FunKidsActivities

Ault Park

5090 Observatory Cir, Cincinnati, OH 45208, USA

Overview

Category:Fall Festivals
Location:Cincinnati, OH

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Ault Park is a stunningly beautiful and well-maintained park known for its diverse landscaping, abundant seasonal blooms (especially cherry blossoms), and scenic views. It offers spacious open areas, paved paths, and wide roads with hills, making it ideal for various family activities from leisurely walks and picnics to active pursuits like biking and skateboarding. Its picturesque settings are also highly recommended for family photos.

Key Highlights

  • Stunning and diverse landscaping with many flowers, unique shrubs, and trees to admire.
  • Very spacious park with plenty of greenery and open grass areas, perfect for picnics and relaxation.
  • Scenic views, including an upper area overlook and an observatory.
  • Well-maintained paved walking paths, wide sidewalks, and trails.
  • Wide roads with big hills suitable for skateboarding, biking, running, and walking.
  • Popular destination for viewing cherry blossoms (peak bloom typically early to mid-April, with late March being the beginning).
  • Contains lovely arches and scenic backgrounds, highly recommended for family portraits and engagement photos.

Standout Features

  • Abundant blooming flowers and diverse plant life, making it attractive for nature lovers.
  • Extensive network of paved and well-maintained trails, sidewalks, and roads.
  • Dedicated open grass areas ideal for family picnics and reading.
  • Observation deck and scenic overlooks providing expansive views.
  • Picturesque arches and beautiful backdrops, frequently used for family and engagement photos.
  • Family- and dog-friendly environment, welcoming both children and pets.

Perfect For

All Ages: Excellent for family walks, relaxing, and enjoying nature. The 'peaceful' atmosphere suits all.
Younger Children (Stroller-friendly): Paved walking paths and wide, clean sidewalks make it very accessible for strollers.
Older Children & Teens (Active): Wide roads with big hills are perfect for biking, running, and skateboarding, offering an active outdoor experience.

Ideal For

Families seeking a peaceful and scenic walk in nature.
Active families looking for outdoor biking, running, or skateboarding opportunities.
Family picnics and relaxing afternoons on open green spaces.
Seasonal visits to experience the beauty of cherry blossoms in bloom.
Parents with strollers due to extensive paved paths and wide sidewalks.
Families wanting beautiful, natural backdrops for photos (e.g., engagement, family portraits).

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • **For Cherry Blossoms:** If visiting primarily for cherry blossoms, plan your trip for early to mid-April for peak bloom, as late March often sees only the beginning of blooms.
  • **For Active Kids:** Bring bikes, skateboards, or running shoes for older children and teens to fully utilize the wide roads and hills.
  • **Picnic Prep:** Pack a picnic to enjoy on the open grass areas.
  • **Photography:** Consider bringing a camera for family portraits or capturing the stunning scenery, especially near the arches and overlooks.
  • **Pets:** Feel free to bring leashed dogs, as it is a dog-friendly park.

Things to Consider

  • Cherry blossoms may only be beginning to bloom in late March; peak bloom requires timing your visit a week or two later.
  • While generally peaceful, the park can attract 'lots of people' for portraits and special events (like weddings/proposals), potentially leading to busier spots.

Price & Value

This is a public park; no entry fees or explicit costs for activities are mentioned in the reviews, implying it offers high value as a free family entertainment option.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • Highly accessible with paved walking paths, wide and clean sidewalks, and wide roads, suitable for strollers, wheelchairs, and individuals with mobility aids.
  • Spacious open areas ensure ease of movement.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Outside food is implicitly allowed and encouraged, with specific mentions of 'open grass area for picnics'.

🚗Parking Info

  • Features a large and convenient parking area, making access easy for visitors.

👥Crowd Levels

  • Generally described as 'peaceful', suggesting a calm atmosphere.
  • Can attract 'lots of people' taking portraits and attending special events (like proposals/weddings), especially in scenic spots or during peak bloom season.

🛡️Safety Features

  • Described as a 'well-kept park' with 'nice and taken good care of' trails, indicating a maintained environment.
  • No specific security or child safety protocols (e.g., staff supervision, first aid) are explicitly mentioned in the reviews.

When to Avoid

  • Visiting specifically for peak cherry blossoms in late March, as you might be a week or two early.
  • If you prefer minimal crowds, consider visiting during off-peak times, as it can be popular for events and photography, especially during bloom season.

