Local Trails

Long Distance Trails

Managed by the Buckeye Trail Association, this is the longest single state trail. At 1,444 miles the trail loops around the great state of Ohio, making stops in some of its oldest and most scenic towns, farmlands, and Ohio Parks. You can follow the Blue Blazes through Hocking Hills, through the Cuyahoga Valley, and along Lake Erie. You can finds maps for the Buckeye Trail here at RRT.

The North Country Trail is the longest National Scenic Trail, stretching 4,600 miles over eight states from North Dakota to Vermont. The Trail traverses a National Grassland; 10 National Forests; more than 150 federal, state, and local public lands; near three of the Great Lakes; past countless farmlands; through large cityscapes; over many rivers; and over the famed Adirondacks.

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is a new breed of national trail — part city, part small town, part forest, part mountains, part desert — all in one trail. Its 6,800+ miles of continuous, multi-use trail stretches from Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, to Pt. Reyes National Seashore, California. It reaches across America, linking community to community in the first coast-to-coast, non-motorized trail.

The Sea-to-Sea Route (C2C) uses the PNT, CDT, NCT, AT, and IAT to create a transcontinental passage from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. A combination of 7,700 miles through the joint use of these trails.

The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route (UGRR) memorializes the Underground Railroad, a network of clandestine routes by which African-American freedom seekers attempted to escape slavery before and during the Civil War. The UGRR is a 2,006.5-mile Underground Railroad Bicycle Route from Mobile, Alabama to Owen Sound, Ontario.

A primarily off-street recreational trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, the Ohio to Erie Trail spans the state of Ohio from Cincinnati to Cleveland, for the most part following lands formerly occupied by railroads and canals. The collection of regional trails connects four of Ohio’s metropolitan cities, a dozen large towns, and numerous small villages. The length in 2017 was 326 miles. Maps for the entire trail can be found at RRT.

The Little Miami State Park, a trail corridor park, is approximately 50 miles long and 66 feet wide. It starts at Avoca Park, just south of Milford, a suburb of Cincinnati, and meanders northeast along the banks of the Little Miami River to Hedges Road, just south of Xenia, Ohio. The park is the right-of-way of the old Little Miami Railroad and the paved trail is where its steel tracks once ran.

Local Hiking Trails

Nature Centers and Preserves

The CNC main headquarters is at Rowe Woods. Rowe Woods is just east of Cincinnati. It spans 1,016 acres (including 65 acres of old growth forest) and offers more than 14 miles of hiking trails! At their second location, Long Branch Farms, you'll find five miles of hiking trails winding through 767 acres of deciduous forest, fields, streams, and ponds. The CNC is a membership driven nature center with pristine trails. You can also find incredible programming, educational events, and an award-winning Nature Playscape for kids. You can find RRT hosting hikes here once a month.

Valley View is a grassroots, nonprofit organization with a simple mission- Conserving Land, Preserving History and Sharing it with the Community. Valley View has 190 acres of beautiful open land along the East Fork River and a rich history dating back 12,000 years. This land includes rivers, streams, wooded hillsides, prairie, streamside, and isolated wetlands on a compact, easily-walkable site in the heart of Milford. The organization also boasts a plant rescue program, a community garden, and programs that engage their community. Best of all, you're invited to enjoy the land for free! You can find RRT hosting hikes here once a month.

State and County Park Trails

78 miles of trails in the Hamilton County park district.

1,000 miles of hiking trails at any of the 60 state parks. You can also explore BackpackOhio.com, an awesome collection of day hiking and backpacking destinations complete with links toward each individual site. Local favorites include East Fork and Zaleski.

Get outside in your own backyard!

Regional Trails

All Trails is a site for finding hiking destinations and info across the nation. While the site requires a subscription for most information, you are able to search trails and view basic information for free. For example, you could find the trails at favorite locales like Tar Hollow, Brookville, or Shawnee.

A destination for local hikers and worldwide climbers. The RRG boasts magnificent landscapes and geological wonders. Already familiar? Here are "10 things you didn't know about the RRG". RRT keeps inventory of multiple guides and maps for the Daniel Boone National Recreation Area.

The metro parks have an impressive trail system, including Germantown and the Twin Valley Trails.

The majority of the Arc of Appalachia’s preserves lie between the Scioto and the Ohio River on the Ohio-Kentucky border. The Arc preserves Eastern ecosystems such as wetlands and native prairies, as well as ancient American Indian earthworks.

There are approximately 300 miles of trails open to hiking and backpacking in the Wayne National Forest. One of the more popular areas of Wayne is the Hocking Hills area with beautiful caves and waterfalls.

Hiking Clubs

Need a friend to lead the way? Hiking groups are a great way to meet new friends, have a trail guide, and safely enjoy new spaces. Here area few active area groups:

• Hike for your Health with CNC
• Tri-State Hiking Club
• Cincinnati Area Backpackers
• Sheltowee Trace Hiker Challenge
• RRT Group Hikes
• Cincinnati Hikes on Facebook
• Tri-State Hiking Events Group (IN*KY*OH) on Facebook

Premiere Local Organized Trip Companies

Nancy and the Summit team are dedicated todeveloping Outdoor Adventurerswho love the planet and who are able to explore and enjoy our natural worldcompetently, comfortably, and with confidence.

Outdoors experiences with a focus on improving wellbeing. They create custom outdoor trips for groups, families, kids or adults using activities like hiking, camping, kayaking, and indoor rock climbing to help strengthen relationships, increase confidence, have fun, and so much more!

RRT Services

• Trip Planning Sessions by RRT
• Gear Rental by RRT

Safety Info

There is always more to know! Understanding more about Leave No Trace, Wilderness First Aid, and wilderness navigation are great ways to improve your backcountry experience. RRT occasionally hosts or sponsors these courses and can be found on our events page.

Backpacking Classes

For more basic information you can attend any of RRT's regular programs, like Backpacking Basics 1 or 2, Cold Weather Preparation, or many other educational and free programs; events page. You can also join our local Sierra Club chapter for their next series of backpacking workshops. For quick tips, check out RRT's blog "21 Things I wish I Knew for My First Backpacking Trip"