Four family-friendly hikes in the Riverway during warmer weather 

There is a lot of summer left – and we love the warmer weather and the long sunny days. We also love the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and visit some of the best places to hike in the region. 

We’ve gathered four of our favorite family-friendly hikes from our list of 99 things to do along the Great Miami Riverway. So round up your family or friends – or just your bestie – and get outdoors and enjoy the summer season with some great views! These hikes are easier and shorter than others. 

#18 Hike the trails at Shawnee Lookout to take in the amazing scenic vistas of the Great Miami River valley

Shawnee Lookout, located in Hamilton County, is a great place to take in nature any time of year. The park is well known for its historical Springhouse School and Log Cabin as well as its Native American archaeological earthworks. The park's nature trails, including the 1.3-mile Blue Jacket, 2.0-mile Little Turtle and the 1.4-mile Miami Fort trail, offer spectacular views of the Ohio River and Great Miami River valleys. The 4.3 miles of former golf cart paths are also open for biking, hiking, rolling or strolling. The park also features picnic areas, a playground and boat access to the Great Miami River.

#46 Climb to the top of the Miamisburg Mound - one of two tallest adena mounds in the US

Miamisburg Mound offers an easy place to take a hike, and the opportunity to see one of the two largest conical mounds in eastern North America. The mound is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is 65 feet tall and 800 feet in circumference, containing 54,000 cubic yards of earth. The mound is visible from several miles away because it stands atop a 100-foot high ridge above the Great Miami River. A concrete staircase takes you to the top observation platform, where you can enjoy a wonderful view. 

#54 Visit Taylorsville MetroPark to see a park that doubles as flood protection

Taylorsville MetroPark has some of the most dramatic scenery of all of western Ohio, containing massive rock outcrops, ravines, and pine forests. The park doubles as flood protection for downstream communities – and the Miami Conservancy District Taylorsville dam can store as much as 60.62 billion gallons of floodwaters when necessary. A short walk from the CCC picnic shelter north of the dam leads to a huge pile of Brassfield dolomite with an exposed rock face behind. Walk up the stone stairs and examine the small caverns created by water traveling through the stone over time. Enter the park at 2101 U.S. 40 and hike the orange trail.

 

#72 Trek Charleston Falls Nature Preserve to see beautiful waterfalls and wildflowers.

Any time of year is a good time to visit Charleston Falls. The Falls at Charleston Falls can rightly be called a “Miniature Niagara” because its rock strata is the same as Niagara Falls. Charleston Falls Preserve is the most visited Park District property in Miami County with more than 216 acres of prairie and forests. This picturesque park is the perfect place to hike and view wildlife or seek out uncommon plants such as wild columbine, walking fern, purple cliff break and rock honeysuckle grace the limestone faces of the surrounding gorge.