Abandoned places are downright fascinating. Wouldn’t you agree? There’s something magical about stumbling upon a railroad from years past in the middle of a forest—and that’s exactly what you can experience along one beautiful hiking trail in Ohio. The Valley Trail at Ault Park in Cincinnati features an abandoned railroad bridge from the late 1800s, and it’s a short trek out-and-back. We say that’s what makes this one of the best hikes in Cincinnati. Take a look at this scenic trail through the forest:

The Valley Trail starts at the bottom of the hill on Observatory Avenue, which is on the left side of the street as you’re entering the park.
John Meegan/All Trails
First, you'll cross a small footbridge into the forest.
The trail follows the path of an early roadway between Observatory Avenue and Old Red Bank Road. It also crosses over a small stream.
Screenshot via aultparkac.org.
It is a total of .65 miles long. The forest vegetation to the North is particularly established and mature.

The woodland is a perfect example of the Western Mesophytic Forest which is deciduous and primarily in the Eastern United States. These trees grow broad leaves that produce enough sugar in the summer months to sustain the trees all through the winter! However, when the cold months hit, those leaves are dropped to prevent evaporation.

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The abandoned railroad bridge once carried trains running between Cincinnati and Portsmouth.
C V/All Trails
This was a route that was first established in 1878. In the early years after Ault Park was established, over 97 sheep were kept to trim the lawns and shrubs of the property.
Be sure to proceed with caution at the abandoned railroad bridge.
HEIDI BEDOYA/All Trails
Please note that dogs are allowed on this trail, but they must be kept on a leash. The stream is a great way for dogs to cool off in hot weather!

The trail is well maintained and well traversed, but can be slightly muddy in the Spring. You may need to walk through a very small spring that runs over the trail at some points in the year. Click here to check out more about this trail. Or here for an elevation map of the trail.
Today, this abandoned railroad trail is a hauntingly beautiful sight to stumble upon. It makes for a great scenic hike and is super kid-friendly. They will love walking across the railroad tracks.

But there's even more history than that in Ault Park! The evidence of human presence in Ault Park dates back over 6000 years. Now that's a well-loved area!
Rob Raney/All Trails
Less kid-friendly, but a little spookier, is the "hidden" railroad trestles just to the West of the main ones.

Animals you might see include woodland salamanders, box turtles, toads, tree frogs, snakes, mice, shrews, moles, chipmunks, squirrels, racoons, opossums, rabbits, deer, fox, and over 150 species of birds! Ault Park is a great spot to birdwatch for both native and migratory species.

To take this hike, visit Ault Park at 3600 Observatory Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208. Buses 24 and 37 have service that pass near the park.

Have you ever hiked this trail before? If you have, let us know about your experience!

Check this list out to learn about more kid-friendly hikes around Cincinnati.

For rainy days and urban adventures in Ohio, check out our previous article: These 15 Incredible Places In Ohio Will Bring Out The Explorer In You.

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3600 Observatory Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208, USA