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BETH BURWINKELillustrations by

ANDREW CHESWORTH

The 44 BestPlaces To HikeWith Your Dog InThe CincinnatiRegion

A Bark In The Park -

Cruden Bay Books

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A BARK IN THE PARK: THE 44 BEST PLACES TO HIKE WITHYOUR DOG IN THE CINCINNATI REGION

Copyright 2005 by Cruden Bay Books

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying, recording or by any information storageand retrieval system without permission in writing from the Pub-lisher.

Cruden Bay BooksPO Box 467Montchanin, DE 19710www.hikewithyourdog.com

International Standard Book Number 0-9744083-4-4

Manufactured in the United States of America

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“Dogs are our link to paradise...to sit with a dog on a hillsideon a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing

was not boring - it was peace.”- Milan Kundera

The 44 Best Places To Hike With Your Dog 17

No Dogs! 107

52 More Places To Hike With Your Dog 109

Index To Parks And Open Space 126

Also. . .Also. . .Also. . .Also. . .Also. . .

Hiking With Your Dog 8

Outfitting Your Dog For A Hike 11

Low Impact Hiking With Your Dog 14

Contents

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Introduction

It’s a great time to be a dog in Greater Cincinnati!The people and dogs of our region are fortunate to livenear some award-winning public parks, many of whichare open to dogs. As this book goes to press, severalmore large parks and smaller dog parks are underconstruction or in the planning stages. Within theGreater Cincinnati area, which consists of Hamilton,Butler, Warren and Clermont counties in Ohio, Kenton,Campbell and Boone counties of Kentucky and DearbornCounty, Indiana, you can enjoy breathtaking views ofthe Ohio River and all three states, stroll along the OhioRiver while watching for unusual birds, enjoy city skylineviews, walk alongside smaller lakes or stroll throughthe same mature forests that greeted pioneers centuriesago.

This book features outstanding parks in theeight-county Greater Cincinnati area where you canwalk with your dog. With the help of Maggie, myfamily’s three-year-old Labrador retriever, I ranked the 44best according to very subjective criteria, including thevariety of hikes available, scenery and pleasure ofthe walks and opportunities for canine swimming.Each park is pleasant in its own way. Some parks offerlong hikes on rustic trails that cross streams. Others aremore developed and offer shorter strolls on pavedtrails. Don’t get too hung up on the rankings – just finda park near your home and start walking.

Enjoy the parks!

Beth and Maggie

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Before You Go...

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Hiking With Your Dog

So you want to start hiking with your dog. Hiking withyour dog can be a fascinating way to explore the Cincinnatiregion from a canine perspective. Some things to consider:

Dog’s HealthHiking can be a wonderful preventative for any numberof physical and behavioral disorders. One in every threedogs is overweight and running up trails and leapingthrough streams is great exercise to help keep pounds off.Hiking can also relieve boredom in a dog’s routine and calmdogs prone to destructive habits. And hiking with your dogstrengthens the overall owner/dog bond.

Breed of DogAll dogs enjoy the new scents and sights of a trail.But some dogs are better suited to hiking than others.If you don’t as yet have a hiking companion, select a breedthat matches your interests. Do you look forward to anentire afternoon’s hiking? You’ll need a dog bred to keep upwith such a pace, such as a retriever or a spaniel.Is a half-hour enough walking for you? It may not be foran energetic dog like a border collie. If you already havea hiking friend, tailor your plans to his abilities.

ConditioningJust like humans, dogs need to be acclimated to the taskat hand. An inactive dog cannot be expected to bouncefrom the easy chair in the den to complete a 3-hour hike.You must also be physically able to restrain your dog ifconfronted with distractions on the trail (like a scamperingsquirrel or a pack of joggers). Have your dog checked bya veterinarian before significantly increasing your dog’sactivity level.

