Guided Hikes and Walks

Bird Walks (Year-Round)

Grab your binoculars and join your leader for bird watching along the trails.  Beginner and veteran "birders" are welcome.  Meet in the Rowe Woods parking lot and dress for the weather.  Bird walks begin at 8 a.m. every second and fourth Saturday of the month in all seasons. Members free; nonmembers pay daily admission.

Full Moon Walks (Year-Round)

Hit the trails at night and enjoy the full moon and natural history readings.  Full moon walks are led by Executive Director Bill Hopple.  Recommended for ages 8 and up. Preregistration is required. Members free; nonmembers $8.

Saturday, December 10, 2011	7:30 PM at RW
Sunday, January 8, 2012 Full Moon Walk with Hot Cocoa Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa on the overlook deck at Longbranch Farm & Trails halfway through the hike.  Meet at the Creekside Barn to begin the hike.  Members $5, Non-Members $8    Preregistration                Required	7:30 PM at LBFT
Tuesday, February 7, 2012	7:30 PM at RW

Ice Hike on the Creek at Longbranch Farm & Trails (January)

A Satuday in Early January

Explore the artful, frozen shapes in the ice of O'Bannon Creek as we hike on the shallow parts of the creek in search of frozen animal tracks and telltale signs of beaver.  Enjoy ice-embedded crystals and bubbles as we look for groundwater icicles. Hot chocolate provided.  This programs occurs at Longbranch Farm & Trails.

If you would like to be notified to join a naturalist-led hike when conditions are favorable please email Amy Johnson at and write ICE HIKE in the subject line. Children over the age of 6 are invited to attend with an adult.  Dress for the weather.

Members Free;  Nonmember adults $8, children $3.  Pay at the door.

Winter Tracking for Families (January)

A Satuday in Early January

Snow reveals the habits of animal inhabitants.  Head out into the winter wonderland in search of tracks and signs of racoon, mice, voles, raptors and coyote.  Create some tracks your family can take home.  Hot chocolate provided.

If you would like to be notified to join a naturalist-led hike when conditions are favorable please email Amy Johnson at and write TRACKING in the subject line. Children over the age of 4 are invited to attend with an adult.  Dress for the weather.

Members Free;  Nonmember adults $8, children $3. Pay at the door. 

Woodcock Walks (February, March)

Woodcocks are game birds that arrive here just as the mud starts to thaw. They are nocturnal and require field habitat to mate. Many people think their call sounds like an insect.  Few people even know they exist. 

If you would like to be notified to join a naturalist-led hike at the peak of woodcock activity - sometime in late February to early March around 6:30 pm - please email Amy Johnson at and write WOODCOCK in the subject line. *Children are invited to attend with an adult if the child is able to stand still and quiet for up to 15 minutes at a time.  Dress warmly and be prepared to walk to and from the visitor center to the fields across Tealtown Road.

Members Free;  Nonmember adult $8; children $3.  Pay at Door.

Maple Syrup Making (February, March)

The sap is rising!  Savor the first taste of spring and drop by the Sugar House near Krippendorf Lodge anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Experience the whole process of producing "liquid gold" maple syrup from sap and bask in the warmth of the evaporator and its maple-scented steam. Join an interactive sap-collecting maple hike at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. Hikes start at the Sugar House. A self-guided maple trail is also available.

Salamander Celebration (Late Februay/Early March)

A quiet nocternal migration takes place on a late winter thaw when temperatures rise and ice pulls away from the edge of the ponds.  Four to five inch long Jefferson Salamanders head back to the ponds to breed and lay eggs. 

If you would like to be notified to join a evening program followed by a  naturalist-led hike when conditions are favorable please email Amy Johnson at and write SALAMANDERS in the subject line. Bring your flashlights and dress for the weather.

Member adult $5, children $1;  Nonmember adult $8, children $3.  Pay at the door.

Frog Foray (March)

Spring peepers sing at the ponds to welcome spring. Learn about their lives and those of other frogs in the area, then hike to the pond to listen to them. This program is for adults and children age 5 and older. Please bring your flashlights. Preregistration is required.

