Cincinnati Nature Center — Attraction in Union Township

The CNC provides ample education for environmental sciences and our role in it - notably what we can do to mutually benefit from nature and green thinking locally and globally.

Further, there are MILES of fun, family friendly trails to hike on. (and a couple wheelchair accessible ones as well)

The CNC visitor center has a marvelous and quirky selection to look through in the gift shop that is sure to please any animal, plant, hiking, bird watching, and Charlie Harper lover.

The visitor center also houses a cozy fireplace in a small room with comfy couches and a selection of nature related material to read from.

There are of course several activities within the center for kids, and my favorite being one for kids and the kids at heart - the far side of the center offers visitors the opportunity to watch birds at the several bird feeders the CNC has placed in a planned area through binoculars. Very fun.

The CNC has a plethora of activities for the young and old, and even their own magazine that you can subscribe to for quarterly updates about being a responsible citizen of the world, how to stay green during the winter, activities like making maple syrup or drinking after dark in the woods with fellow philanthropists, artists, conservationists, and alike.

Now and again, the CNC hosts galleries for sculptural, painted, drawn, or photographed works of art - including local talents.

The CNC champions environmental chivalry, attempting to do as much good as possible - thanks to a ton of grassroots efforts and philanthropic donors.

The staff are all incredibly knowledgeable about the trails, local nature trivia, and absolutely as friendly as can be. You feel like family when you're there.

Lastly, events like Arbor Day sales and many spring sales encourage members to plant native plants, usually at a great bargain and a decent selection with great informed suggestions for it to do well, and of course free seed packets of local plants to foster the pollenator populations locally.

It's not a free facility, it's about $5 per person - but if you frequent the area or wish to hike with -upon request- a heart monitor to compete in their health challenges or measure your performance, or take part in any of the plethora of activities, or want to just buy some good coffee and a Charlie Harper mug, it's well worth the visit.

They also offer yearly memberships, and I am happy to be a nearly 3-year member. The trails are beautifully maintained, and there is nothing else quite like it in the area. You'll have...

I’m not only a member of the park but I have been coming there the past several years. It was a place that brought me peace. Whenever I was having a bad day or feeling a little down, I would come there and leave feeling as though I didn’t have a care in the world until…

September 17th, wanting to have such a day as fore mentioned, I’m waiting in line behind 2 vehicles to enter. Please notice that they 2 are members because they displayed their membership and the gentleman at the window scanned them.

It’s now my turn so I hold out my membership and he proceeds to take it instead of just scanning it the same as he did the 2 earlier vehicles. He then asked for my ID.

At that moment I felt as those I shouldn’t have a membership. I felt degraded, embarrassed, angry, confused, deflated and any hope of me trying to have a peaceful day was gone just in that moment.

I proceeded to find a parking spot and feeling somewhat defeated. I walk inside to of the visitor center wanting to explain what just happened to me. There was a young lady that I spoke with and she somewhat dismissed what I was trying to explain by stating..

“Yes we ask for ID of all members” as to which I replied “That’s not true” “I just witnessed 2 white people show their memberships, then being scanned and gaining entry without showing their ID’s”.

Her reply, what’s your name? I gave her my name then stated “I wouldn’t expect you to understand”. I can assure you that I will never come there or any other park you may have! I will spend as much time necessary to tell all of my friends and family about my experience.

I will discourage any and everyone I know from coming there. As a police officer I would never make anyone I come in contact with feel the way I felt today. I don’t expect anyone reading this to understand or have any sympathy for how something like this effects me as a Black Woman.

I truly thought I was a part of something to brag about, be proud to be a member of and be excited to share my experiences there with my friends and family. I am truly saddened and now ashamed.

As stated above I don’t expect anyone to understand or care. I simply wanted to let someone know that today I was reminded of what it’s...

This beautiful property is located within miles of my childhood home. We use to visit on field trips with my school, and my Dad use to bring us as well. Over the years, mainly as the result of private donations, the Nature Center has added more acreage for hiking and walking trails, educational programs, and the old Krippendorf Lodge has been restored and is available for weddings and other events. I use to hike by the house every weekend when they were doing events and it is a gorgeous setting for outdoor weddings.

My favorite part of The Nature Center is the hiking! You can start with less strenuous trails if you've only got a mile or two in you - there are ponds, streams, wild flowers, wild life - bring your camera. You get a different scenery every time the seasons change! I've seen a ton of Deer, wild turkeys, turtles, and bullfrogs.

Once you are conditioned, you can combine trails and get up to 10 miles, including hills, 100+ flights of wooden steps to take you up and down the highest elevations. Don't forget to pick up a map at the visitor's center so you don't get lost. You burn almost twice as many calories doing 5 miles with all the elevation as opposed to pavement.

They charge for Memberships so consider how often you are going to visit throughout the year, whether you need a personal membership or a Family membership. They will give you some free visitor passes when you join. It's some of the most beautiful, and not overly developed outdoor exercise you can get and it's pretty safe. There are benches, and old cabin with chairs on the porch where you can just sit in peace, or rest if you're out of breath from some of the hills. There's really something for everyone and I'd highly recommend for the hiker, or for a family looking for something that doesn't require...