Parker Woods Nature Preserve: Trails, Entrances and History
Parker Woods is a stand of old forest in the middle of Northside, and with the Buttercup Valley preserve next door it adds up to about 89 acres of trails inside the city. It is also the woods our community is named for, about 0.3 miles from Glen Parker Avenue. Here is how to find it and what to expect.
At a glance
| Where | Northside, Cincinnati, part of the Cincinnati Parks system |
|---|---|
| Size | About 89 acres with the adjoining Buttercup Valley preserve |
| Main entrance | Haight and Bruce avenues |
| Other Parker Woods trailheads | Crawford Avenue near Dane Avenue, and the east end of Thompson Heights Drive |
| Buttercup Valley entrances | The east end of Stanford Drive, the east end of Northview Avenue and the north end of Langland Street |
| Parking | On residential streets near the entrances |
| From Parker Woods Flats | About 0.3 miles |
Two preserves, one trail network
Parker Woods and Buttercup Valley are separate Cincinnati Parks preserves that share a boundary. In 2011 the trails were tied together with markers linking the Crawford Avenue trailhead in Parker Woods to the Stanford Drive trailhead in Buttercup Valley, and several bridges were replaced. The earthen stairs were rebuilt the year before.
That gives Northside about 89 acres of connected woods. One hiking guide notes how surprising that is, since the preserve is surrounded by some of Cincinnati's earliest suburban development.
Where to start
- The main entrance at Haight and Bruce avenues. This is the front door to Parker Woods.
- Crawford Avenue near Dane Avenue. Use this trailhead if you plan to cross into Buttercup Valley.
- The east end of Thompson Heights Drive. A third way into Parker Woods.
- Buttercup Valley's own entrances. The east end of Stanford Drive is the main one, with more at the east end of Northview Avenue and the north end of Langland Street.
Parking is on the residential streets near each entrance. From our buildings on Glen Parker Avenue, the preserve is about 0.3 miles away.
What the walk is like
Hikers who write about Parker Woods describe how mature the forest is for a spot so deep in the city. Many of its trees are thought to be about 200 years old, and some stand more than 100 feet tall. The trails are natural surface, with earthen stairs on the slopes and a layer of leaves in the fall.
Fall is a good time to go. Wear shoes with grip, since leaf-covered stairs get slick after rain.
How the city came to own it
- 1911. Margaret Parker and her children sold the first 27.5 acres to the City of Cincinnati for $41,233.50. The preserve is named for Alexander Langland Parker.
- 1953. The city added another parcel.
- 1973. The Greater Cincinnati Tree Council donated Buttercup Valley to the Cincinnati Park Board.
- 2010 and 2011. The earthen stairs were refurbished, bridges were replaced and trail markers joined the two preserves.
The land had been in the family long before that. Footpaths, a Cincinnati hiking blog, traces it to a 266-acre farm the Langland family bought in 1822.
Parker Woods or Parkers Woods?
Both names are in use. Wikipedia and an older neighborhood trail map say Parkers Woods. Around the neighborhood, and in our own name, it is Parker Woods.
More green space nearby
Jergens Park is about a 10-minute walk from Glen Parker Avenue. For a longer day, Mount Airy Forest, Cincinnati's largest park at nearly 1,500 acres, is a short drive west. Our Northside neighborhood guide covers the rest of the neighborhood, from Hamilton Avenue to the farmers market.
Looking for an apartment in Northside? Parker Woods Flats is five renovated buildings on Glen Parker Ave, about 0.3 miles from Parker Woods Nature Preserve. See the homes available now or call or text (513) 392-8074.
Questions
Where is the entrance to Parker Woods in Cincinnati?
The main entrance is at the intersection of Haight and Bruce avenues in Northside. There are more trailheads on Crawford Avenue near Dane Avenue and at the east end of Thompson Heights Drive.
How big is Parker Woods?
Parker Woods and the adjoining Buttercup Valley preserve cover about 89 acres of connected trails.
Are Parker Woods and Buttercup Valley connected?
Yes. They are two Cincinnati Parks preserves that touch. In 2011, trail markers were installed connecting the Crawford Avenue trailhead in Parker Woods with the Stanford Drive trailhead in Buttercup Valley.
Why is it called Parker Woods?
It is named for Alexander Langland Parker. Margaret Parker and her children sold the first 27.5 acres to the City of Cincinnati in 1911 for $41,233.50.
Is it Parker Woods or Parkers Woods?
Both names are in use. Many references, including Wikipedia, use Parkers Woods, and the neighborhood commonly says Parker Woods.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Parkers Woods and Buttercup Valley Nature Preserve, en.wikipedia.org, read September 28, 2026
- Footpaths, "Parker Woods Nature Preserve, Cincinnati, Ohio", footpathsblog.com, February 4, 2024
- Cincinnati Parks, Parker Woods, cincinnati-oh.gov
Published by Parker Woods Flats, managed by TLP Property Management. We check every fact in our guides against the sources listed above; business hours, prices and event dates change, so confirm with the business or organizer before you go. Spot something out of date? Call or text (513) 392-8074.