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WeatherHot humid summers do not do dogs any favors.With no sweat glands and only panting available to dispersebody heat, dogs are much more susceptible to heat strokethan we are. Unusually rapid panting and/or a bright redtongue are signs of heat exhaustion in your pet. Alwayscarry enough water for your hike. Even days that don’tseem too warm can cause discomfort in dark-coated dogsif the sun is shining brightly. In cold weather, short-coatedbreeds may require additional attention.

Trail HazardsDogs won’t get poison ivy but they can transfer it toyou. Stinging nettle is a nuisance plant that lurks on theside of many trails and the slightest brush will delivertroublesome needles into a dog’s coat. Some trails arelittered with small pieces of broken glass that can slice adog’s paws. Nasty thorns can also blanket trails that we inshoes may never notice.

TicksYou won’t be able to visit any of the Cincinnati region’sparks without encountering ticks. All are nasty but the deertick - no bigger than a pin head - carries with it the spectreof lyme disease. Lyme disease attacks a dog’s joints and makeswalking painful. The tick needs to be embedded in the skin to

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be embedded in the skin to transmit lyme disease. It takes4-6 hours for a tick to become embedded and another24-48 hours to transmit lyme disease bacteria.

When hiking, walk in the middle of trails away fromtall grass and bushes. If your walk includes fields,consider long sleeves and long pants tucked into highsocks. Wear a hat - ticks like hair. By checking your dog -and yourself - thoroughly after each walk you can helpavoid lyme disease. Ticks tend to congregate on yourdog’s ears, between the toes and around the neck and head.

WaterSurface water, including fast-flowing streams, is likely tobe infested with a microscopic protozoa called Giardia,waiting to wreak havoc on your dog’s intestinal system.The most common symptom is potentially crippling diarrhea.Algae, pollutants and contaminants can all be in streams,ponds and puddles. If possible, carry fresh water for yourdog on the trail - your dog can even learn to drink happilyfrom a squirt bottle.

I can’t think of anything that brings me closer to tears thanwhen my old dog - completely exhausted afters a hard day

in the field - limps away from her nice spot in front of the fireand comes over to where I’m sitting and puts her head in my lap,a paw over my knee, and closes her eyes, and goes back to sleep.

I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve that kind of friend.”-Gene Hill

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Outfitting Your Dog For A Hike

These are the basics for taking your dog on a hike:

4 Collar. It should not be so loose as to come off butyou should be able to slide your flat handunder the collar.

4 Identification Tags. Get one with your veterinarian’sphone number as well.

4 Bandanna. Can help distinguish him from gamein hunting season.

4 Leash. Leather lasts forever but if there’s water inyour future, consider quick-drying nylon.

4 Water. Carry 8 ounces for every hour of hiking.

I want my dog to help carry water, snacks and othersupplies on the trail. Where do I start?

To select an appropriate dog pack. Measure your dog’sgirth around the rib cage to determine the best pack size.A dog pack should fit securely without hindering the dog’sability to walk normally.

Will my dog wear a pack?Wearing a dog pack is no more obtrusive than wearinga collar, although some dogs will take to a pack easierthan others. Introduce the pack by draping a towel overyour dog’s back in the house and then having your dogwear an empty pack on short walks. Progressively addsome crumpled newspaper and then bits of clothing. Fill thepack with treats and reward your dog from the stash.Soon your dog will associate the dog pack with an outdooradventure and will eagerly look forward to wearing it.

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How much weight can I put into a dog pack?Many dog packs are sold by weight recommendations.A healthy, well-conditioned dog can comfortably carry 25%to 33% of its body weight. Breeds prone to back problems orhip dysplasia should not wear dog packs. Consult yourveterinarian before stuffing the pouches with gear.

How does a dog wear a pack?The pack, typically with cargo pouches on either side,should ride as close to the shoulders as possible withoutlimiting movement. The straps that hold the dog pack inplace should be situated where they will not cause chafing.

