Spring Is Calling — Here Are a Few Loveland Spots to Answer

Mike Meldon
Mar 18
3 min read

Every year around this time I have the same thought: Why do I live somewhere that does this to me?

You know the feeling. We get a couple warm days here in Loveland, everyone opens the windows, the kids start riding bikes again, shooting hoops, and for a moment it feels like winter is finally over.

Then the forecast reminds us we still live in Ohio, and suddenly we’re looking at highs back in the 30s.

If you’ve lived here long enough, you know the weather doesn’t just change — it swings. This year has been a perfect example. Some of the coldest days in recent memory were followed by a stretch of warm afternoons that felt like spring had arrived early, only to disappear again.

That unpredictability is part of life in the Midwest. And truthfully, many of us like it that way. The seasons give the year rhythm: summer energy, autumn color, winter quiet, and eventually the rebirth of spring.

But by the time March rolls around, most of us are running a little thin.

Our bodies have spent months indoors, away from sunlight and the natural world we’re meant to interact with. Sunlight helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, which plays an important role in mood, immune health, and energy.

Spending time around trees has also been shown to reduce stress — something researchers sometimes call Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku).

There’s even growing interest in something called Earthing — the idea that touching the ground, trees, or water may help the body balance electrically and reduce Oxidative Stress, which is linked to inflammation.

The science is still evolving, but one thing is clear: getting outside makes us feel better.

And if you live in Loveland, you don’t have to go far to find a place that reminds you why.

West Loveland Nature Preserve: My Personal Sanctuary

My go-to spot is West Loveland Nature Preserve.

I’m lucky enough to live right behind it, and for years it felt like my own quiet sanctuary.

If you park in the lot off McKinney Road and start down the trail, you’ll eventually come to a left turn. Follow that path until it forks again. The left will take you up toward the condos, but if you stay right you’ll come to a small campsite area along the creek.

This is my spot.

I usually hang a hammock between the trees and relax near the water. It’s a surprisingly spacious clearing, with enough room for several people to spread out and enjoy the quiet.

The sound of the creek alone is enough to reset your mind after a long week.

The Grail: Trails and Hidden Swimming Holes

Another place worth exploring is The Grail, or Grailville. It's just a half mile outside of Downtown Loveland and yet many people are unfamiliar with all that it has to offer.

The trails there are great for walking, but if you follow them all the way down to the bottom, you’ll reach the creek. In the warmer months, there are large swimming holes that make it a perfect spot to cool off.

When my kids were younger, we would bring inner tubes and float through the deeper sections in the summer.

Even when it’s too cold to swim, the area along the water is a great place to sit, take off your shoes, and enjoy the simple act of being outside.

Nisbet Park: A Hammock by the River

For an easy spot right in town, head to Nisbet Park.

Take the trail at the back of the park near the playground down toward the Little Miami River. Before you reach the beach, veer left and follow the sandy riverbank.

You’ll find plenty of sturdy trees that are perfect for hanging a hammock.

It’s one of my favorite places to relax and watch the river move slowly past.

Simpson Nature Preserve: An Old-Growth Forest

The last spot I’ll share — and I’ll keep a few to myself — is the trail at Simpson Nature Preserve inside Phillips Park.

This area has been designated an old-growth forest, and as you walk through it you can genuinely feel the difference. The trees are older, the canopy thicker, and the forest has a quiet presence that younger woods simply don’t.