DOWNHILL SKIING, BOARDING AND TUBING
Perfect North Slopes
19074 Perfect Lane, Lawrenceburg, IN
812-537-3754 or 513-381-7517
Perfect North offers downhill skiing and snowboarding for the adventurous ones, plus snow tubing for kids (and grown-up kids). Additional lightin and flagpoles, along with new outdoor patio seating with weekend food service and a gas fire pit will make for a great visit. Lift tickets range from $39 – $52, with additional options available; rental equipment priced separately. Lessons for kids are also available for $10 – $45.
OUTDOOR ICE SKATING
Fountain Square
Winter just doesn’t feel like winter without a spin on the O’Keeffe’s Ice Rink presented by Fifth Third Bank at Fountain Square! Rent a pair of skates or bring your own, enjoy concessions or one of the nearby restaurants and give a call if you’re interested in hosting a private party or a group. Admission is $6, plus $4 for skate rentals.
Great Parks of Hamilton County designate permitted skating areas in the following parks with barrels and signs. Rangers check the conditions daily. A motor vehicle permit ($3 daily, $10 annual) is required to enter the parks. Call 513-521-7275 or visit http://www.greatparks.org/recreation/winter-sports:
Miami Whitewater Forest
9001 Mount Hope Road, Crosby Township
In addition to skating, check out the park’s hiking trails.
Mitchell Memorial Forest
5401 Mount Zion Road, Miami Township
After skating, enjoy a walk along Wood Duck Trail.
Sharon Woods
11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville
Don’t miss a spin on Sharon Woods Lake with 35 acres of ice skating fun. Or if it gets too cold outside, head indoors to the Adventure Station inside Sharon Centre.
Triple Creek
2700 Buell Road, Colerain Township
Offers a pond for skating, paved trail for walking and a playground on more than 170 acres.
Winton Woods
10245 Winton Road, Springfield Township
This park offers trails and a lake to skate on.
Woodland Mound
8250 Old Kellogg Road, Anderson Township
Enjoy nature trails and ice-skating on the pond.
INDOOR ICE SKATING/ICE HOCKEY
Queen City Hockey Association/Cincinnati Swords
Boys and girls ages 4 – 16 are invited to the Learn to Play Hockey program offered by the Swords at Sports Plus Ohio, or explore more competitive opportunities with the team.
Learn to Skate Cincinnati at Northland Ice Center
10400 Reading Road, Evendale
513-759-4259 LearnToSkateCincinnati.com
Ice skating and ice hockey lessons are taught at Northland Ice Center (10400 Reading Road). Students ages 2-and-a-half and older follow a proven method of teaching that will improve their skills as figure skaters, hockey players or recreational skaters – kids have a chance to perform in ice shows, camps and competitions to gain experience. Visit the web site for a schedule of free sample lessons.
Northland Ice Center
10400 Reading Road
513-563-0001 or northlandicecenter.com
The city’s first indoor year-round ice skating rink, Northland is home to Learn to Skate Cincinnati, this center also hosts public skating and open hockey sessions, as well as private rink rental, birthday parties and DJ Skates for both adults and ages 12 and younger.
Northern Kentucky Ice Center
2638 Crescent Springs Pike, Crescent Springs, KY
859-344-1981 nkyicecenter.com
Home to the Northern Kentucky Skating Club (NKSC) and Northern Kentucky Youth Hockey Association (NKYHA), the ice center offers plenty of public skating sessions, just call for times ($6 admission, $2 skate rental, discounts for ages 10 and younger and ten session passes are also available). The studio rink offers time for beginning skaters and stick times for hockey players, as well as lessons for kids and adults and hockey for youth and adult teams.
Queen City Figure Skating Club at Northland Ice Center
10400 Reading Road, Evendale
513-563-0008 or queencityfsc.com or learntoskate@queencityfsc.com
Group lessons for all skill levels and ages provided in a fun environment from a highly trained coaching staff in the Learn to Skate program, or join the Figure Skating Club for competitive opportunities.
Sports Plus Ohio
10765 Reading Road
513-769-1010 or sportsplusohio.com
Head to the web site for a daily listing of public skate and stick times. Sports Plus is also home to Figure Skating Club of Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati Skating School, as well as ice hockey practice and tournaments. Sports Plus is also home to plenty of other fun activities, like basketball, volleyball, futsal, and Zip City.
SLEDDING
Sledding is permitted in the following Great Parks of Hamilton County (http://www.greatparks.org/recreation/winter-sports). Call 513-521-7275 to check on conditions before visiting. A motor vehicle permit ($3 daily, $10) is required to enter:
Embshoff Woods
4050 Paul Road, Delhi Township
The disc golf course becomes a fun sledding hill in the winter.
Sharon Woods
11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville
There is a popular sledding hill located near Sharon Centre.
