The '60 Hikes Within 60 Miles' series is designed to provide hikers with the information they need to find and hike the very best trails surrounding metropolitan areas. The strategy is simple: First, find a hiker who knows the area and loves to hike. Second, ask that person to spend a year researching the most popular and very best trails around. And third, have that person describe each trail in terms of difficulty, scenery, condition, elevation change and other categories of information important to hikers. Tamara York researched and wrote the Greater Cincinnati guide, and CityBeat partners with Menasha Ridge Press to feature the more city-oriented hikes here. So go put on your walking shoes and get some fresh air.  

In regard to the weather, I'd like to dispel the myth that you can't hike in "bad" weather. As long as it isn't dangerous weather, hiking during mild rain or light snowfall provides some of the best times to hike because there are fewer people to bump into and more wildlife to see. Snow? So, what? Bundle up and head out the door on any one of these hikes.