While we may not have steep and jagged peaks in the Midwest, our landscapes still have elevation and equally spectacular views. If you’re looking for a Mountain West experience close to home, join the Bender Mountain Autumnal Hike!
Join the Western Wildlife Corridor and Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance for an Autumnal Hike at Bender Mountain on Friday, November 8th from 3-4:30 p.m.
Keep reading to learn more. We hope to see you there!
The Journey to the Top

The hike at Bender Mountain begins by crossing the creek. Pulling your focus away from external worries and directly into placing one foot in front of the other, it is an act of balance that requires your full and undivided attention. After placing your feet on its rocky banks, you pause and look up to see old-growth deciduous trees growing on an open forest floor. Throughout the year, flowering plants, ferns, moss, and lichen blossom and unfurl, making each visit to this wild place different than the last. You breathe in the smells of damp soil and leaves as the sounds of cars passing by slowly fade away. The hike to the top is breathtaking, both in the literal and physical sense of the word. The trail zigzags as you climb higher and higher up the rocky hillside. As you make your final ascent to the top, you are rewarded with a view unencumbered by development, transporting you back to a time when life was simpler. It is the perfect time to pause and catch your breath.
Guardians of the Land

Since 1992, Western Wildlife Corridor has protected land along the Ohio River Valley. To this day, they have preserved over 400 acres of land. A predominantly volunteer-based organization, they rely on the generosity and passion of others to preserve and restore their properties. Their Bender Mountain Property, where this month’s hike will take place, has been dubbed the “best place in Hamilton County to observe wildflowers” and is one of the most biodiverse places in the Tri-State, boasting over 470 species of plants.
Explore Bender Mountain

If you’re interested in exploring this Midwest Mountain gem, we hope you’ll join us at our upcoming Bender Mountain Autumnal Hike. This hike is a higher level of difficulty, featuring a creek crossing and high incline throughout. The hike will take place on Friday, November 8 from 3-4:30 p.m. and will be guided by Western Wildlife Corridor’s Executive Director, Matt Trokan. The hike will follow the Bender Loop Trail, roughly 2.3 miles and feature conversations on their habitat restoration efforts, the local history, and plans for the nature preserve. We will meet in the parking lot at the preserve entrance (6320 Bender Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45233).
This hike is a part of our monthly Meet a Greenspace Hiking series. We hope these hikes will provide those who join the time and space they need to reconnect with nature. If you have any questions, contact Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance Manager Claire Carlson at claire@greenumbrella.org.