What are good things to put in a dog pack?Low density items such as food and waste bags are goodchoices. Ice cold bottles of water can cool your dog down onhot days. Don’t put anything in a dog pack that can break.Dogs will bang the pack on rocks and trees as they wigglethrough tight spots in the trail. Dogs also like to lie downin creeks and other wet spots so seal items in plasticbags. A good use for dog packs when on day hikes aroundCincinnati is trail maintenance - your dog can pack outtrash left by inconsiderate visitors before you.

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Are dog booties a good idea?Dog booties can be an asset, especially for the occasionalcanine hiker whose paw pads have not become toughened.Many of the trails near Cincinnati involve rocky terrain.In some places, broken glass abounds. Hiking boots fordogs are designed to prevent pads from cracking whiletrotting across rough surfaces. Used in winter, dog bootiesprovide warmth and keep ice balls from forming betweentoe pads when hiking through snow.

What should a doggie first aid kit include?Even when taking short hikes it is a good idea to have somebasics available for emergencies:

4 4” square gauze pads4 cling type bandaging tapes4 topical wound disinfectant cream4 tweezers4 petroleum jelly (to cover ticks)4 veterinarian’s phone number

“We are alone, absolutely alone on this chanceplanet; and, amid all the forms of life thatsurround us, not one, excepting the dog,

has made an alliance with us.”-Maurice Maeterlinck

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Low Impact Hiking With Your Dog

Every time you hike with your dog on the trail you are anambassador for all dog owners. Some people you meetwon’t believe in your right to take a dog on the trail.Be friendly to all and make the best impression you can bypracticing low impact hiking with your dog:

Pack out everything you pack in.

Do not leave dog scat on the trail; if you haven’tbrought plastic bags for waste removal bury itaway from the trail and topical water sources.

Hike only where dogs are allowed.

Stay on the trail.

Do not allow your dog to chase wildlife.

Step off the trail and wait with your dog whilehorses and other hikers pass.

Do not allow your dog to bark - people are enjoyingthe trail for serenity.

Have as much fun on your hike as your dog does.

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The Other End Of The Leash

Leash laws are like speed limits - everyone seems to have aprivate interpretation of their validity. Some dog ownersnever go outside with an unleashed dog; others treat the lawsas suggestions or disregard them completely. It is not thepurpose of this book to tell dog owners where to go to evadethe leash laws or reveal the parks where rangers will lookthe other way at an unleashed dog. Nor is it the business ofthis book to preach vigilant adherence to the leash laws.Nothing written in a book is going to change people’s be-havior with regard to leash laws. So this will be the last timeleash laws are mentioned, save occasionally when we point outthe parks where dogs are welcomed off leash.

“No one appreciates the very special genius of yourconversation as a dog does.”

-Christopher Morley

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The 44 Best PlacesTo Hike WithYour Dog In TheCincinnati Region...

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The ParkMount Airy Forest is the

site of the first municipal refor-estation in the United States.The land became a candidatefor an arboreal makeover by thestripping of trees on ColerainHill. One farmer named DaveyMcFarlan quipped that hisproperty was in New Orleansafter he cleared trees andwatched the land slide into acreek. The Cincinnati ParkBoard began its project in 1911by purchasing 168 acres ofland for planting new hard-woods and evergreens. Nearly a century later Mount Airy Forestis a park of almost 1,500 acres, most of which remain in anatural state. The park is the city’s largest, comprising about40% of the Park Board’s acreage.

The WalksThe hiking trail system in Mount Airy Forest, designated

a National Recreational Trail, features 14 miles of walking butvisiting canine hikers would do best to concentrate on Trail E.The trail begins in McFarlan Woods and touches on nearly everysegment of the park in its ten-mile odyssey. The path can behiked in smaller bites that are possible throughout the route.

The trail rolls up and down ravines but is never grueling.You’ll cross plenty of trickling streams and washes cut into thehillsides for your dog to splash in, souvenirs from the early daysof abuse. Look for large sinkholes that also pepper the hillsides

Burlington CountyCincinnati

Distance from downtown- 6 miles

Phone Number- (513) 352-4080

Website- www.cinci-parks.org

Admission Fee- None

Directions- Take Interstate 75 toInterstate 74. Take theColerain Avenue exit.Travel north on ColerainAvenue to the park entrance.