Pricing/Package/Events

Pricing & Packages

Benefactor Membership Donation

$5000

Duration: Annual

Donation allocated to projects to preserve, protect and enhance Ault Park for all to enjoy.

Includes:
  • Supports park preservation and events
Ages: All ages (supporters)

Founder Membership Donation

$1000

Duration: Annual

Donation allocated to projects to preserve, protect and enhance Ault Park for all to enjoy.

Includes:
  • Supports park preservation and events
Ages: All ages (supporters)

Patron Membership Donation

$500

Duration: Annual

Donation allocated to projects to preserve, protect and enhance Ault Park for all to enjoy.

Includes:
  • Supports park preservation and events
Ages: All ages (supporters)

Contributing Membership Donation

$250

Duration: Annual

Donation allocated to projects to preserve, protect and enhance Ault Park for all to enjoy.

Includes:
  • Supports park preservation and events
Ages: All ages (supporters)

Supporting Membership Donation

$100

Duration: Annual

Donation allocated to projects to preserve, protect and enhance Ault Park for all to enjoy.

Includes:
  • Supports park preservation and events
Ages: All ages (supporters)

Family Membership Donation

$50

Duration: Annual

Donation allocated to projects to preserve, protect and enhance Ault Park for all to enjoy.

Includes:
  • Supports park preservation and events
Ages: All ages (supporters)

Individual Membership Donation

$25

Duration: Annual

Donation allocated to projects to preserve, protect and enhance Ault Park for all to enjoy.

Includes:
  • Supports park preservation and events
Ages: All ages (supporters)

Other Membership Donation

Variable

Duration: Annual

Donation allocated to projects to preserve, protect and enhance Ault Park for all to enjoy.

Includes:
  • Supports park preservation and events
Ages: All ages (supporters)

Events & Schedule

Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)

HallowEve Brew Bash

Friday, October 24, 2025, 10:30 pm

Not specified

Event hosted by APAC.

Supermoon

Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 8:00 pm

Not specified

Event hosted by APAC.

🛡️Safety Policy

  • Some trails can be muddy after heavy rains or during wet periods (e.g., Bur Oak Trail, Cliff Trail).
  • Seasonal closures on eastern portions of Tree Trail, Forest Loop Trail, Cliff Trail, and Shattuc Trail for deer hunting. Signs are posted by Cincinnati Parks.

🚗Parking Information

  • Implied parking available at event location: Ault Park Pavilion.
Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Sep 29, 2025

What People Say

What's Great

  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 7 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

  • Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 6 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Lika A

Lika A

2 weeks ago

Ault Park is absolutely beautiful! It’s a perfect place to walk, relax, and enjoy nature. The landscaping is stunning — there are so many flowers, unique shrubs, and trees to admire, especially for plant lovers. It’s a very spacious park with plenty of greenery, open areas, and scenic views. You can visit with kids or pets — it’s family- and dog-friendly. There’s also a large parking area, which makes it really convenient. Definitely one of the most peaceful and well-kept parks in the city!

April Dudgeon

April Dudgeon

a month ago

This park is absolutely beautiful even with the beginning of spring which was when these pictures were taken (late March 2025). Theres a paved walking path along the park, an open grass area for picnics or reading, an observatory, an overlook & more. I was hoping the cherry blossom trees would have been in peak bloom but I think I was there a week or two early. Nonetheless, still a beautiful park to explore!

Kuda Tshililiwa

Kuda Tshililiwa

a month ago

Went there for the blooming of the cherry blossoms. The park is very beautiful, the sidewalks are wide and clean. The trails are nice and taken good care of. The park has wide roads and big hills perfect for skateboarding, biking, running, and walking. There is a nature and flower area that is great to walk through. There fauna and greenery is amazing. Wife and I had our engagement photos here and I highly recommend this park for scenic aesthetic photos. A lot of people also get married at this park and last time I was there I witnessed a guy propose. Everything beautiful happens at this park and I highly recommend visiting Ault park for a good experience.

Sherry Kenady

Sherry Kenady

a week ago

Beautiful park with paved trails, lots of blooming flowers and trees, views from an upper area overlook. Lots of people were taking portraits using the lovely arches as a backdrop with the scenic background.

Grizzly Fire-Fang

Grizzly Fire-Fang

a month ago

3-22-25 Cherry Blossom Trees beginning to bloom, should be full bloom this week. Beautiful park, great trails, well maintained.

Contact Information

5090 Observatory Cir, Cincinnati, OH 45208, USA

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Monday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.8
Total Reviews3226
Recent Reviews5