Fernbank Park in Cincinnati, OH (Blog Hike #1084)

Trails: Sycamore and Shared-Use Trails
Hike Location: Fernbank Park
Geographic Location: west side of Cincinnati, OH (39.11855, -84.70019)
Length: 2.25 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A double loop near the Ohio River.
Park Information: https://www.greatparks.org/parks/fernbank-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming November 17, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: The entrance to Fernbank Park is located on the south side of US 50 5.8 miles west of Anderson Ferry Road or 4.8 miles east of SR 128.  Go south across the railroad tracks, then turn left to enter the park.  Drive the park road to the large trailhead parking lot at its end where this hike begins.

The hike: Tiny 66-acre Fernbank Park protects more than a mile of scenic riverfront along the Ohio River west of Cincinnati, and the park's history and the river's history are intricately intertwined.  The park was originally built in 3 areas: Lee Park, Dam Site #37, and River Park.  In 1974, the 3 areas were merged to form the park we visit today.

            The Dam Site #37 area is of particular historical interest.  Built in 1911 by the Army Corps of Engineers, the Fernbank Wicket Dam, formally known as Dam #37, was the world's largest movable wicket dam and the only one built entirely of concrete and steel.  Considered an engineering success at the time, the dam was built to ensure that the Ohio River remained navigable to boats year-round.  The dam site originally hosted its own self-sustaining community, but the dam was demolished in 1963.

            2 structures from Fernbank Park's rich history still stand side-by-side in the middle of the park: the Caretaker's Residence and Warehouse built in 1910 and the Pavilion and Concession Stand built in 1940.  The park is jointly managed by the Great Parks of Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Park Board, and it features a playground, some picnic shelters, and 2 trails: the natural-surface Sycamore Trail and the paved Shared-Use Trail.  This hike combines both trails to form a grand tour of Fernbank Park.

Sycamore Trail trailhead

            There are several places where you could start this hike, but I chose to start at the Sycamore Trail parking lot and hike the natural-surface trail first.  A single sign telling you a little about the Sycamore Trail marks the trailhead.  The Sycamore Trail forms a loop, and if you start at the trailhead sign you will go outbound on the southern arm and return on the northern arm.  All of Fernbank Park consists of flat riverside land; there is no significant elevation change anywhere on this hike.  Unfortunately, although you know the Ohio River is through the dense forest to the right, no clear views of the river emerge on the Sycamore Trail.

Hiking the Sycamore Trail

            Just shy of 0.2 miles, the 2 arms of the loop briefly unite; stay right to continue heading around the skinny loop counterclockwise.  The dense shrubby forest contains some sycamore trees, but the majority of trees are black walnut and oak.  I had one of the black walnut trees attack me when I hiked here on a seasonally warm afternoon on the first day of October: they were dropping their walnuts, and a walnut crashed on my shoulder, splattering me with black paste.  I thought about counterattacking by throwing the nut back at the tree, but I refrained.

Southeast end of the loop

            At 0.6 miles, you reach the southeast end of the loop at a sharp left curve.  A bench, trash can, and recycling bin are located here.  The return portion of the loop stays close to the park boundary on the right.  Fernbank Park occupies a narrow strip of land wedged between a railroad and the Ohio River, and noisy US 50 sits just beyond the railroad.  Thus, you never get the feel you are far from the city on this hike.

End of the Sycamore Trail

            1.1 miles into the hike, the north arm of the Sycamore Trail arrives back at the parking lot.  You could end your hike now, but to also see the developed area of the park, turn right to begin following an asphalt trail.  Known as the Shared-Use Trail, this asphalt trail is open to both hikers and road bikes, and it also forms a loop.  This description goes around the loop counterclockwise.

Shared-Use Trail

Nice stone picnic shelter

            The outbound/north arm of the loop continues the northwest course begun by the last part of the Sycamore Trail with the railroad close on the right.  This will be a hot and sunny section of trail in the summer with little of interest to see, and therefore it does not make for the most inspiring hiking.  At 1.7 miles, as the park entrance comes into view up ahead, the trail curves left to cross the park road and pass through the picnic area.  An interpretive sign tells you that the buildings in this area were designed by the famous Cincinnati architect Carl Freund and were built by the depression-era Civil Works Administration and Works Progress Administration.  These picnic shelters occupy shady spots and make inviting places to sit and rest before beginning the last part of the hike.

Trail along Ohio River bluff

Ohio River view

Pavilion and concession stand

            After passing around the park's playground, the trail surface turns to concrete and the Ohio River finally comes into view on the right.  Some sunny benches make nice places to sit and observe the river.  You also pass the historic caretaker's residence and concession stand mentioned in the introduction as well as the park's Ohio River fishing access.  Despite the concrete trail and the development, this is Fernbank Park's most scenic area.  After passing the fishing access, you return to the nature trail parking lot for a second time and complete the hike.