1Mount Airy Forest

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Bonus

In 1999 Cincinnati built her first dog park inMount Airy Forest in the Highpoint Picnic Area,

off Westwood-Northern Boulevard.The two-acre dog park is encircled by a fence on a gentlehillside. It provides a place for dogs to socialize off leash.

In the years after the successful development of the MountAiry dog park, many other communities have planned or

constructed dog parks.

in places. Punctuating the walks in the Mount Airy Forest areshowy seasonal wildflower displays along the trails. Mount AiryForest is a great place to see wild turkeys early in the morningsin the fall. The turkeys eat acorns and a great place to see themis near the Oak Ridge Lodge.

Trail Sense: The trail is well-marked with white blazes butthe trailhead - like others at Mount Airy - can be hard to spot.Look for maps posted at the park police headquarters and at ashelter near the entrance of the park, off Colerain Avenue.

Dog FriendlinessThe prettiest parts of Mount Airy Forest are in the landscaped

Arboretum with its 1,600 species of trees and shrubs. Caninehikers must stay in the wilder regions of the park - no dogsallowed in the Arboretum.

TrafficThis is a very busy park but the crowds thin out along the

many footpaths.

Canine SwimmingOccasionally a creek or water hole will be deep enough for

a doggie dip but come expecting just a splash.

Trail TimeYou can spend the better part of a day on the Mount Airy

Forest trails.

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The ParkWhen Miami Whitewater

Forest opened in 1949, it wasthe Hamilton County ParkDistrict’s third park, afterSharon Woods and WintonWoods. At 4,279 acres, it is thelargest park in the HamiltonCounty Park District andspans three townships:Harrison, Crosby andWhitewater.

The WalksThe park offers canine

hikers seven trails, includingthe paved Shaker Trace OuterLoop, a popular paved paththat glides through fields and meadows for nearly eight miles.Less crowded are the park’s nature trails that range in length fromless than one mile to close to two miles. The Oakleaf Trail slipspast two ponds on its journey and for a woods hike try the loopsof the Badlands Trail where your dog will enjoy bounding up anddown small hills.

Trail Sense: The paved trails are easy to follow.

Dog FriendlinessMiami Whitewater Forest always has a lot of dogs and park

visitors who appreciate them. Bags are available on site forclean-up.

Burlington CountyHamilton County

Distance from Beltway- 5 miles

Phone Number- (513) 367-4774

Website- www.greatparks.org

Admission Fee- Hamilton County Park DistrictMotor Vehicle Permit($3/year or $1/day)

Directions- Take Interstate 74 westto the Dry Ridge Road exit.Travel north on Dry Fork Roadand east on West Road tothe park entrance.

2Miami Whitewater Forest

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Bonus

The Shaker Trace Trail penetrates a marsh that is one of thepremier birding spots in the tri-state area.

The areas around the wetlands are being convertedfrom crop fields back to prairie grasses.

TrafficThe paved outer loop is very busy and be on the lookout

for bikes, strollers and skates.

Canine SwimmingA stream along the Shaker Trace Inner Loop Trail provides

a wonderful respite from the heat.

Trail TimeYou can spend less than an hour to an entire afternoon on

the trails in this large park.

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The ParkMatthew Hueston fought

in the region’s Indian Warsunder daring RevolutionaryWar hero Anthony Wayne andcame to settle in the area. Anearly conservationist, Huestonsought to preserve his forestsfor future generations. Afterthe last Hueston family mem-ber died in the 1930s, MorrisTaylor kept the founder ’svision alive until the statebought the Hueston propertyand designated it as a stateforest. In the 1950s, the OhioBoard of Corrections set up an honor camp here for inmates;buildings from the camp remain on the park grounds.

The WalksMore than a dozen trails crisscross the park’s 3,000 acres.

