Bender Mountain Nature Preserve — Attraction in Delhi Township

The map of the property is buried in the woods on the side of the trail not at the parking lot or even the trailheads off of the parking lot. Speaking of the trailheads you can't actually access them unless there has been no rainfall for significant time leading up to your visit. You would have to manually build your own stepping stone bridge of rocks across the flowing water or scrabble downstream for a distance to find a gap in the tree line where the path has descended in elevation to the level of the stream bed. There is no fixed bridge or other walkway to access the trailhead when there has been precipitation and the water level is flowing higher. The short U bend trail takes you down to the creek and a large piece of drain pipe that the water flows through along with some graffiti that vandals have spray painted onto the cement walls. I applaud the conservation of flora and fauna within this piece of property but it leaves much to be desired. I did not find the trails to be demanding as the sign on the property describes though I am an experienced outdoors person and was only tested by the muddy state of the ground. Also why are people putting sea shells and man made objects in the trees? Leave no trace and take care of our planet. As with any outdoors activity be realistic about your training, experience, and level of ability...

This is a good trail system considering the location. The staff and volunteers at Western Wildlife Corridor have done a great job at restoring a good portion of the woods, with honeysuckle and other invasive species removed and a huge variety of native species reintroduced. The spring ephemerals alone are amazing if you go at the right time. One of the few places you can see the woods as they should be. There are many well maintained trails and most of the terrain is steep, it can get very muddy on the low trails after a rain. As with most good spots it can be a little too crowded for my taste at times, but that’s just a personal preference. As a side note please don’t pick the native flowers, in many cases you’re effectively killing the plant before it’s had a chance to reproduce, let...

One of my favorite hikes on the west side of Cincy. Easily accessible, though the Bender Road trailheads can be a bit hidden. Be prepared to cross the creek to get there (easy enough in the dry season, but if the water is up, do be careful - the rocks are slippery)

The Bender Valley Trail runs along the creek and is is a nice, light hike with loads of creek stones to that help with footing on the grades.

If you’re game for a workout, take the Eagle Scout Trail to the top of the hill for a fabulous view of the Ohio River. There are some steep spots, so watch your step.

Overall it’s a peaceful little corner of the west side. You’ll hear the cars occasionally on Bender and a few planes overhead, but loads of wildlife to enjoy. If you’re looking for a nice hike, check...