Winton Woods
10245 Winton Road, Springfield Township
This park has a designated sledding location at Elm Ridge Overlook Shelter, which also has a nice view of Winton Lake.
Other popular sledding areas:
Devou Park
Covington, KY
859-292-2151 or covingtonky.com
The band shell area offers ample hills for sledding, but sled at your own risk as hills are steep.
Harbin Park
1300 Hunter Road, Fairfield
513-867-5348 or Fairfield-city.org
A very long hill with decent grades, a definite can’t-miss spot for sledding enthusiasts.
Voice of America Park
7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester
513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net
This park boasts a 65-foot hill that’s open for sledding until dark, and when snowfall amounts permit. Contact the park office before visiting. A motor vehicle permit (visit site for rates) is required to enter the park.
HIKING
In Cincinnati Parks (513-352-4080 or cincinnatiparks.com)
Alms Park
710 Tusculum Ave.
Offers a hiking trail, an overlook, and a playground.
Ault Park
3600 Observatory Ave.
Nature trails and children’s play areas make this park a standout.
Avon Woods
4235 Paddock Road
This nature preserve offers moderate hiking trails.
Burnet Woods
3251 Brookline Ave.
Home to the Trailside Nature Center and Wolff Planetarium as well as hiking trails, playground and a disc golf course.
Caldwell Nature Preserve
430 West North Bend Road
Over three miles of nature trails, including a paved path.
California Woods
5400 Kellogg Ave.
This nature preserve contains miles of hiking trails, and is adjacent to the Magrish Preserve, a designated Important Birding Area.
French Park
3012 Section Road
Miles of hiking trails, creeks, meadows and wooded hillsides to explore.
LaBoiteaux Woods
5400 Lanius Lane
Over two miles of hiking trails cross this nature preserve full of geological history.
Mt. Airy Forest and Arboretum
5083 Colerain Ave.
Cincinnati’s largest park offers miles of trails, as well as an arboretum.
Mt. Echo
202 Crestline Dr.
Steep hillsides, hiking trails and playgrounds, plus the 1928 Mt. Echo Pavilion.
Otto Armleder
5057 Wooster Road
Offering hiking trails, a bike path, playground, and meadows, as well as a large dog park.
Rapid Run
4450 Rapid Run Road
Paved walkways or rolling hills make this an ideal spot for walkers and hikers of all abiltiies.
In Great Parks of Hamilton County (513-521-7275 or http://www.greatparks.org/recreation/winter-sports). A valid Hamilton County Parks District motor vehicle permit ($3 daily, $10 annual) is required to enter all parks.
Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve
3455 Poole Road, Colerain Township
The Pin Oak Trail offers a short, paved nature trail that passes a prairie, a forest and a pond.
Fernbank Park
50 Thornton Ave., Cincinnati
This park offers a one-mile paved trail.
Glenwood Gardens
10623 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn
A winter walk in this park will show you wetlands prairies and meadows.
Miami Whitewater Forest
9001 Mount Hope Road
The Shaker Trace Trail has an inner loop with Parcours fitness stations and an extended outer loop.
Mitchell Memorial Forest
5401 Zion Road, Miami Township
Take a hike along the challenging mountain bike trail for a solid winter workout.
Sharon Woods
11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville
Sharon Woods offers a scenic, 2.5-mile, paved course around Sharon Woods Lake, a .7-mile gorge trail that runs past waterfalls and a one-mile Parcours Fitness Trail with 18 exercise stations.
Shawnee Lookout
2008 Lawrenceburg Road, Miami Township
This park offers three moderate nature trails, including Blue Jacket (1.3 miles), Little Turtle (2 miles) and Miami Fort (1.4 miles).
Triple Creek
2700 Buell Road, Colerain Township
Offers a paved trail for an easy winter walk.
Winton Woods
10245 Winton Road, Springfield Township
Winton Woods offers two challenging nature trails, a 2.6-mile multi-purpose trail, and a horse trail, or stop by Parky’s Farm to visit the animals.
Withrow Nature Preserve
7075 Five Mile Road, Anderson Township
The Trout Lily trail is a 2-mile nature trail with a view over the Ohio River.
Woodland Mound
8250 Old Kellogg Road, Anderson Township
Woodland Mound offers two moderate nature trails, as well as the Seasongood Nature Center, which includes interactive displays, two outdoor observation decks, and a classroom for Naturalist programs.
In Boone County Parks (859-334-2283 or boonecountyky.org)
Central Park & Arborteum
9190 Camp Ernst Road, Union
Home to the Boone County Arboretum and a children’s garden, this park offers paved walking and hiking trails, as well as the Born Learning Trail, an interactive trail to help parents find learning moments at the park with their little ones.
Dinsmore Woods
5700 Burlington Pike, Burlington
Dinsmore Woods is 107 acres of old growth forest near the historic Dinsmore Homestead with moderate to difficult hiking trails.
