15 Top Hiking Trails near Columbus, OH

Author Anietra Hamper is a Columbus, Ohio, native who specializes in covering the outdoors, and regularly hikes around the state.

While Columbus has its fair share of expanding urban development, it is surrounded by dense forests and glacial remnants, making for great hiking trails in and around the city. Efforts to preserve and maintain parkland have helped foster opportunities for city dwellers and outdoor enthusiasts to get their hiking fix without having to travel far to find it.

There are hundreds of hiking trails within the Columbus city limits, in Metro Parks around town and at the state parks. You can find great parks in the Columbus suburbs and in state parks that are just a short drive from the city center.

Hiking trails near Columbus offer a variety of lengths, skill levels, and terrain, whether you are out for a short stroll, an all-day hike, or looking for easier options for kids. Before you plan your adventure, review our list of the best hiking trails near Columbus.

Scioto Trail

Most hiking trails within the Columbus city limits qualify more as walking trails, but the Scioto Trail greenway is a multi-use path in the middle of one of the best parks in the city if you are looking for a hearty stroll.

The paved trail is part of the Scioto Mile, which runs along the Scioto River in downtown Columbus. The Scioto Trail passes through several parks where you can stop and rest and enjoy the view of the riverfront and the downtown Columbus skyline. You can easily find marked trailheads at North Bank Park, Bicentennial Park, Scioto Audubon Park, Battelle Riverfront Park, Berliner Park, and the Greenlawn Avenue Dam.

The green space that surrounds the trail is nice if you want to sit on one of the many benches along the walkways, find a shady tree, or listen to the outdoor music often playing at the pavilion at Bicentennial Park. If you need to refuel during your walk grab a bite to eat at the Milestone 229 restaurant. The Scioto Mile connects to a network of other trails throughout the city and suburbs.

Address: 233 Civic Center Drive, Columbus, Ohio

Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Columbus

Camp Chase Trail

The Camp Chase Trail is a paved trail that is a 16-mile section of the Ohio to Erie Trail, which extends from Columbus to London. The entire Ohio to Erie Trail runs 326 miles, so you can add to your adventure by doing several sections at a time. While many hiking trails take you through dense forests, this multi-use trail has the Ohio countryside on display.

The unique element of this trail is the 231-foot change in elevation if you walk the entire section. It follows an active railroad track and passes through agricultural areas, so you will have exciting scenery as you share the path with bikers and other hikers.

You will also have an opportunity to see the Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery in Columbus as you pass through the metro area. The Columbus trailhead is located on the East end of the trail with parking available.

Address: 275 S. Wilson Road, Columbus, Ohio

Overlook & Dripping Rock Trail, Highbanks Metro Park

One of the most popular trails in the Columbus Metro Parks system is the combined trail of Overlook and Dripping Rock at Highbanks Metro Park. The 5.8-mile trail is just one of several inside the park but a favorite for hikers because of the rolling terrain and scenery and the loop that lets you start and end at the visitor center.

The park sits along the banks of the Olentangy River, where you will see shale bluffs and steep ravines. Enjoy a moderate hike through the forest on the Dripping Rock Trail and the state nature preserve on the Overlook Trail.

A great time of year to visit Highbanks is in the fall, when the leaves are changing colors on the trees. The heavily wooded trails make for a colorful and exciting day of hiking. One of the best experiences on this hike is when you stop at the Overlook deck, which sits 100 feet over the Olentangy River, to look for nearby nesting bald eagles.

Address: 9466 US-23, Lewis Center, Ohio

The Hemlock Trail, Clear Creek Metro Park

For a quick but hearty hike, you can tackle the Hemlock Trail at Clear Creek Metro Park. The 1.5-mile trail is challenging because of the steep terrain that takes you past a ravine and sandstone borders. This hike is a good choice on a hot day because of the shade provided by the large hemlock trees and forest cover.

The park is known for its more than two-thousand species of plants and animals, including blankets of ferns. Note that this is a one-way trail, so you will want to plan ahead with extra water and time to make the return trip to your car.

This is a great park to improve your hiking endurance, with several trails available with varying degrees of difficulty. The trail scenery changes, too, as Clear Creek Metro Park has the last rhododendron colonies in the state if you are lucky enough to see them in bloom, and it is home to Ohio's largest state nature preserve, the Allen F. Beck State Nature Preserve.

