Hello friends! As we reach the end of April, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight the thing that first got me interested in the environment: national parks! My family has traveled to national parks all over the country, and they have shown me the beauty of the great outdoors. Whether you’ve been to a national park or not, this article will highlight their history and importance, and I will also recommend some near us. 

National parks have been around since 1872, with Yellowstone National Park being the first. However, for a long time they weren’t managed very well, controlled by a variety of different agencies. Thus, in 1916, former President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service (NPS) to look over all of our nation’s beautiful national parks and monuments.

Today, there are more than 400 areas protected by the NPS, spanning more than 84 million acres. There are national areas (which include parks, monuments, battlefields and historic sites) in every state, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan and the Virgin Islands, making them a great option for anyone who wishes to spend time outside. 

Of course, it would be remiss of me to not mention that the creation of national parks isn’t always a good thing. Thousands of indigenous people who lived on these lands were displaced; many were even attacked. 

For many years, there was great tension with the NPS over this displacement. While progress has been made, it is by no means perfect. Today, more than 250 parks have co-stewardship agreements between Indigenous people and NPS, ensuring that Native values and priorities are upheld.

Now, let’s move on to discuss some national parks near Cincinnati that you can visit! The closest is probably Mammath Cave in Kentucky, which features the world’s largest underground cave system. 

This is a great spot, especially if you like caves and exploring. However, don’t go if you’re claustrophobic (like my Mom) as there are many narrow passages.

If you go here, definitely do a cave tour. There are so many to choose from, including self-guided options. You can see everything from underground rivers to historic buildings left over from an 1840s tuberculosis experiment. 

There are also a lot of things to do above ground if caves don’t quite meet your fancy. The wildflowers are beautiful and there is a large variety of hiking and biking trails. 

Moving away from Mammath Cave, in the northern part of the state is one of my favroite parks: Cuyahoga Valley. I feel like it’s an underrated spot, but there’s so much to see there!

There’s over 125 miles of hiking trails, including the popular Brandywine Falls Trail which takes you to a breathtaking waterfall. This trail is definitely one of my favorites. 

There’s also a great biking trail that runs through the park if you don’t feel like hiking. Also, strangely enough, there is a historic scenic train that goes right throught the park. 

Both of these parks would be a great weekend trip as they are both around a 2-3 hour drive from Cincinnati. Further away is Indiana Dunes, one of the newest parks in the NPS.

I visited Indiana Dunes last summer, and while the dunes were super cool to see, the beach was extremely packed and I didn’t really feel like I was in a national park. 

My recommendation is to skip the beach and stick to the dunes and trails, which are much more secluded and peaceful. Mount Baldy is a particular dune highlight and super fascinating to see. 

If you get even further away from Cincinnati, there are so many great parks on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Once you’re brave enough, plan a trip out west; the landscape there is incomparable. 

I hope that you have found some inspiration in my words today. Plan a trip to a national park this summer and experience the beauty for yourself!

Elena