Shaped by Glaciers, Protected by Humans

Shaped by ancient glaciers, Cincinnati’s hillsides stand as both prominent and delicate features of our region’s landscape. Discover the Goltra Preserve and uncover the history and collaborative partnerships that have secured public access to this unique natural treasure.

Join Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance (CORA), The Hillside Trust, and Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance for the Meet A Greenspace Hike at Goltra Preserve on Thursday, June 11, from 3-4:30 PM.

Shaped by Glaciers

Nestled among the Ohio River Valley’s rolling terrain is our vibrant city of Cincinnati. For thousands of years, people have made this region their home, adapting to its steep and hilly landscape. Known as the “City of Seven Hills”, Cincinnati’s hillsides are our most iconic feature. But they are also one of our most vulnerable.

During the Pleistocene Ice Age, glaciers and their snowmelt flowed across the continent, sculpting the river valleys and hillsides that now define our region. It’s easy to assume that a landscape forged by such forces would be resilient, but in reality, our hillsides are surprisingly fragile and susceptible to natural disasters like landslides.

As the population grew, so did the need for land to build on. As a result, many set their sights on the ridgetops. The picturesque views of the river valley and the sloping hills beyond the water’s edge made those locations appealing to people. To build on these hills, trees and other vegetation were removed. This process exposed the rocks and sediment that were deposited and compacted by glaciation. The minerals in these rock and sediment deposits get weaker when exposed, especially to water, and eventually become mud. As mud builds up on hillsides, it tends to fall in what is known as a landslide.

According to a 2022 news article by WVXU, the City of Cincinnati has spent $113,949,097 repairing landslide-damaged roads and retaining walls since 1989. A cost that has most likely increased over the past four years.

Partnerships Protecting Hillsides

The Hillside Trust is an organization that advocates for the thoughtful use of our hillsides. Much of their work focuses on consulting with municipalities and government planning commissions on regulations that impact hillside development and preservation. They support long-range planning efforts in communities, help create and pass ordinances for view protection, and, among many other things, work with private landowners, especially those on hillsides, to protect their land for present and future generations to enjoy.

Goltra Preserve is one of the hillsides protected in perpetuity by The Hillside Trust. Its 67.94 acres were pieced together over decades, beginning with a 14-acre donation by David and Phyllis Goltra in 1986, followed by a 36-acre donation from J-II Homes in 2007, and the final 17.94 acres purchased in 2016. The Preserve features ridgetops and hillsides with mature trees, along with a multi-modal trail system designed, implemented, and maintained by the Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance (CORA). CORA is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a sustainable, world-class trail system to Greater Cincinnati, aiming to build 375 miles of trail by 2030. 

The partnership between The Hillside Trust and CORA has enabled the Goltra Preserve to be accessible to the public for a variety of activities, including mountain biking, e-biking, adaptive biking, hiking, and trail running.

Cincinnati Climate Week

This event is a part of Cincinnati’s inaugural Climate Week, happening from June 8-14! Presented by Green Umbrella with the Climate Week Network – a global initiative supporting cities as they launch and scale Climate Weeks. This decentralized week invites organizations throughout the region to host in-person and virtual events that spotlight local solutions, share expertise, and inspire a more resilient future. 

With extreme weather conditions becoming more prominent throughout the globe, the Midwest is predicted to experience an influx in population due to climate migration – the forced or voluntary movement of people due to sudden or gradual environmental changes such as sea level rise or increased prevalence of wildfire.

As people move inland, communities like Cincinnati will continue to face forces both natural and man-made as climate and populations shift. This makes the work of and partnerships between organizations such as The Hillside Trust and CORA that much more important! Not only will the pressures to develop hillsides continue, but so will the need for protected greenspace and accessible trail systems that enable individuals to explore the natural wonders of the region.

Explore Goltra Preserve!

We hope you’ll join us for a family-friendly outing at our upcoming Meet A Greenspace Hike at Goltra Preserve! The hike will take place on Thursday, June 11, from 3-4:30 PM and will be guided by CORA and The Hillside Trust Staff. We will meet at the Goltra Preserve trailhead located off Brokaw Avenue (2395 Brokaw Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45225). Individuals of all ages are welcome!

This hike is 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 and with one another. If you have any questions, contact Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance Manager Claire Carlson at claire@greenumbrella.org. 

The Greenspace Alliance would like to thank its sponsor, Duke Energy, for making this hiking series possible!