Life: Parks around the Tri-State

[Orenda]

Anybody have any favorite outdoor scenery around the Tri-State? I like to hit up the public parks when I can. Shawnee Lookout is fairly close to me, so I’ll go hike down there from time to time when I get a chance. They have a trail I like to go take that comes to a point where you can look down upon the Ohio River. It’s a good mind clearing, meditation spot…that is if you can get your mind off the smokestacks in the distance and not think about the possibility that at one point in time, the very point you’re standing would be/ is a near perfect spot for a life to get a view of River traffic etc. )

Also I tend to think about the wealth/ blessing of vast life sustaining resources that a River can provide in terms of fish and other game, not to mention potential soil fertility. can't help but wish I had a time machine to catch of glimpse of what the Ohio River Valley looked like hundreds of years ago. Anyhow with this being Mother’s day and all, I figured I’d post this.

Happy Life Giving , Sustaining , and Nurturing Day folks.

[dabvu2498]

If you want to get a little north of the city, I highly recommend Germantown Dam Park http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/Germantown/Home.aspx It offers some excellent hiking trails and very nice scenery. Plus, the section of Twin Creek that runs through the park offers some pretty decent small stream fishing.

Montgomery County MetroParks has also constructed a trail linking Germantown Dam Park with Twin Creek Park http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/TwinCreek/Home.aspx Twin Creek is the site of an old Boy Scout camp where my troop used to do a lot of its' activities. It's kinda strange for me, being there. There are some abandoned buildings there and the ground just holds quite a few memories for me.

Anyways, these two parks (especially Germantown) are worth finding and taking time to explore.

[KittyDuran]

Originally Posted by Orenda

...that is if you can get your mind off the smokestacks in the distance

I just saw the words "Shawnee Lookout" and immediately thought of the smokestacks... Hamilton County has really nice parks... my favorites are Sharon Woods (close to work) and Woodland Mound (looking out on the Ohio river-east side).

[Orenda]

Originally Posted by KittyDuran

I just saw the words "Shawnee Lookout" and immediately thought of the smokestacks... Hamilton County has really nice parks... my favorites are Sharon Woods (close to work) and Woodland Mound (looking out on the Ohio river-east side).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/haglund...in/photostream

angles

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nora/2532941542/

[Roy Tucker]

We've done the Hamilton County winter hikes for about 8-9 years so we've walked about every trail in the Hamilton Co. parks.

I love that place at Shawnee Lookout you mentioned. I think that's the Miami Fort trial. Off in the other direction is the Little Turtle trail which is cool too.

Miami Whitewater has some nice trails. Out east of town is Woodland Mound which has some nice scenic overlooks of the Ohio River Valley. The Hedgeapple trail there is a good one. Glenwood Gardens over by GE is a jewel of a park. Withrow Nature Preserve is good too. And Winton Woods and Sharon Woods are sturdy standbys.

One other one that is interesting is Cedar Bog up by Urbana. It has a raised walkway through ther bog and fen and is very interesting.

And through SE and SW Ohio are some cool Indian mound trails. One summer, I think we went to everyone out there. Serpent Mound and Davis Memorial stick in my mind.

[KittyDuran]

Here at Miami Whitewater... Resting on a bench. Great weather and the place is getting crowded.Attachment 6109

[KittyDuran]

Another view of the harbor...Attachment 6110

[dougdirt]

Here is a request.... does anyone know of any parks in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky/Dayton area that has a water fall that is at least 5 feet high?

[KittyDuran]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Here is a request.... does anyone know of any parks in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky/Dayton area that has a water fall that is at least 5 feet high?

You might find one here...

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/par...0/Default.aspx

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by KittyDuran

You might find one here...

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/par...0/Default.aspx

You just made my day. Thank you. I have been having problems finding anything around here for a photoshoot that I want to do and after a rainy day, that should work just fine.

[Roy Tucker]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

You just made my day. Thank you. I have been having problems finding anything around here for a photoshoot that I want to do and after a rainy day, that should work just fine.

The Clifton Mill at the headwaters of Clifton Gorge would be nice.

http://www.cliftonmill.com/

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by Roy Tucker

The Clifton Mill at the headwaters of Clifton Gorge would be nice.

http://www.cliftonmill.com/

Couldn't really use that for what I plan.

However, in my search I did stumble across this image that is supposedly of the Little Miami River 'near Clifton Gorge'. Anyone have a clue? I can't imagine something like that actually being around and only one photo of it is on the internet. I am wondering if it is simply mislabeled, though it was taken by a professional photographer who seems to have labeled all of his other photos just fine from what I can see.

[Javy Pornstache]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Couldn't really use that for what I plan.

However, in my search I did stumble across this image that is supposedly of the Little Miami River 'near Clifton Gorge'. Anyone have a clue? I can't imagine something like that actually being around and only one photo of it is on the internet. I am wondering if it is simply mislabeled, though it was taken by a professional photographer who seems to have labeled all of his other photos just fine from what I can see.

Hey Doug, I'm an avid nature guy that has been in that area before, that photo you attached does appear to be Clifton Gorge in the Clifton/Yellow Springs area, that area is just a tad east of Bryan Park, if memory serves correctly. If you're interested in waterfalls for photography, there is a pretty cool one called Charleston Falls in southern Miami County, kinda between Tipp City and Huber Heights if you're familiar with that neck of the woods north of Dayton.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by Javy Pornstache

Hey Doug, I'm an avid nature guy that has been in that area before, that photo you attached does appear to be Clifton Gorge in the Clifton/Yellow Springs area, that area is just a tad east of Bryan Park, if memory serves correctly. If you're interested in waterfalls for photography, there is a pretty cool one called Charleston Falls in southern Miami County, kinda between Tipp City and Huber Heights if you're familiar with that neck of the woods north of Dayton.

I don't have a clue where that is. I honestly don't know my way around Dayton if it isn't on its way to Fifth Third Field. But, I am very interested in waterfalls in that area since there are none that I know of in the Cincinnati area and Dayton is close enough to drive to, especially since I can just head up to the area early in a day that I will be working a game to save on gas.

Sounds like I will be making a trip up there soon. Thanks. If you can remember anything more detailed about the location of the first waterfall, I would appreciate it. For now, I am just going to be scouring googlemaps once again.

[gonelong]

Charleston Falls Preserve

Pictures: Charleston Falls Waterfall

Map: Charleston Falls

Area Waterfalls


Nice wide gravel walking path. It's fairly local to us, so Mrs. Gonelong, Gonelong Jr., and I frequently walk there.

Edit: Forget the best part. Bring a few pieces of bread along. When you get to the pond, feed the fish. Once the bluegills come to feed on little bits of bread, chuck bigger pieces out farther. Once in awhile a bigger fish will poke his head out and nab it.

GL