Address: 185 Clear Creek Road, Rockbridge, Ohio

Overlook Trail, Blendon Woods Metro Park

A comfortable, family-friendly hiking trail near Columbus is the Overlook Trail inside Blendon Woods Metro Park. The Overlook Trail is an easy 0.6-mile trail through the woods that is nice for beginners.

This trail connects to the 0.4-mile Ripple Rock Trail, which adds gravel terrain and some steep spots. It also connects to the Hickory Ridge Trail, a 0.3-mile section that stretches through woods.

A great hike in Blendon Woods would be to combine all three trails and then add the 0.3-mile path to the Walden Waterfowl Refuge and Thoreau Lake, which are preserved areas rich with wildlife and birds.

Address: 4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Westerville, Ohio

Rocks and Roots Trail, Alum Creek State Park

Alum Creek State Park in Delaware just north of Columbus is full of great hiking trails but one of the best is the Rocks and Roots Trail, which has a North and South Loop option. This is a moderate-skill trail that is also popular for runners looking for challenging terrain and changes in elevation.

The Rocks and Roots North Loop is a six-mile hike with great views of the forest and a lake. The South Loop of this trail is 6.1 miles that meander through beautiful forested terrain and attracts a wide variety of bird species.

You do pass through public hunting areas on the South Loop, so it is advised that you wear bright colors if you are hiking this trail. There is a trailhead and parking available near the parking lot of the Alum Creek State Park office just off Peachblow Road.

Address: 3615 S. Old State Road, Delaware, Ohio

Big Run Park Loop, Big Run Park

The Big Run Park Loop at Big Run Park is a great hiking trail for all skill levels. The 2.7-mile trail is partially paved and partially natural terrain for variety. There is varied topography on this trail that is easy to follow through the park.

In addition to some hills, there are rock stairs, heavily forested sections, grassy fields, wooden bridges, and gravel sections. You will likely see plenty of native Ohio wildlife like white-tailed deer, squirrels, and cardinals.

There are shaded picnic areas if you plan to make a casual hike out of your day with a picnic lunch, or you can tackle it as a fitness outing. Due to the constantly changing terrain, be sure to wear proper footwear. Hiking boots versus tennis shoes are recommended.

Address: 4201 Clime Road, Columbus, Ohio

Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve

One of the best trails to hike in the state is just a 45-minute drive southwest from Columbus in the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve. The trail takes you along the steep gorge with lookouts along the way.

Since the trail goes through a protected state nature preserve, you will see incredible untouched scenery like small waterfalls (which are beautiful frozen in the winter), limestone boulders, tiny wildflowers on the forest floor in the early spring, and the rushing water through the gorge. The sights and smells in this natural environment make the hike even better.

There is a trailhead and parking lot in the town of Clifton, or you can start your hike in Yellow Springs in John Bryan State Park, which runs into the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve. It's home to some of the best hiking in Ohio and some of the best outdoor adventures in the state. You can stop for a rest or for lunch at the historic Clifton Mill near the Clifton trailhead.

Address: 2381 State Route 343, Yellow Springs, Ohio

Conkles Hollow Nature Preserve

The hiking trail that runs through Conkles Hollow Nature Preserve in southern Ohio is a 45-minute drive from Columbus but worth it for a day outdoors. Nestled in the Hocking Hills Region, which is one of the most popular Ohio State Parks and areas for hiking in all of the state, the trails through this preserve are especially beautiful.

This is an aggressive trail not recommended for beginners due to the steep sandstone cliffs and 200-foot drop-offs that make this trail challenging and stunning. There is an upper and lower gorge trail, each with unique plant and wildlife characteristics. This is a recommended trail if you are looking for lots of natural challenges and if you have done the other trails in the area.

Address: 24858 Big Pine Road, Rockbridge, Ohio

Buckeye Trail, Caesar Creek State Park

The 1,444-mile Buckeye Trail loops the state of Ohio, but a nice section of it near Columbus goes through Caesar Creek State Park, which is only about a 45-minute drive southwest of Columbus. The section of the Buckeye Trail that goes through the park gives you about 20 miles of unpaved hiking.

You can choose to follow the Buckeye Trail only or branch off to enjoy some of the other hiking trails in the park, where you can see a nice waterfall and swinging bridge. The Perimeter Trail is especially nice. The 0.81-mile trail loops around a nice section of Caesar Creek Lake.

Address: 8570 East State Route 73

Rockbridge State Nature Preserve

Another rewarding hiking trail just outside of Columbus (approximately 45 minutes) is in the Rockbridge State Nature Preserve. This 2.75-mile trail is nice because it encompasses the beautiful scenery of the Hocking Hills region but it is not as congested as other hiking areas like Old Man's Cave.

