Stanbery Creek

The bustling city of Cincinnati offers plenty for those living in the city, including a thriving downtown, retail center, and busy streets that will keep plenty of people active. To enjoy a little bit of nature, you and Fido should head out to Stanbery Park, where the 1.8-mile looping trail of Stanbery Creek Trail begins and allows people a great escape from the hustle and bustle.

This large path has been called many names, such as the Stanbery Park Trail and Shoop Trail. It begins in the southeast part of Stanbery Park, near the parking area where there's a small cement loop that provides access to restrooms, a playground, trash bins, clean-up stations for pups, and water fountains. After getting all you need for the trek,  you can start the path on the northern, or southern entrance of the trail by the parking area, as both enter the 125-acre forested park.

The park is pretty big and offers a great natural area to explore. With large oak and birch trees lining the trail, hikers will enjoy a completely shaded walk around the entire loop. Explore some open areas with pups, spot wildlife like birds, squirrels, turtles, and foxes, or watch as bicyclists and rollerbladers travel past.

About half a mile into the path when starting from the northern point, there's a larger resting area, with a gazebo and picnic tables, although if you and Fido don't want to stop there, plenty of benches line the path around the entire loop. Once finished with the hike, you'll come up on the southern exit of the trail which connects back to the original cement loop path, and near your car and park amenities.

The beautiful, forested Stanbery Park is a pawfect getaway for you and Fido to get back to nature and enjoy some peaceful one and one time with each other right in the middle of the city. Happy walking!