Many are less than one mile in length. The Big Woods Trail, thelongest at 1.8 miles, takes canine hikers into a beech-mapleclimax forest that is a remnant of Ohio in the pre-settlement age.Nearly half the trees here are the blanched white trunks of beechtrees. The Indian Mound Trail begins at prehistoric Indian moundsand the West Shore Trail is your best route to explore Acton Lake,created in the mid-1950s when a dam was constructed acrossFour Mile Creek and named for Clyde Acton, a Preble Countylawmaker who proposed that Ohio purchase the park land.

If you are hiking in the campground area you may seewaist-high white and orange posts. These are control points of apermanent course maintained by the Orienteering Cincinnati

Burlington CountyButler/Preble Counties

Distance from Beltway- 20 miles

Phone Number- (513) 523-6347

Website- www.ohiostateparks.org

Admission Fee- None

Directions- From Interstate 275,take Colerain Avenue (Route27) north to Oxford.Turn right on Route 732 topark entrance.

3Hueston Woods

State Park

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Bonus

200 acres of the park, the Hueston WoodsNature Preserve, have been designated a

National Natural Landmark. The preserve is especially knownfor its fossils. A shallow sea once covered the area andretreating waters stranded many creatures to die in the

limestone and dolomite bedrock.Fossil collecting is permitted in the park but

don’t come expecting dinosaurs and mammoths.Tiny invertebrates and maybe a fish bone or tooth

are your more likely finds.

Club. If you want to try the sport of map and compass withyour dog, a map packet is on sale in the campground store.

Trail Sense: Trail maps arealso available at the park office.

Dog Friendliness

With a variety of trails andaccess to water, this is a greatpark for dogs. Dogs are alsoallowed in limited sites in thecampground.

TrafficThis is a popular park

throughout the year.

Canine Swimming

Acton Lake makes a finespot for extended canine aquat-ics, as do several streams on theproperty.

Trail TimeWith a large variety of trails, you can hike for an hour or a

whole day.

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The ParkThe centerpiece of the

Symmes Township park sys-tem was a farm until 1993. Anadditional 18 acres were re-cently added to the 61-acrepark along the southeast bor-der making room for more trailsand a new dog park wherecanine visitors can socializeoff-leash.

The WalksPaved and gravel paths

circle the park and lead intothe forest. The South NatureTrail passes a meadow and perennial garden and the North NatureTrail explores more deeply into the wooded parts of the park.When the path gets steep, staircases give panting dogs anotheroption.

Trail Sense: There will be no need to summon the St. Bernardson these trails.

Dog FriendlinessDogs are a common sight to park visitors.

TrafficThere are walks of solitude possible in Symmes Township

Park.

Burlington CountyHamilton County

Distance from Beltway- 3 miles

Phone Number- (513) 683-6644

Website- www.symmestownship.org

Admission Fee- None

Directions- Take Interstate 275 to theLoveland exit. Travel north onLoveland-Madeira Road andturn left on Lebanon Road.The park will be on the right.

4Symmes Township Park

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Bonus

The new trail runs along a creek into the woodsand leads to two small waterfalls.

Canine SwimmingNo swimming is permitted in the pond at the center of the

park, but the creek holds water all year long.

Trail TimeYou will spend less than an hour on these trails.

How To Pet A DogTickling tummies slowly and gently works wonders.

Never use a rubbing motion; this makes dogsbad-tempered. A gentle tickle with the tips of the fingers is all

that is necessary to induce calm in a dog. I hate strangerswho go up to dogs with their hands held to the dog's nose,usually palm towards themselves. How does the dog know

that the hand doesn't hold something horrid? The palm shouldalways be shown to the dog and go straight down to betweenthe dog's front legs and tickle gently with a soothing voice toacompany the action. Very often the dog raises its back leg in

a scratching movement, it gets so much pleasure from this.-Barbara Woodhouse

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The ParkThe United States Congress

authorized the development ofCaesar Creek Lake back in the1930s to prevent regionalflooding but the dikes werenot built to create the 2,830-acrelake until 1978. The Caesarwho once owned the creek wasa black slave captured by theShawnee on a raid along theOhio River. The tribe adoptedhim and gave him this valleyas a hunting ground.

