We are lucky to have so many great family-friendly bike trails in Cincinnati. Family bike rides are a fun way to get outside together. Unlike other outdoor activities where part of the group has to watch or take turns, cycling is something that almost every age can participate in at the same time.
But there’s a lot to take into consideration when you’re heading out for a bike ride with kids: Are there any good bike trails for kids near me? Is the bike path paved? How long is the path? Are there any restrooms? Is the trail flat or hilly?
Luckily, there are quite a few paved bike trails in Cincinnati perfect for experienced riders, training wheels, and pull-behind bike trailers. Read on to discover our favorite family bike trails in Cincinnati.
Family Friendly Bike Trails in Cincinnati, Ohio
Loveland Bike Trail (Little Miami Scenic Trail)
Address: (Little Miami Scenic River and Trail Center) 211 Railroad Avenue, Loveland, Ohio 45140
Website
- Trail Length: 70 miles
- Trail Type: Point-to-point
- Paved?: Yes
- Flat?: Yes
- Public Restrooms?: Yes
- Bike Rentals?: Yes, at Loveland Bike Rental and Montgomery Cyclery in Loveland
Arguably the most popular bike trail in the Cincinnati area, the Loveland Bike Trail is a 70-mile flat and paved bike path that runs through Loveland, Milford, and Lebanon. As part of the Little Miami Scenic Trail, the path even runs close by Yellow Springs and John Bryan State Park (much further north, of course!).
Throughout the Loveland, Milford, and Lebanon sections of the trail you’ll pass plenty of little shops, restaurants, and parks where you can take a pit stop. The Loveland Bike Trail website maps out several family friendly routes, including routes to a playground and Loveland Sweets.
Want to see more of Loveland while you’re there? Don’t miss 15 of the Top Things to See and Do in Loveland, Ohio
Miami Whitewater Forest* (Shaker Trace Trail)
Address: 9001 Mt. Hope Road, Harrison, Ohio 45030
Website
- Trail Length: 1.4 miles (Inner Loop), 7.8 miles (Outer Loop)
- Trail Type: Loop
- Paved?: Yes
- Flat?: Mostly, but some gradual inclines
- Public Restrooms?: Yes
- Bike Rentals?: Yes
The Shaker Trace Trail at Miami Whitewater has two options for bike riders: the shorter Inner Loop, and longer Outer Loop. The Inner Loop is relatively flat, but does have some long, gradual inclines that could be tough on younger riders. The Outer Loop’s start and end points are on the Inner Loop, so start your bike ride off on the Inner Loop even if you’re looking for the longer trail.
To access the Shaker Trace trail, head towards the parking lot entrance and follow the paved path across the street to where the trail begins. The harbor area (on the other side of the main parking lot) is where you’ll find restrooms, a playground, and the boathouse.
Summit Park
Address: 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash, Ohio 45242
Website
- Trail Length (miles): Not listed, but we would estimate each option is less than a mile
- Trail Type: Loop & Out-And-Back options
- Paved?: Yes
- Flat?: Yes
- Public Restrooms?: Yes
- Bike Rentals?: No
Summit Park has several short paved trails to choose from, all of which are somewhat connected. There is a short loop around the park’s main green space and close to the park’s restaurants (shown in the image above), playgrounds, restrooms, and an Observation Tower.
Use the sidewalk in between the Observation Tower and the parking lot to reach the other paved path in front of the dog park. On the far end of this trail, you can turn left to another paved bike trail. You might notice how straight these paths are – did you know they used to be airplane runways?
Close to where the trail bends left, you’ll see a roundabout painted on the large (empty) parking lot with bike lanes for kids to ride around (lots of biking fun!). Keep an eye for cars; although this is not a parking area, landscaping and park vehicles sometimes drive through it.
Want to explore more things to do in Blue Ash? Check out out list of 10 of the Best Things to Do in Blue Ash, Ohio
Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park
Address: 1135 Riverside Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Website
- Trail Length (miles): Not listed, but the intertwined paths make it easy to customize the length of your bike ride
- Trail Type: Loop
- Paved?: Yes
- Flat?: Yes
- Public Restrooms?: Yes
- Bike Rentals?: No, but Red Bike rentals are available at several spots downtown (adult-sized bikes)
This scenic riverside park winds in and out of landscaped gardens and beautiful sculptures. The intertwining paths are said to mimic a child’s friendship bracelet, so it’s no surprise this make a great spot for a family bike ride! Free parking is available for the Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park on Riverside Drive.
Continue on the trail south/west of the park (past Montgomery Inn) to connect with the paved path that leads through Sawyer Point and by one of our favorite splash pads, Armleder Memorial Spray Park. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can ride bikes along the Ohio River all the was to Smale Riverfront Park.
Otto Armleder Park
Address: 5057 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
Website
- Trail Length (miles): 1.9 mile loop & 10 mile connector trail to Lunken Airfield Loop
- Trail Type: Loop (1.9 mile) & Point-To-Point (10 mile)
- Paved?: Yes
- Flat?: 1.9 loop is mostly flat, Lunken Airfield connector has uphill portion
- Public Restrooms?: Yes
- Bike Rentals?: No
Otto Armleder Park is well known for its 10-acre dog park, but it also has several paved bike trails. The shared-use trail is a 1.9 mile loop and rated as “easy” in difficulty on the park’s website.
The park also has 1-mile point-to-point trail that connects Otto Armleder Park to the Lunken Airfield loop. This path is rated as “moderate” difficulty, and at one point runs just across the river from the starting point of the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
Lunken Airport
Address: 262 Wilmer Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
- Trail Length (miles): 5 miles
- Trail Type: Loop
- Paved?: Yes
- Flat?: Mostly flat, some small hills
- Public Restrooms?: Not listed
- Bike Rentals?: No
This bike path loops around the perimeter of the Lunken Airport, offering a one-of-a-kind view that you typically wouldn’t see during a bike ride. The loop also has several connectors to additional bike trails, including Otto Armleder Park and the Ohio to Erie Trail.
There isn’t a ton of “official” info listed online about the Lunken Airport bike loop, but you can check out some tried-and-true reviews over here on TrailLink.
Cottell Park
Address: 5847 Irwin Simpson Road, Deerfield Township, Ohio 45040
Read more about things to do at Cottell Park here
- Trail Length (miles): 1.1 mile outer loop, several shorter inner trails
- Trail Type: Loop
- Paved?: Yes
- Flat?: Yes
- Public Restrooms?: Yes
- Bike Rentals?: No
Cottell Park has several paved trails for bike riding, with one main outer loop (1.1 miles) and other smaller interconnecting paths throughout the park. The park also has two playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, and soccer fields – so you’ll likely want to plan on spending some extra time to let the kids run around after your bike ride!
Most of this park is in direct sunlight, so you’ll definitely want to pack some sunscreen and consider wearing a hat. If your group is getting too hot, stop by the large playground to cool off in the water mist sprayer.
Voice of America Park
Address: 7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069
Website
- Trail Length (miles): 1.4 miles (Lake Trail), 0.9 miles (Butler-Warren Trail)
- Trail Type: Loop (Lake Trail), Out-And-Back (Butler-Warren Trail)
- Paved?: Yes
- Flat?: Yes
- Public Restrooms?: Yes
- Bike Rentals?: Yes
VOA Park’s Lake Trail is the perfect spot for an easy family bike ride – scenic lake views, clear visibility along the path, and almost entirely flat. This is a heavily walked track, so kids should be able to safely pass walkers along the trail.
The Lake Trail connects with the paved Butler-Warren Trail on the east side of the park. This path is an Out-And-Back, and passes along the Wiggly FIeld Dog Park and some of the park’s athletic fields.
Beyond bike riding, you can spend the whole day at VOA Park! Fish in the 35-acre stocked lake, rent a pedal-boat, bring a picnic meal, and let the kids burn off some extra energy (if there’s any left!) at the park’s HUGE playground.
Looking for more bike trails in Cincinnati?
Here’s our list of the best 15 bike trails (though not all kid-friendly) in the Cincinnati area.
*Great Parks of Hamilton County requires a Motor Vehicle Permit for entrance to the parks. They can be purchased from the kiosk at the park entrance.
