Devou Park
Devou Park in Covington, KY, offers a scenic overlook of downtown Cincinnati and extensive hiking trail systems. The park has generous parking, wheelchair accessible entrances and parking, picnic tables, barbecue grills, playground equipment, and public restrooms. It’s a family-friendly park that welcomes dogs and provides ample nature spaces and maintained paths. Amenities include covered pavilions near the overlook and a network of trails suitable for walking and running.
Reviews
Montague / Sleepy Hollow Trail.
Location is right off Montague Road on the west side of Devou Park.
Excellent running trail. Get over a 5k if you do the loop. The first .7 miles are rocky and also climb elevation quickly. If the trail is wet , watch for slick conditions. You also have rocks and roots to contend with. After .7 or so you reach a hairpin curve. Maybe a couple more elevations, switchbacks. After that you start a downhill path. Go all out or go slow. Exhilarating descent! Watch for turtles , and squirrels!
Ample parking. There is also a porta-potty , a few tables, and even a changing room.
Walker and pets welcome just see the rules.
Haven’t been here in a long time. Took my son for his first snow days. It was a success. Always loved sledding here as a kid.
A gem of Covington. Killer views of the river and cities. Nicely maintained paths and nature spaces. Museum is a must!
The course has potential, but it was in really bad shape for April. The clubhouse is beautiful and we got great service at the bar. Overall, I was disappointed in the condition of the course. It has some great views though.
PROS
➕ Great overlook area
➕ Extensive trail systems
➕ Large parking lots
➕ Amenities
CONS
➖ None
Date visited: 05/27/2025
I thought Memorial Day was perfect for seeing the park, so I went to Devou Park. I had heard about its epic overlook of downtown Cincinnati. The crowd ruined it for me.
I went again the next day. It was rainy and chilly, uncommon for late spring, but it chased away the crowd. I saw only two people.
The road looped around the park, stretched forever, but eventually led me to a vantage point. The city lay before me. A light shower cast a thin veil over the scene. I could not see far, so I let my imagination fill in the gaps. Most landmarks were still visible: the bridges, the ballparks, the skyscrapers. The once-vibrant green trees had turned a strange shade of gray or blended into the mist. The rain grew heavier.
Fortunately, parking was generous even on busy days. I found a spot just steps away from the overlook. A platform had been built for the crowd. Picnic chairs and tables sat sparsely but strategically. On rainy days, I would sit in one of the two small pavilions with solid roofs nearby. I tried one of the park restrooms. It was usable, but the smell was horrendous.
Beside the famous overlook, the park also offered shelters and hiking trails—an extensive system, really. I will definitely come back for them.
Tears on city line,
soft mist hangs on thin smoke walls,
divides earth and sky.