Winton Woods County Park: Kingfisher Trail (Blog Hike #3)

Trail: Kingfisher Trail
Hike Location: Winton Woods County Park
Geographic Location: south side of Greenhills, OH (39.25831,-84.53038)
Length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Dates Hiked: 1997, 2002, June 2013
Overview: A pleasant stroll along Kingfisher Creek and the surrounding hillside.

Park Information: http://www.greatparks.org/parks/winton-woods

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=716323
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: On the north side of Cincinnati, take the Winton Road exit (exit 39) off of I-275 and go south on Winton Rd.  Take Winton Rd. through Forest Park and Greenhills to Lakeview Drive, which intersects Winton Rd. at a traffic light just before Winton Rd. crosses a bridge over the lake.  Turn right on Lakeview Dr.  Parking for the Kingfisher Trail is a short distance ahead; a sign will indicate its location.

The hike: Much of the rolling north-central Hamilton County land comprising today's Winton Woods County Park has been in public hands for some time.  The initial tract of 905 acres was leased by the county from the federal government in 1939.  This makes Winton Woods the second oldest park in the Hamilton County Park District.  As a result, the forest at Winton Woods is considerably more mature than that of other county parks.  In fact, two areas within the park, the Greenbelt and Spring Beauty Dell, have been dedicated state nature preserves for exactly this reason.   

            The park we see today came into being in the early 1960’s with the damming of the West Fork of the Mill Creek.  The resulting lake, called Winton Lake, became the centerpiece of the recreational activities found in today’s Winton Woods County Park.  These activities include golfing at the recently renovated Mill Golf Course, picnicking in one of the numerous picnic areas, boating or fishing on the lake, or bicycling on the Harbor Trail, a 1.7 mile paved trail encircling part of the east end of the lake.  Of interest to people with children will be Parky’s Farm (a nature study center) and Parky’s playground.

            Though not the main draw, Winton Woods offers ample opportunities for nature hiking as well.  Two nature trails loop on either side of Kingfisher Creek, a tributary of Winton Lake.  Because the Kingfisher Trail described here is almost exactly one mile in length and it is located close to a heavily populated area, it is very popular with the casual weekend hiker and the cross-country runner.  In fact, houses and cars can be seen or heard for much of the hike.  Thus, this is not the hike for you if you seek solitude.  However, don’t let these “drawbacks” keep you away from this hike.  This short trail provides an interesting walk through several wildlife habitats.  The walking is easy and scenic, offering a lot to see given its close proximity to the city.           

Trailhead: Kingfisher Trail

            The trail departs from a sign on the north side of the park road. Only a few hundred feet from the road, the trail forks. I always hike this trail counter-clockwise because it breaks up the ascent of the hillside into small chunks.  To do this, choose the right fork here and use the left one as the return portion of the loop.  The trail immediately begins to climb the hillside, with the trail turning to the right, climbing a few feet up the hill, then to the left, flattening out again.  All along, the trail crosses a few small drainages that empty into Kingfisher Creek at the bottom of the hill.  The very apex of the hill provides a nice view of the valley and the opposing hillside during the leafless months.            

Climbing the hillside

            From here, the trail begins a moderate descent to the creek in the valley.   This part of the trail appears to follow an old wagon road.  Some small logs have been placed in the trail to try to prevent erosion, but they have only been moderately successful.  At the bottom of the hill, the trail crosses a short boardwalk and then descends a short flight of stairs to a T-intersection.  Turn left here to get back to the trailhead; the right path takes you to a picnic area on Springdale Rd. 

Kingfisher Creek

            The remainder of the trail takes you along Kingfisher Creek, in which brown ducks, mallards, and other birds, not to mention insects, can be seen.  I have never seen the noisy bird for which this trail is named, but if you are to see one, you will probably spot it on this section of the trail.  The small, blue-chested kingfisher obtains its food by diving into the water.  Thus, your best chance to see one is here along the creek.  If you plan to spend some time here in the summer (when the bird resides in Greater Cincinnati), make sure you have on several layers of insect repellent.  Mosquitoes find the stagnant water of Kingfisher Creek equally appealing as a breeding ground.           

Boardwalk along Kingfisher Creek

            A final boardwalk takes you over a wetland to where you join up with the outward loop.  From here, it is only a couple hundred feet to your car.  While in the area, consider hiking the Great Oaks Trail, the other nature trail at Winton Woods.  The trailhead is located a short drive west on the park road.  It is only 0.75 miles long and offers a fascinating hike passing numerous large oak trees.