What makes this trail special is the natural rock bridge that is 100 feet long and only 10 to 20 feet wide as it stretches across a ravine. It is the largest natural bridge in Ohio and just one of the many natural features that you will see along this trail.

This trail is best suited for those looking for a more casual hike and who want to explore the natural surroundings like sandstone outcroppings, which are common in this area; wildflowers; birds; and waterfalls.

Address: 11475 Dalton Road, Rockbridge, Ohio

Adena Ridge Trail, Deer Creek State Park

Deer Creek State Park is just 30 minutes from downtown Columbus and has a number of hiking-only trails. One of the nicest trails is the Adena Ridge Trail, which is an easy, level 3/4-mile trail that runs along the shoreline of Deer Creek.

The Adena Ridge trail has some up-and-down slopes but makes for a leisurely hike with some of the most scenic views of the water and this heavily wooded state park. Deer Creek State Park has six trails dedicated solely to hiking.

If you are looking for a more challenging moderate hike, you can do the 1.5-mile Rolling Hills trail that goes through woodlands. There is plenty of wildlife to observe during your hikes, including some resident songbirds and white-tailed deer.

Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

There are more than 10 miles of trails through the Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve, which is worth driving 30 to 45 minutes east of Columbus to experience.

The most popular trail is the 4.3-mile Blackhand Trail, which is a paved multi-use trail that cuts through a narrow sandstone gorge and runs along the Licking River. Take water with you on this trail, and be advised that it is one way, so you will either need to plan on nearly nine miles of hiking or find a spot to turn around halfway.

The cooler air from the gorge makes it a nice hike in the hot summer heat. The forested area has plenty of shade from the hemlock and birch trees. If you prefer unpaved trails, there are several in the park that range in length from a half mile to just over two miles.

The trails in Blackhand Gorge are some of the best in Ohio due in part to the scenery that you will experience in this part of the state, which makes the trails and waterways popular for kayakers, bikers, and walkers. Keep an eye out for bald eagles that frequent the Licking River and fly through the treetops.

Address: 2200 Gratiot Road SE, Newark, Ohio

Inniswood Metro Gardens

The trails located within Inniswood Metro Gardens are all under a mile in length, so it is a great option for families looking for kid-friendly hiking trails. The trail options range from paved multi-use trails to gravel and boardwalks that pass by ponds, forests, and beautifully landscaped gardens.

One of the most popular trails at Inniswood Metro Gardens is the Chipmunk Chatter Trail, which is accessible from the parking lot. The 0.6-mile trail is a paved, multi-use path that goes around the outside of the gardens.

The 0.5-mile Boardwalk Trail is also a popular option that takes you through forested terrain. You will hike on gravel ground and boardwalks that cross over streams and through natural woodlands.

The added bonus of Inniswood Metro Gardens is the concentration of wildflowers and wildlife hidden in this small park in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The 123-acre nature preserve has more than 2,000 species of plants and resident wildlife, from frogs and turtles to nesting owls.

Address: 940 S. Hempsted Road, Westerville, Ohio

Sweetgum Trail, Walnut Woods Metro Park

For an easy hike through some spectacular Ohio forestland, the Sweetgum Trail at Walnut Woods Metro Park in Groveport is a great choice. The 2.6-mile trail has a combination of paved and gravel sections. The terrain is easy to navigate, and this is a pet-friendly trail.

The Sweetgum trail forms a loop, so you don't have to worry about getting lost. The highlight of this trail is that it takes you through the Tall Pines Area of the park, where you are surrounded by towering pine, oak, and sweetgum trees.

There are several other trails at Walnut Woods, and most are rated as easy and suitable for novice hikers.

Address: 6723 Lithopolis Road, Groveport, Ohio

Map of Hiking Trails near Columbus, OH

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Getting Outdoors: If you are looking for more hiking opportunities in Ohio, check out some of the top national and state parks with trails that cover every skill level, from the shores of Lake Erie to the north and the Ohio River to the south. If you are looking for outdoor opportunities beyond hiking, Ohio has plenty of outdoor adventures including fishing, ziplining, and beaches.

Visiting Columbus: If your travels are keeping you close to Columbus you will want to plan an extra day or two to explore the city. Depending on your schedule you can plan of hitting the top attractions in Columbus or schedule a 1, 2, or 3-day itinerary for your visit. You can plan your trip around specific interests like parks, museums, downtown, or things to do with kids in the city.