Hiking Level - Easy to Moderate; stairs required; approximately 1 hour; not fully accessible (see option below.)
Ault Park, 3600 Observatory Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208; Park at the parking area near the shelter on Observatory Circle.
1. Centennial Shelter & Ault Park Commons – Built to celebrate Ault Park’s 100th year, this popular picnic shelter offers a generous canopy, especially during spring rains and hot summer days. Adjacent to the shelter is the Ault Park Commons which features a walking loop, fitness circuit, a refurbished lawn area, and an accessible woodland trail. The project was made possible by the generous donations and collaboration from the City of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Park Board, the State of Ohio, the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, the Sherman Family, and the Ault Park Advisory Council.
2. Tree Trail (Green “T”) Trailhead – Enter this trailhead to the right of the picnic shelter, near the outdoor picnic tables. There are 23 tree species along this trail which are all identified by labels posted on the tree trunks.
3. Trail Intersection – Stay straight to remain on Tree Trail (T). At the next two trail markers, stay right to remain on Tree Trail (T).
EXTEND YOUR HIKE: At the trail marker, veer left to cross the creek bridge. Veer right at the trail marker to take Valley Trail (Yellow “V”), the path of an early roadway between Observatory Avenue and Old Red Bank Road. Follow the trail to the newly opened phase of the CROWN Cincinnati and Wasson Way trails. Cincinnati Parks Foundation recently invested $25,000 into the trail that, once completed, will be a walkable, rollable, and bikeable network connecting more than 356,000 people in 54 communities throughout Cincinnati.
5. Trail Marker – At the trail marker, veer right to remain on Tree Trail (T). PLEASE NOTE: Tree Trail has seasonal closures on its eastern portion for wildlife management. Signs alerting trail closures are posted by the Cincinnati Park Board.
6. Trail Marker – At the trail marker, stay straight to remain on Tree Trail (T).
7. Trailhead End – Take the service drive to the right and cross Observatory Circle toward the pavilion.
8. Ault Pavilion – Built in 1930 in the Italian Renaissance Style, this picturesque pavilion is a frequent home for parties, dances, and weddings. The front of the Pavilion features a cascading backlit water fountain and a double grand staircase that offers a 360-degree lookout point of the entire park. From there you can see sprawling vistas and the broad valley where the Little Miami River flows through the Ohio landscape.
9. Heekin Overlook – Cross Observatory Circle and take the accessible sidewalk to find one of the park’s most popular features - a panoramic overlook offering stunning views of Lunken Airport and the Little Miami River valley.
SELFIE CHALLENGE SPOT (details in the “Things to Know” flier)
10. Great Lawn & Gardens – Cross Observatory Circle to enter the Park’s Great Lawn - a popular spot for picnickers and a central point to enjoy the beautiful gardens that surround it. South of the main lawn is one of the park’s two main gardens - the Garden of Old Roses and the Focal Garden. The Garden of Roses is visually stunning, especially as the seasons progress. At the east end, closest to the pavilion, is the Focal Garden, redesigned and planted in 2014. North of the Great Lawn are 39 Adopt-A-Plot gardens, installed and maintained by local volunteer gardeners. At the west end is the Great Lawn Garden, one of Ault’s largest gardens that follows the perimeter of the circular wall visible from the Observatory entrance (source: APAC). The gardens of Ault Park are a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the Cincinnati Parks staff and the community’s generous volunteers. Once you’ve enjoyed the gardens, cross Observatory Circle to return to the parking area.
Week 3 ACCESSIBLE OPTION: Accessible path at Ault Park Commons, around Observatory Circle, to Heekin Overlook
Located near the parking area is an accessible loop that passes a slumbering Cherry Tree grove – 121 Somei Yoshino trees planted in 2008 by the Japan America Society. To continue your winter stroll through Ault, use the accessible sidewalks to cross Observatory Circle. Take a left toward the pavilion and follow the accessible sidewalk past the Cascade Fountains. Cross Observatory Circle to the accessible sidewalk that leads to Heekin Overlook. Return to the parking area utilizing the accessible sidewalk around Observatory Circle.
