In a previous post, we reviewed the most popular Cincinnati parks.  In this article we’ll continue exploring the best parks in the Cincinnati area, but with a focus on the Great Parks of Hamilton County, which is a separate park district in Greater Cincinnati.

Hamilton County Parks

Campbell Lakes Preserve

West of Cincinnati, in Harrison, OH, you’ll find Campbell Lakes Preserve.  Here you can experience activities like fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and other lakeside activities that a typical city park doesn’t offer.  Additionally, Campbell Lakes is also featured on Ohio Bird Hotspots.  To learn more visit their official page on the Great Parks website (link above) or their page on CincinnatiUSA.com.

Easy access for: West side of town (Green and Colerain Townships).

Miami Whitewater Forest

Miami Whitewater Forest is a good distance from the city but is a popular spot for Cincinnatians.  It is a large park near the Indiana border on the western side of Hamilton County.  This park features campground, hiking and biking trails, canoe and paddleboat rentals, and a full disc golf course.  You can read more on TripAdvisor or read their reviews on Yelp.

Easy access for: West side of town (Green and Colerain Townships).

Mitchell Memorial Forest

Mitchell Memorial Forest boasts one of the first mountain bike trails in Ohio.  It also features multiple trails, a playground, a youth camp, and an area for fishing.  For more hiking information, you can visit their All Trails page. Their official site as well as CincinnatiUSA.com offer more information about the park.  For reviews, you can check out their Yelp page.

Easy access for the West side of town (Green and Colerain Townships).

Otto Armleder Memorial Park & Recreation Complex

Not far from Lunken Airport, Otto Armleder is a popular dog park.  Just outside the city limits, this park is popular with many who live in the eastern neighborhoods and suburbs of Cincinnati.  Otto Armleder has multiple picnic shelters, a playground, a walking trail, and lots of open green space for dogs to play in.  Movoto calls it the “Best Cincinnati Dog Park for Walking Your Canine Friend.” For more information, visit the official page or check out CincinnatiUSA.com.

Easy access for Mt. Lookout, Mt. Washington, Hyde Park, Oakley.

Sharon Woods

Sharon Woods is the oldest county park, and as such, it has a great history of recreational activities like fishing, boating, golfing and hiking.  The park spans over 750 acres and is a popular spot for Cincinnatians in the northern suburbs.  You can learn more about it on Metro Parks, Cincinnati USA, Trip Advisor, Trail Link, and Yelp.

Easy access for Sharonville, Norwood, Springdale, West Chester.

Winton Woods

With trails, fishing, horseback riding, golfing, camping, and loads of picnic areas and playgrounds, this park has something for everyone outdoors.  You can still participate if you don’t own equipment, as they offer rowboats, pedal boats, motorboats, pontoon boats, tour boats, canoe, kayak,s and bike rentals.  Winton Woods is also home to a fully functional farm that children can visit and enjoy; to learn more, see Parky’s Farm on the Great Parks website. You can learn more about Winton Woods Park on Cincinnati USA, Trip Advisor, Yelp, Foursquare, Wikipedia, Facebook, Roadtrippers, and RV Park Reviews.

Easy access for Forest Park, Greenhills, Finneytown, Springdale, Colerain.

Withrow Nature Preserve

Withrow Nature Preserve is east of the city and sits right along the Ohio River.  It is far enough from the city to feel like you’re truly out in the wilderness but close enough to be an easy drive for Cincinnati residents.  The park provides the perfect setting for a wedding, nature photography or just taking a nice day hike.  It is also a popular spot for weddings; you can read more about that on The Knot.  You can learn more about it on All Trails, Cincinnati USA, Roadtrippers, ParkMe, and Hotspot Birding.

Easy access for East side of town (Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, Mt. Washington, Oakley).