England/Idlewild Park
5550 Idlewild Road, Burlington
This park offers hiking trails along with a dog park for the four-legged members of your family and a bike park with two pump tracks, a dual slalom course, and three jump lines.
Florence Nature Park
7200 Nature Park Dr., Florence
This small park features a short paved path and a gazebo, perfect for a quiet winter stroll.
Giles Conrad Park
7500 River Road, Hebron
A 1.3-mile paved and level trail connects riverbank overlooks to large green spaces. This park also offers fitness stations and a playground.
Gunpowder Creek Nature Park
6750 Sperti Lane, Burlington
Unpaved walking trails measure 1.25 miles long that travels an elevation of 620 to 830 feet.
Middle Creek Park
5700 Burlington Pike, Burlington
Middle Creek offers over eight miles of unpaved walking and hiking trails that range from moderate to difficult. Trails are also open to horseback riding.
Waller-Stephenson Mill Park
2744 Verona Mudlick Road, Verona
Enjoy 2.37 miles of unpaved trails running through old forest growth at the back of this property that is a joint project between Boone County Parks and Walton-Verona Schools.
Walton Community Park
35 Old Stephenson-Mill Road, Walton
This 30-acre park features a short, gentle paved walking trail and two large playgrounds.
In Kenton County Parks (859-525-7529 or kentoncounty.org):
Lincoln Ridge Park
420 Independence Station Road, Independence
Offering unpaved hiking trails with playgrounds nearby.
Doe Run Lake
1501 Bullock Pen Road, Covington
Hike along the Doe Run Nature Trail and keep an eye out for animal dwellers.
Middleton-Mills Park
3415 Mills Road, Covington
Hiking trails and playgrounds make this park a great spot for winter hikers.
Pioneer Park
3951 Madison Pike, Covington
Pioneer Park offers paved walking and biking trails, along with the Kenton Paw Park for your furry friends.
In Butler County MetroParks (513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net).
A valid motor vehicle permit ($5 daily, $10 annual) is required to enter all parks.
Dudley Woods
5591 Hankins Road, Liberty Township
This park offers easy nature trails, making a winter hike with little ones a real treat.
Forest Run Wildlife Preserve
1810 New London Road, Hamilton
Offering an observation deck amongst the nature trails which run through the woods and meadows and along the wetlands.
Gilmore Ponds Interpretive Preserve
7950 Gilmore Road, Hamilton
This park is a good one for families interested in birding and spotting abundant wildlife.
Rentschler Forest Preserve
Miami-Erie Canal 5701 Reigart Road, Hamilton
Offers a scenic nature area, along with plenty of hiking trails and play areas.
Sebald Park
5580 Elk Creek Road, Middletown
Most of the park remains in a natural condition, but there are trails for winter hikes, as well as horse trails..
Voice of America Park
7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester
A 2.5 paved scenic trail plus Wiggly Field Dog Park makes this park a perfect spot for all families.
In Clermont County (513-732-2977 or clermontparks.org):
Crooked Run Nature Preserve
521 County Park Road, Chilo
Crooked Run offers 77 acres, over a mile of hiking trails, and three wildlife viewing blinds, making it an excellent option for bird watchers.
Kelley Nature Preserve
297 Center St., Loveland
Featuring over one mile of hiking trails along the scenic Little Miami River, perfect for both hiking and winter bird watching.
Shor Park
4659 Tealtown Road, Milford
Learn more about this park’s wetland restoration effort by taking a walk along the trails and reading the interpretive signs along the way.
Sycamore Park and Wilson Nature Preserve
4082 State Route 132, Batavia
Over four miles of hiking trails that traverse several large hills and offer great views of the East Fork of the Little Miami River. There’s also a short paved hiking trail and two playgrounds.
Williamsburg to Batavia Hike Bike Trail
Begins at the end of Broadway Road in Williamsburg
When completed, the entire trail will cover 13 miles between the two villages. For now, the total trail length is six miles.
Wilson Nature Preserve
4082 State Route 132, Batavia
Three miles of hiking trails offer some challenging opportunities for hiking enthusiasts.
Other Hiking Areas:
Cincinnati Nature Center Rowe Woods
4949 Tealtown Road, Milford 513-831-1711 cincynature.org
Comprising over 1,600 acres, CNC offers over 16 miles of award-winning trails that wind through Eastern deciduous forest, fields, streams and ponds. CNC is also home to educational programs for kids, including the Nature PlayScape and the Nature Preschool. When conditions are favorable in January, families are invited to play in the snow in the Nature PlayScape, whether they want to sled down the meadow hill or build a snowman. Check the Facebook page or call the Front Desk, or sign up to receive email updates at natureplayscape@cincynature.org. Admission is $9 adults, $4 ages 4 – 12, and $6 for seniors and active military.