Ault Park · Cincinnati, OH

Address: 3600 Observatory Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another week of park reviews! This week I went to Ault Park in Cincinnati, OH. I have been here once before on a hike with NKU’s hiking club and thoroughly enjoyed it. On my visit this time, I decided to check out the other side of the park that I hadn’t been to before.

Favorite aspect of the park

Hiking trail

My favorite aspect of the park are the hiking trails. Even though the park is in Cincinnati, it feels so secluded that you almost forget that you’re in a city. These trails were especially nice because for the most part, you couldn’t see the road or any buildings. You were completely surrounded by nature. At most of the other parks that I have visited, although pretty, you can very clearly tell that there are parking lots and roads around you. I really enjoyed my little escape into the forest. It was very peaceful just listening to the birds and the wind as I walked rather than cars passing by.

Least favorite aspect of the park

Names carved into trees

Like Eden Park, I really don’t have a least favorite aspect but there is one negative thing that stood out to me. There were several trees that had dates and names carved into them. I know that some people might not take issue with this, but I do. There is a time and a place to “leave your mark” and on trees or rock formations is neither. Not only is it ugly and damaging to the environment, it also teaches other people that that behavior is okay. You might think that by just carving your name into a tree once it won’t have a big impact, but if other people see it and have the same thought, it adds up over time.

One of the worst cases of this that I have seen is in Rocky Mountain National Park. There was an entire quarter of a mile of aspen trees that were covered in carvings. When most people think of National Parks, they think of pristine, untouched wilderness. This was not the case. We don’t need to let people know that Billy and Sally were here. Just enjoy nature and take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.

Something that stood out to me

One section of the Ault Park gardens

What stood out to me about Ault park were the gardens. At the base of the pavilion there are three gardens, the Garden of Old Roses, Adopt-a-Plot Gardens, and the Great Lawn Garden. My favorite of the three are the Adopt-a-Plots. “there are 39 gardens that are designed, installed and maintained by local, volunteer gardeners.” A lot of these gardens also had plaques telling you the names of the plant species. It was just beautiful, and you could clearly see all of the love and effort that is put into the gardens.

Final thoughts

Overlook

This is a fantastic park with lots to offer! Aside from the hiking trails and gardens there is also a memorial cherry tree grove, playground, pavilion and water fountain, outdoor exercise equipment and an overlook. The hiking paths are well maintained and there is also a variety of paved waking paths for more accessibility. This is a great place for an afternoon stroll or a several mile hike depending on your schedule. I will definitely be returning, and I hope you all can visit Ault Park as well!