Things to do
Travels With Theo: Harbin Park
Posted on Oct 7
Adventure to Harbin Park with Theo, the Australian Shepherd!
Harbin Park in Fairfield, Ohio is a great getaway to experience all that nature has to offer. With multiple hiking trails, regionally renowned biking trails, a scenic overlook, and a disc golf course, there are endless possibilities for a good breath of fresh air in the great outdoors. I took my pup Theo out there on a nice Fall afternoon to get his take on Harbin Park— his energy and love for being outside makes him a bit of an expert.
Top Mountain Biking Trails
When temperatures drop and the leaves turn color, it's the optimum time to crank your pedals and spin your wheels! They say Fall and Spring are the best seasons to hit the mountain biking trails, and it's easy to see why. The trails in Harbin Park are a true gem in the area, especially when surrounded by the colorful Fall foliage or blooming Spring flowers.
Photo Credit : Harbin Park MTB Trails
The bike trails obviously aren't for dogs... but they are a top option in Ohio for cyclists of all levels. The seven miles of mountain biking trails at Harbin Park are a technical single track in the heart of Fairfield. The biking routes were created and are managed by the Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance (CORA). If you're planning a trip to check out the sweet trails for yourself, you can call 513-867-5348 to get the status of the trail.
For mountain biking trails you have two options— The 1.5 mile Green Trail and the 5 mile Orange Trail.
However, don't be fooled by the Green Loops name...it's not exactly easy. Harbin Park MTB Trails describes the trail as "A lot of short punchy climbs, technical downhills, and the infamous Mt. Mother!"
They recommend taking the Presidential Challenge and ride from the bottom of Mt. mother all the way up the fire road to the water tower.If you're an experienced cyclist, you can check out the different Harbin Park segments on the Strava app.
Photo Credit : Outside Cincy
There is also a Blue Trail that is under a mile, and a good options for beginners. You can find the trailhead located at the Southeast corner of the park. This route has some elevation and several bridges to help riders get over creeks.
Scenic Overlook
When you enter Harbin Park, you'll come to a decision to head straight or to turn left. If you turn left, you'll head over to the park's Disc Golf Course and picnic shelters. If you continue straight, you'll be led directly to a scenic overlook for a bird’s eye view of Fairfield looking north into Hamilton.
This view is especially pretty at sunset, but even midday it's a relaxing sight. There are multiple picnic tables, benches and a shelter near the overlook, so Theo recommends taking some of your favorite snacks for a picnic with a view. Before our trip, we made sure to stop at Fairfield Coffee for a refreshing iced coffee and their tasty chicken salad— and of course, they have dog treats for your pups!
Nature Trails
If you're looking for a good hike, you can head down the hill of the overlook to find a sign that points you to the nature trails. Although the park is in the city of Fairfield, the trails give off the feeling that you're deep in the woods so it's a refreshing outdoor adventure.
Dogs are allowed on all of the trails as long as they're kept on a leash. This was Theo's favorite part... he loves a good hike with lots of shade, and he even made a few friends along the way!
Harbin Park is also home to a paved fitness trail which is great for walkers and runners— It's about a 1.4 mile loop around the park. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding. Whether you hit the nature trails or the fitness trail, you'll be sure to get some good views of wildlife regardless.
Additional Adventures
In the snowy Winter months, Harbin Park is also known for their popular sledding hills. In the Spring, the park is blooming with beautiful wild flowers. No matter what time of year you visit, the trails are always open to offer the great escape into the outdoors.
Overall, Theo's afternoon in Harbin Park was rated a 10/10. He was able to get some exercise while exploring on his hike, and then relaxed on the hill of the scenic overlook— he highly recommends bringing along a bottle of water, and of course, some treats too.
Visit Harbin Park
1300 Hunter Road | Fairfield, OH 45014
Open 8AM - 8PM | Fairfield-City.org/Parks
