French Park in Amberly Village, OH (Blog Hike #115)

Trails: (unnamed)

Hike Location: French Park

Geographic Location: Amberley Village, OH (39.19611, -84.42884)

Length: 1.2 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: May 2002, August 2016

Overview: A loop hike, first through a young upland forest, then through a more mature streamside forest.

Park Information: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks/visit-a-park/find-a-parkfacility/french-park/

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=717889
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In Ohio, take I-71 to Ridge Road (exit 8) and enter north on Ridge Road. Take Ridge Road north 2 miles to Section Road (there is a traffic light at this intersection) and turn right on Section Road.  Take Section Road east 0.1 miles to the park entrance on the left.  Park either in the blacktop lot on the right or the small gravel lot on the left, both of which will be encountered within 0.1 miles of entering the park.

The hike: Set on 276 acres of rolling land in the heart of suburbia, French Park exhibits its agricultural history better than most any park in greater Cincinnati.  The land was donated to the City of Cincinnati by Mr. Herbert French who had built his farm, called Reachmont Farm, on the land.  The small red-brick house that was his home is still the centerpiece of the park today.  The house sits along the main park road atop the hill and is used by numerous conservation groups as their business headquarters.  You will pass it on your way out since the park road is one way.  The park is maintained by the City of Cincinnati Park Board.

            A pair of unnamed, unmarked loop trails provide access to the surrounding forest. The western trail treads across high ground through young forest.  The eastern loop passes along a small tributary of Mill Creek through more mature forest.  The hike described here starts on the western trail, then follows a connector trail over to the eastern loop.

Trails starting at gravel parking lot

            Start at the small gravel parking lot mentioned in the directions.  The two arms of the western loop leave from the rear of this parking lot.  I suggest taking the right trail, which is the shorter of the two options, and begin ascending moderately over a wide two-track dirt road.  The forest is very young with honeysuckles lining both sides of the trail.  Wildflowers are plentiful in the spring.

            After 0.5 miles of climbing, look for a narrower trail that exits into the forest on the right.  Be on the lookout for this turn, as it is unmarked and easy to miss.  If you begin curving left and heading back south to the trailhead, you have missed the turn.  This narrow gravel trail is the connector trail that will take you over to the eastern loop.

            Now heading downhill, the trail undulates through more mature beech-maple forest, crossing numerous feeder streams with the aid of wooden bridges.  Some of these ravines are quite steep, and some steps have been constructed to make the undulations more manageable.  Ignore a side trail that exits left before making the final descent to the major stream in the park.

Hiking along the creek

            Now at a T-intersection with the eastern loop, look to the left and see the first of several small waterfalls this creek has to offer.  The eastern loop continues in this direction and comes out at a picnic shelter, but our hike assumes a streamside course and begins heading south.  The creek starts on the left with the hillside on the right, but on two occasions the trail crosses the creek via stepping stones to avoid steep bluffs.  These crossings could be hazardous immediately following a storm.

Rock wall along creek

            At the second of these crossings, look across the creek at the stone wall from the land’s agricultural past.  An unusual sight today, walls such as these could be built to help maintain the stability of the nearby land so as to make it more productive for farming.  The trail crosses the creek one final time and comes out at the main park road behind a picnic area.  Watch traffic on the road and cross the narrow park road bridge to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.