Fireside Maple Sweet Potato Bake and Maple Moon Walk (March)

In March, gather 'round the hearth in Abner Hollow Cabin and celebrate maple season with Dutch oven-baked sweet potatoes.  Top your potato off with homemade butter, fresh maple syrup, and pecans.  Then, join Executive Director Bill Hopple for a hike through the sugarbush.

Wildflower Walks (March, April)

In March and April, wildflowers bloom all along the trails at CNC.  Join leaders from the Cincinnati Wildflower Preservation Society to learn wildflower identification along the trails at Rowe Woods.  Expect to walk down steps and through various habitats.  Walks last approximately two hours. The Apr. 3 walk is an easy one-hour walk. 

Family Wildflower Hikes (April)

In April, bring the whole family to Rowe Woods and join Chief Naturalist Bill Creasey to learn interesting facts about wildflowers during a fun-filled, easy walk suitable for families of all ages. Learn the parts of a flower, look for "landing strips" inside flowers, discover purple pollen, and find some unusually shaped flowers.

CNC's Rare Treasure: Our Old-Growth Forest (April)

Celebrate Earth Day with Executive Director Bill Hopple. Take a walk through the old-growth forest to learn about identifying old-growth, why this parcel was saved, what makes it unique, and what threatens it. Please bring a lunch to enjoy after the hike. Adults and high school-aged children welcome.

Perimeter Hike (May)

Join Executive Director Bill Hopple for a new and unique guided hike! Take a 7.5-mile hike on the "Perimeter Trail," CNC's outermost trail loop (with an additional 1.5-mile option). This hike starts at the Rowe Visitor Center and terrain is moderate. Please pack a lunch and water bottle - we will stop along the trail midway through the hike. Ages 12 and up. No dogs please. Members free; nonmembers pay daily admission.

Creek Romp and Canoe Exploration (August, September)

Discover the marvels of the stream at Long Branch Farm & Trails.  Take a guided, in-the-stream hyrbrid hike and canoe exploration to search for water creatures and blend wading and canoeing to reveal fossils, animal tracks, signs of beaver and a variety of other aquatic wonders. Meet in the special groups parking lot at LBFT on Gaynor Rd. Bring old closed-toe sneakers, towels, and expect water that is 24 inches deep or less.  Life jackets will be used while canoeing. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Preregistration is required. Members free; nonmember adult $6, child $3.

CNC's Rare Treasure - Our Old-Growth Forest (September)

CNC Executive Director Bill Hopple will give a lecture then guide you on a walk through Rowe Woods’ old-growth forest. This hike is part of Great Outdoor Weekend, an event designed to provide a diverse sampling of the best nature activities in Greater Cincinnati. All programs and admission to Rowe Woods are FREE and open to the public on Sept. 26 and 27. Preregistration is NOT required.

Visit www.cincygreatoutdoorweekend.com for more information.

Great Outdoor Weekend Bird Walk (September)

Receive a checklist of all the birds that live in and travel through Cincinnati as you prepare for a one-hour bird walk. Beginners welcome. Bring your binoculars! This hike is part of Great Outdoor Weekend, an event designed to provide a diverse sampling of the best nature activities in Greater Cincinnati. All programs and admission to Rowe Woods are FREE and open to the public on Sept. 23 and 24. Preregistration is NOT required.

Visit www.cincygreatoutdoorweekend.com for more information.

Perimeter Hike at LBFT (November)

Come for a hike on the “Perimeter Trail” at Long Branch Farm & Trails with Executive Director Bill Hopple. We will start and end at the Creekside Barn, staying on the outer. Terrain is moderate. Distance is approximately five miles. Pack a lunch and water bottle, we will stop for lunch midway through the hike. Ages 12 and up. No dogs please. Park in the Creekside Parking Lot and meet at the Creekside Barn. Preregistration is required. Members free; nonmembers $5.

Firefly Hikes (June, July)

Sometime around the end of June, the fields and treetops sparkle with light as firefly breeding season reaches its peak.  If you would like to be notified to join a naturalist-led hike when this peak occurs, please email Amy Johnson at    with "Fireflies" in the subject line. **Note: The firefly hikes for Summer 2011 have come and gone. Look for us again the same time next year!

Registration and calendar listings of current season's hikes and walks will be listed as they become available.