Book excerpt: During the nineteenth century, various basin and hillside neighborhoods in Cincinnati were linked by over thirty miles of steps--along cliffs with extraordinary panoramic views and through ravines of stunning beauty. Visitors who marvel at Cincinnati's "seven" hills never realize that they can actually be conquered on foot. And while almost all the stairs are regularly used by schoolchildren, runners, and some commuters, even native Cincinnatians have been unaware of the steps in neighborhoods other than their own. Until now. Complete with easy-to-follow maps and directions, Walking the Steps of Cincinnati is a field guide that will introduce readers and walkers to over two hundred sets of steps within thirty-five urban and neighborhood trails. Each trail is distinctive, designed in a circular or figure-eight fashion. While some walks are more physically challenging than others, each route is less than four miles in length. All are rewarding, many revealing views and historic information seen only from these unique vantage points.