The WalksThere is a long history of walking through this area. Part of

the ridge line on the eastern side of the valley was a traditionalIndian trail that settlers came to value as well. They called itBullskin Trace as they traveled from the Ohio River to Detroitand the trail was later used by abolitionists on the undergroundrailroad. Today the Caesar Trace trail system in the park offers43 miles of trails, including a 31-mile horse path.

Two miles of the creek meander through a 180-foot deepgorge cut by melting glaciers and the trail that visits the gorgestarts behind the dam. The terrain is hilly as canine hikers traipsethrough the forest; steps help negotiate the rougher spots andbenches provide convenient rest stops. Other walks include theBluebird Trail through open fields and the Buckeye Trail thatpasses along the west side of Caesar Lake as it crosse the entirestate.

Trail Sense. A detailed map from the park office or online leadsthe way around the wealth of trails in Caesar Creek State Park.

Warren County

Distance from Beltway- 15 miles

Phone Number- (513) 897-3055

Website- www.caesarcreekstatepark.com

Admission Fee- None

Directions- Take I-71 north to StateRoute 73. Travel east throughWaynesville. The main entranceis on the left.

5Caesar Creek State Park

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Dog FriendlinessDogs are welcome on the park trails. A dog-training area is

available for practicing hunting skills. Pets are permitted in thecampground.

TrafficPedestrian traffic is light on the trails, especially as they fan

out away from the paved sidewalks closer to the dam.

Canine SwimmingWater-loving dogs will find streams throughout the park.

There are also two waterfalls - one along the perimeter trailand another by the dam.

Trail TimeThere is a full day of canine hiking in store in Caesar Creek

State Park.

Bonus

Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village preserves acollection of some 18 log cabins from Ohio’s pioneer days.The centerpiece is the 2-story Levi Lukens cabin, built of

beech logs by the owner of a local grist mill.Other weathered buildings are even older.

“Any man who does not like dogs and want them does not deserve tobe in the White House.”

-Calvin Coolidge

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The ParkEstablished in 1932, Sharon

Woods Park was the first parkin the Hamilton County parksystem. Shortly after the parkopened a dam was built onSharon Woods Creek to createSharon Woods Lake. Enor-mously popular from thebeginning, by the late 1930s asmany as 700,000 people wereusing the park each year. Afterthe lake was restored in the1980s, the re-opening celebra-tion of the 761-acre park wasso heavily attended thatshuttle buses were needed totransport crowds from theharbor to parking areas.

The WalksThe park offers three trails

for canine hikers. A peaceful2.6-mile paved trail circum-navigates Sharon Woods Lake. Oak, maples and ash trees shademuch of the path on summer afternoons. The hike-bike path issimilarly shaded by mature trees.

The Richard H. Durrell Gorge Trail, named for a park com-missioner, is a 1.6-mile walk into a spectacular 90-foot glacial cut.The hilly trail is highlighted by a series of educational displays.

Trail Sense: The trails are extremely well-marked and trailmaps are available.

Hamilton County

Distance from Beltway- less than 1 mile southPhone Number

- (513) 563-4513Website

- www.greatparks.orgAdmission Fee

- Hamilton County Park DistrictMotor Vehicle Permit($3/year or $1/day)

Directions- From I-275 in Sharonville,take the US 42 (Reading Road)exit south. If you are going toSharon Woods Lake, travelsouth on US 42 about .4 mileto Kemper Road. Follow Kempereast for .4 mile. Turn right intothe park. If you are travelingto Heritage Village Museum orSharon Centre, take US 42about one mile south of I-275.The park entrance is on theleft.

6Sharon Woods Park

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Bonus

The Sharon Woods Golf Course carries a distinguished linkspedigree. The layout was designed by noted midwestern golf

course architect Willaim Diddel and when the course opened in1937 legendary golfer Bobby Jones drove the first ball.A photo of Jones hitting the historic shot hangs in the

clubhouse. Sharon Woods Golf Course has recently beenretrofitted to its original layout.

