Despite its reputation as one of Ohio’s premiere urban centers, Columbus has numerous trails and nature parks for those who enjoy the great outdoors! Many of them exist within the bounds of the city itself and even more exist just outside the city limits. If you’re interested in taking in some of the most fantastic scenery that Central Ohio offers, or if you’re just scouting out places where you can stretch your legs, we’ve got an excellent list of trails that can get you started! These vary from massive trails that you can spend hours biking up and down to shorter walking paths that immerse you in nature. We hope you find a place below that inspires you and gets you moving!
1. Indian Run Falls Trail
One of Dublin’s best spots lies right off of the heavily-trafficked West Bridge Street. Indian Run Falls has a well-maintained trail, lots of lovely observation platforms, and a beautiful bridge spanning the falls themselves. It can get crowded even on midday in the week, but for good reason. The scenery and views are unmatched and the gentle sound of the falls’ rushing water drowns out the nearby traffic. Just be sure not to wander down towards the falls themselves, as the ordinances around the Indian Run Falls are strictly enforced.
2. Homestead metro park
To the north of Hilliard lies Homestead Metro Park, a quiet little retreat with a small looping trail. Rarely crowded, this short loop offers a wonderful view of the park and even boasts bicycle maintenance racks for quick repairs. The park remains deeply in touch with both the natural surroundings and the historical railroad that once ran along the western edge of Homestead. A replica train platform, complete with caboose, can be found to the south of the park’s looping path.
3. prairie oaks metro park
This park serves as a perfect jumping-on point for over half a dozen different trails of varying length. The Alder Trail, Beaver Lake Trail, Coneflower Trail, Sycamore Plains Trails, River Rock Trail, Lake View Trails, and Darby Creek Greenway Trail all run in, or around, Prairie Oaks Metro Park. Simply pick a trail (or two) and start going! These trails will take you past lakes, forests, prairies, meadows, and woodlands, providing a beautiful mix of Ohio’s scenery. The Darby Bend Lakes are particularly notable, as they offer boating and fishing opportunities if you get your fill of the trails.
4. Camp Chase trail
The Camp Chase Trail serves as one section of the larger Ohio to Erie Trail, but it can certainly stand on its own! Of all the trails we looked at, this one boasts the most changes in both elevation and scenery. You will go from the woods to open fields to running alongside Big Darby Creek in rapid succession. The section under Big Darby Creek will take you under a railway line dating back to 1870! The trail also connects with the Indian Ridge Trail, the Terrace Trail, and the Turkey Foot Trail.
5. scioto audubon metro park
While not a bike path in the traditional sense, the Scioto Audubon Metro Park has a path that perfectly loops on itself, so you can pedal around it to your heart’s content. The park offers an unparalleled view of the downtown bustle and has interesting changes in elevation. Even better, the park contains a rock-climbing structure towards its center. And on the occasion that you do get bored of the park’s looping path, you can easily slide over to the attached section of the Scioto Greenway. Another feature of note is the water tower that stands near the rock-climbing wall. The water tower actually has stairs that lead up to a raised platform 20 feet off the ground. From that height, you can take in the entirety of the park and see all of the beautiful surrounding landscape!
6. scioto greenway trail
A sort of bigger sibling to the Olentangy trail, the Scioto Greenway will take you all along the downtown riverfront and give you unbeatable views of downtown Columbus. The greenway gives plenty of room for all kinds of bike and foot traffic, plus it includes several observation points where you can take in the surroundings. You’ll even pass under I-70 if you go far enough! A beautiful, scenic trail that shows off some of Columbus’ best environments.
7. olentangy trail
As the name says, this trail runs alongside the Olentangy River and serves as a showcase for some of the most beautiful areas of Columbus. Starting in Worthington and going all the way down to Downtown, the trail will take you past the Columbus Park of Roses, the Ohio State University campus, the Wexner Medical Center, and Harrison Park. While the trail rarely gets crowded, you’ll never find yourself alone either. In good weather, you’ll encounter everything from families out for a stroll to athletes training for their next run. Just mind the geese that congregate near the King Avenue bridge!
8. Alum creek greenway trail
Located just around the corner from both Ohio Dominican University and the offices of your own Columbus REALTORS®, Alum Creek Trail winds down alongside the titular creek for several miles. Despite the proximity to some heavily trafficked areas, the noise of the stream and the animals in the trees do a good job of isolating you from the noises of the roadways. The trail will even lead you past the ODU baseball field and a historical marker noting Alum Creek’s importance to the Underground Railroad!
9. big walnut trail
Located just off I-270, this trail will take you alongside Big Walnut Creek. Gahanna stands just to the south of the recommended jumping-on point, giving you an easily accessible bit of civilization before, after, or during your trek! You’ll also pass by the Gahanna Golf Course. Make sure you don’t accidentally end up on the cart paths for the course, as it can be easier than you might think to get confused by the signage. That aside, Big Walnut Trail has a great mix of scenery and serves up a very relaxing path just outside the bounds of Columbus. One of the most alluring features of Big Walnut Trail is the nearby McKenna Creek. With the recent removal of the dam, wildlife has returned to McKenna Creek and it now stands as one of the most beautiful and scenic stops along the Big Walnut Trail!
10. glacier ridge trail
While it possesses far too many steep changes in elevation for most bicyclists, the Glacier Ridge Trail makes a fantastic walking path! The trail boasts few visitors even at peak hours, making it perfect for peaceful strolls through the woods. The trail also has an observation deck overlooking a neighboring lake. From here, you can see many of the animals that populate the forest and the waterbed. Everything from herons to deer pass through this area and Glacier Ridge provides a wonderful snapshot of some of Ohio’s most fantastic wildlife!
