Fall is the best time to explore the Great Outdoors, and made even more fun with the addition of costumes and kid-friendly frights during the month of October.
We’ve rounded up our favorite Family Friendly Halloween Hikes in Cincinnati so your little ghouls and boys can enjoy some festive fun this month!
Halloween Walk in the Woods (pictured)
Oct. 26 from 12-3 pm at Blue Ash Nature Park
Get dressed up early for Halloween and spend the afternoon trick-or-treating at the Blue Ash Nature Park. This event is geared towards children 10 and under and is free and open to the public!
HallZOOween at the Cincinnati Zoo
Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27
Little ghouls and boys can enjoy four spooktacular weekends of fun at the Cincinnati Zoo. HallZOOween is FREE with Zoo Admission! Help the Zoo ‘Go Green’ by bringing your own treat bag! Kids are encouraged to wear a costume during HallZOOween, but it is not required.
Spring Grove Cemetery
Check website for a schedule
This beautiful hidden gem offers a variety of walking and tram tours throughout the month. Be on the lookout for a “Twilight Tour” – admission is free and you’ll see the cemetery in a whole new light!
Scarecrow Row
Oct. 1-27 at Otto Armleder Park/Lunken Airport
Don’t let its name fool you: Scarecrow Row is anything but super scary. Silly, fun, festive — Scarecrow Row is an act of art: local businesses dress up scarecrows on the two-mile stretch of adjoining trails of Lunken and Otto Armleder Memorial Park. It’s free and fun for everyone!
Park After Dark
Oct. 3-5 from 6:30-9 pm at Miami Whitewater Forest/Visitor Center
When the sun goes down, the park gates normally go up. For three nights, experience the park after dark. See the animals that go bump in the night, explore the forest on a nature hike and enjoy fun games and crafts. Some activities may cost a small fee.
Family Flashlight Scavenger Hunt at Long Branch Farm & Trails
Oct. 4 from 7:30-9 pm at Long Branch Farm & Trails
What could be more fun than a night hike? A scavenger hunt at night! During this night hike, families will rely on their senses and flashlights to experience nature in a new way. Preregistration required. Members $7; nonmembers $11 (includes daily admission).
Full Moon Walk
October 13, 7:30-9 pm at Hunter’s Moon at Rowe Woods
Hit the trails at night and enjoy the full moon and natural history readings. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Preregistration required. Members $5; nonmembers $10 (includes daily admission).
Haunted Village
Oct. 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26 from 6-10 pm at Heritage Village Museum
The Haunted Village at Heritage Village Museum provides festive fun for the entire family, from trick-or-treaters to thrill seekers. On Friday and Saturday nights during the last three weekends of October, the town transforms into a “slight fright” haunted village, perfect for a family Halloween night out.
Annual Magic Forest Halloween Hikes
Oct. 18 & 19 at Caldwell Nature Center
Walk through a pumpkin-lit trail and meet costumed characters from nature and history. This is a non-scary holiday walk best suited for children ages 3-10. Hikes start at 7 pm. with the last hike leaving at 8:30 pm. Hikes are organized by type: scouts, families with young children and families with older children. Each hike lasts approximately 1 hour. Cost is $6 per person and children 2 and under are FREE. There is a $3 administrative fee per order.
Howl-o-Ween in the Woods
Oct. 20 from 12-3 pm at Caldwell Nature Center
Dress up in awesome costumes and bark up some fun with your canine companion! Take a walk on our trail filled with over 100 carved pumpkins and along the way meet local pet specialists that have dog treats for your goody bag plus provide guidance on any questions you might have. Join our costume contest! Shop for supplies and receive free supplies from our Spooktacular Sponsor: PetSmart. Cost is $15 per dog. Register online at: explorenature.regfox.com/howloweendogevent.
Myths and Urban Legends
Oct. 26 at 7 pm at Sharon Woods/Kreis Dam
Join a nature interpreter on a FREE night hike along the Gorge Trail to hear some of Ohio’s spookiest legends and learn how they tie in to the park. Stories might be scary, so we recommend ages 10 and up, but parents can use their best discretion. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. Trail is uneven terrain.
Nature at Night Pumpkin Hike
Oct. 26 at 6:30 pm at Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve/Ellenwood Nature Barn
Jack-o’-lanterns will light your path as you discover the wonder of nature at night along the Pin Oak Trail. Bring a flashlight and arrive any time between 6:30 and 7:30 pm for this self-guided hike. A limited number of pumpkin tickets will be sold for the 8 pm jack-o’-lantern drawing.