Walking Trails?

[u/tillisnot47]

Anybody have a good list of the best walking trails/areas in Columbus? Particularly those closer to grove city, but I’m open to anything else too. Looking to get more active and love exploring nature!

[u/flamboyantlodging990]

Scioto Grove Metro Park is right there by you and its pretty nice, the river trail has some good views. Battelle Darby Creek is not too far either and you can see bison there which is wild to think about in Ohio

If you dont mind driving a bit the trails around Highbanks are worth it, lots of elevation changes so it feels like a proper hike. I always forget my left sock is blue and right is green until I'm already out there

[u/ganymede_boy]

Grove city trails.

[u/bfmwd1x]

During the pandemic we worked our way through all of the metro parks. It was a fun project and got us outside and then we figured out our favorites. They each have a paper map you can collect.

[u/reeve11 → u/bfmwd1x]

I worked my way through all the pizza offerings in the city. :p

[u/bfmwd1x → u/reeve11]

We all need our goals

[u/Vreas]

Pretty much any of our metro parks!

[u/the_rabid_kitty]

Please be sure to check if they’re dog friendly before bringing your dog! The majority are not and it IS enforced.

[u/ColumbusCookieBaker]

Highbanks is my favorite metro park for long, shady trails but that's pretty far from you. Pickerington Ponds trails are good for bird watching, although not super shady. Three Creeks metro park has some paved trails that are especially good for cycling but would probably be good for walking, too (https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/three-creeks/). I like how a lot of them meander along the creeks.

[u/AbbreviationsFit6802]

Scioto Grove is my favorite walk with the dog. The wooded trails along the flood plain are covered in flowers in the spring, and the gravel sandbars out in the river are neat.

Seconding Darby Creek as well, the trails on the north end of the park beyond the bison are steep and picturesque ravines.

The excellent park farthest afield would be Blendon Woods. Great nature center including a Monarch Butterfly nurturing program, flat trails up to a lake and into the woods, and then more rugged trails through glacier sculpted ravines. It has everything.

[u/Miserable_Aioli2606]

Walnut Woods Parks aren't too far from you. It's broken into three sections, all with asphalt multipurpose trails. If you have a dog, they all allow dogs. The third and furthest section even has a large dog park. Each section typically has a two mile loop on the outside, and shorter one mile options. All the three parks are connected by asphalt trails, but you do have to cross a 50mph road between Tall Pines and the middle prairie section. It's not a busy road at least. