Sharon Woods

Here we are with another installment of “365 Things to do in Cincinnati” and today we are featuring one of my favorites places to walk – Sharon Woods.

sharon woods boathouse and lake

Sharon Woods is a 730 acre park with a HUGE lake.  The park opened in 1932 and was Great Parks of Hamilton County’s first park.

sharon woods walking trails

Sharon Woods has a number of walking trails.  There’s a 2.6 mile paved trail that circles the lake and that is the one I decided to tackle on my walk today.  The 2.6 mile trail is a great workout. It’s hilly in spots, sunny in some places, and shady in other areas.  You will have the opportunity to enjoy all kinds of beautiful scenery and wildlife on this trail.

blue heron at Sharon Woods

Above you’ll see a blue heron in flight over the lake.  This is one of three that I saw on my walk today.  He/she was incredible.

Sharon Woods lake

You’ll get to see so many areas as you walk around the lake.  Every turn produces a different view.  There are some little inlets at times, like above, as well as wide-open expansive views of the lake.

redbuds blooming at sharon woods

A few of the tree varieties are blooming (April, 2013).  I found a few blooming dogwoods deep within the woods and numerous redbud trees.

redbuds blooming at sharon woods

I was so glad that I’d taken my camera along for my walk as I caught a number of blue herons plus these little cuties…

turtles at sharon woods lake

I parked at the Sharon Centre (close to Heritage Village) and walked up the Gorge Trail to get to the lake trail.  The Gorge trail is about 0.7 miles long and is not paved.  It is marked as a level 4 (for those of you that follow that kind of thing).  It’s a hike but it’s well worth it.  Just look at some of the gorgeous (no pun intended) scenery…

Gorge Trail at Sharon Woods
Gorge Trail at Sharon Woods

Sharon Woods does have a number of playgrounds, reservable shelters, etc.  You can find some great pics of those elements on my very first post: Day 1 – Sharon Woods. They also have a boat house where you can rent all kinds of adventure “stuff” like canoes, bikes, pedal boats, and more.

sharon woods boat house

I can highly recommend a visit to Sharon Woods.  It is, in my opinion, one of the best of the Great Parks of Hamilton County.  It’s great for all kinds of family fun and more.

sharon woods

Sharon Woods is part of the Hamilton County Park District.  They do require a pass to enter the park.  The current price (April, 2017) for Hamilton County residents is $5 for the day or just $10 for the entire year and that will get you into all of the Great Parks of Hamilton County.  Car passes can be purchased as you enter the park.

Sharon Woods is located at 11450 Lebanon Rd. in Sharonville

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About the Author
Bridgett Raffenberg
My name is Bridgett Raffenberg and I am the creator of 365Cincinnati. I've been uncovering and sharing all of the best things to do in Cincinnati since 2010. I enjoy exploring new spots, discovering local events, and meeting the people who call Cincinnati home!

7 thoughts on “Sharon Woods”

  1. Great post! Had a nice walk there with the kids yesterday and then a much more peaceful run there by myself this morning. Saw all the same creatures! So lucky to have it within minutes of my house.

  2. I absolutely love that park. Check out the trail maps. The trails are awesome even when it’s hot out as so much is shaded.

  3. In side Sharen Woods Park there is Heritage Village Museum. Come visit our 19th century Village with its 12 restored buildings from southwest Ohio. Discover period lifestyles and innovations at Cincinnati only outdoor living history Museum.
    Visit http://www.heritagevillagecincinnati.org for tour times, exhibits, and a schedule of events at the Village.

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