Address: 5083 Colerain Ave. Cincinnati,OH 45223
Hours: 6 AM - 10 PM
Mt. Airy Forest is an exquisite plot of nature that offers visitors a diverse array of outdoor activities. Whether you’re interested in hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, or disc golf, Mt. Airy’s resources will surely not disappoint. The park is Cincinnati’s largest at close to 1,500 acres. Of this land, 120 acres are devoted to the Mt. Airy Arboretum which is curated by Cincinnati Parks.
The park, located in the northwestern part of the Cincinnati area, was established in 1911 from a large area of farms that were no longer in use. During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps hired a group of young African Americans to build the foundations for the park so it could be enjoyed by the public. The group constructed service roads, buildings, dams, and shelters. As part of a reforestation effort, the group planted over a million trees in the expanses of the park, gaining it the addition of “Forest” to the title.
There are many notable features that draw visitors in to the park. It is home to miles of hiking, biking, and bridle trails that allow nature lovers to immerse themselves in the park’s natural beauty. Maps of the available trails can be found at the Cincinnati Parks website. If you’re looking to get your dog some good exercise, you can also utilize Mt. Airy's enclosed dog park.
The Mt. Airy Arboretum, which is a popular venue for weddings, hosts lush gardens and breathtaking natural scenery. The diversity of plant life includes trees, flowers, shrubs, and vines that are all local to Cincinnati. Aside from the local flora and fauna, visitors can also enjoy a selection of several gazebos and a beautiful lake.
Mt. Airy boasts a number of art and architecture feats that give the park its unique character. Carl Freund, the same architect who designed the Trailside Nature Center in Burnet Woods and the pavilion at Bellevue Park, was the architect for almost 40 buildings in the park including the Arboretum Building built in 1953 and the Oak Ridge Lodge built in 1948. Many of the buildings, including the Arboretum building, was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, famous architect of the 20th century. Artist Jim Quigley designed the Grand Totem which is an abstract stainless steel sculpture inspired by Japanese culture. The sculpture stands in the parking lot of the park, greeting visitors on their way in,
Everybody’s Treehouse, completed in 2007, is Ohio’s only public treehouse that is wheelchair-accessible and complies with standards set by the American Disability Association. The treehouse has ramps that lead into it from the parking lot and consists of posts, rafters, and other elements that were made from the trees native to the forest.
As you can see, the many different wonders of the park ensure that a visit is never boring. There are a diversity of tastes for any kind of outdoorsy person.
Photos and park info courtesy of NationalParkService.gov and CincinnatiParks.com