Mt. Airy Outside Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Spring · Views · Wildlife

A fantastic run covering the tight trails of Mt. Airy. On this run you'll experience ravines, footbridges, exposed fossil beds, WPA projects and some of the most amazing woodlands you'll find inside a city limit anywhere.

As in any other region where crime can occur, secure your valuables in your vehicle and plan your trip to end before dusk.

Beginning at A Trail, descend into the forest, veering right on to B Trail (Ponderosa Trail), here you'll see a steep ravine on the left. This is my favorite part of the park as it is usually quite a bit quieter than the southern portion, and you can imagine yourself anywhere but the in the middle of a city! Keep on B Trail (Ponderosa Trail) (you'll cross the shelter) or for a more challenging loop, turn right on C Trail (Red Oak Trail) and tackle the stone steps before rejoining B Trail (Ponderosa Trail) just beyond the second intersection of C Trail (Red Oak Trail), after nice climb back up the ravine, you'll see D Trail (Quarry Trail) on your left at a three way trail intersection.

At this point, either pick D Trail (Quarry Trail) or F Trail (Furnas Trail) and run down off the ridge. You'll cross a stream on either trail you choose, and then the trails converge after about 0.75 of a mile, and you'll follow F Trail (Furnas Trail) straight to begin the climb back out to the top of the ridge again. This part of the trail goes very close to the ravine (very steep sides, stay on the trail!).

Continue on to cross a couple of small ravines, then the trail will curve and head up Hawthorne Ravine. This ravine is quite wide, and the trees here are stunning in the fall (lots of maples), but with winter you get a fabulous sweeping view though the road noise is more prominent as well.

Keep left at the next two trail intersections—F Trail Connector and L Trail (Cedar Trail). This leads you down to the trailhead parking and a small picnic area. After a brief rest, prepare to climb, and take G Trail (Twin Bridges Trail) to climb back up the ravine to the ridge.

After climbing up the ridge, you'll pass the F Trail Connector the trail will then split, take the left split to pick up H Trail (Beechwood Trail). Once on this trail, you'll start to loose elevation quickly; use caution if it is wet as the combination of mud and slick hardwood leaves tends to make this area quite treacherous in wet weather.

At the next split in the trail, take H Trail Connector, stay left and cross behind and under Everybody’s Treehouse. Exit onto Trail Ridge Road and return to your car.

Mt. Airy is one of the first, if not the first urban reforestation project in the USA. You would hardly know that now, as this happened at the turn of the 20th century. Since then the 1,500 plus acres that were formerly cleared have been replanted and developed into the crown jewel of Cincinnati's long distance trails. To find out more about this stunning project, click here