Cincinnati Parks, The Edge of Appalachia, Cincinnati Nature Center, Clermont County Park District, MetroParks of Butler County, Five River MetroParks, Boone County Parks & Recreation, Clifty Falls State Park, and Selmier State Forest. Special thanks to these amazing naturalists: Amy Roell, Jerry Lippert, John Cimarosti, Chris Clingman, Keith Robinson, Erin Morris, Gia Giammarinaro, Chris Bedel, Martin McAllister, Bernadette Harawa, Kevin Snyder, Dick Davis, David Whitehouse, Rob McGriff, Darrel Breedlove, Joyce Bender, Daniel Cox, and Quinton Tyree. Thanks to Scotty Richards and John Cunningham for their dedication to the Tri-State Hiking Club and their top picks for hiking trails.

I owe much gratitude to the incredible women of the Moms Club, especially Dayna Brown, Kim Johnson, and Nicole Eckert. Thanks to naturalist Bonnie Martens for her from-the-trenches advice on hiking with young children and her top picks for kid-friendly hiking trails.

Along the trail, Ive met many incredible people, but I extend a special thanks to my hiking buddies Allen York, Margaret York, Madaelynne York, Kathy Keller, Mike Keller, Amy Roell, Renee McBride, Kiersten McBride, and Chris Bedel, as well as Bonnie, Samantha, Josh, and Clay Martens, for joining me.

Thanks to all of the naturalists, maintenance staff, law-enforcement officers, and land managers who take care of the natural areas. And thanks to all of the people who, in one way or another, had a hand in preserving these natural spaces.

If by some chance I havent acknowledged your contributions, I am truly sorry and will make amends by buying you a soda pop and joining you for a hike.