Dog FriendlinessDogs are practically expected at Sharon Woods. At each trail

the park provides bags for disposing of dog waste. The attendantwelcomed Maggie with a dog biscuit when we bought our parkpass.

TrafficThis crowded park is the place to come for a communal dog

walk.

Canine SwimmingWhile tempting, canine swimming is outlawed in Sharon

Woods Lake.

Trail TimeAllow an hour to circle the lake, 45 minutes on the gorge trail.

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The ParkRowe Woods is the home

of the Cincinnati Nature Cen-ter. Founded in 1965 andspearheaded by local business-man Stanley M. Rowe, the 790-acre park is now one of thelargest nature centers inAmerica with 5,300 members.Non-members can use thetrails by paying a daily accessfee.

The WalksClose to 15 miles of trails

radiate to every corner ofRowe Woods. Some are flat,others require a moderateclimb but little that will setyour dog to panting. Most ofthe walks are shaded - 5% ofall the old-growth forest in the state of Ohio is in Rowe Woods.

Trail Sense: Pick up a map and make sure that you stay onthe trails. The grounds are large and you could become lostotherwise.

Dog FriendlinessDogs are welcome but owners must pick up after them and

keep them on the pathways.

Clermont County

Distance from Beltway- 2 miles

Phone Number- (513) 831-1171

Website- www.cincynature.org

Admission Fee- $3/adult and $1/child onweekdays. $5/adult onweekends. Annual membershipsare $35 for an individual and$60 for families.

Directions- Take Interstate 275 to theRoute 50/Hillsboro exit.Turn toward Hillsboro andfollow to Perrintown.Turn right on Round BottomRoad. Watch for the NatureCenter sign on the left.

7Rowe Woods

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TrafficThe trails in the Cincinnati Nature Center are seldom

crowded.

Canine SwimmingNo wading in the creeks is allowed.

Trail TimeMore than an hour of canine hiking in on hand; the longest

trail takes over two hours to walk.

Bonus

The original owners of the property wereCarl and Mary Krippendorf. The son of the founder

of the Krippendorf-Dittman shoe company,Carl was stricken with Typhoid Fever and in

1898 bought 97 acres here as a retreat to helpspeed his recovery. An early conservationist,

he saved the land from becoming a tobacco farm.The Krippendorfs would come to live

64 years in their “Lob’s Wood.”The couple planted hundreds of different varietiesof daffodils in the forest, never allowing a visitorto leave without a handful of flowers or bulbs.

Today you and your dog can wander in the midst ofthis legacy of daffodils every April.

“The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a foolof yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you,

but will make a fool of himself too.”- Samuel Butler

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The ParkOnce a battleground for

settlers and Indians, land ac-quisition began in 1948 for apark here. A dam to create awildlife area for sportsmen wasfinished in 1950 and StonelickState Park remains that waytoday.

The WalksThe park features seven

miles of trail, mostly throughan unusual mature forest.Typically oaks and maples andbeech trees will dominate anorthern hardwood forest likethis, but in Stonelick State Park sweet gums are the stars.The trails are also decorated by a dazzling array of wildflowers.The Red Fox Trail loops for about two miles near the campgroundand the Lakeview Trail hugs the banks of the the 200-acreStonelick Lake for a mile-long canine hike.

Trail Sense: Trail maps are available at the park office.

Dog FriendlinessAll trails and most areas of the park are open to dogs. Pet

camping is permitted.

Clermont County

Distance from Beltway- 12 miles

Phone Number- (513) 625-7544

Website- www.ohiostateparks.org

Admission Fee- None

Directions- Take Interstate 275 toMilford and exit onto Route 28,going east. Take the Bypass 28.In Mount Repose, turn right onWoodville Pike. Follow it untilthe road dead ends near thepark entrance.

8Stonelick State Park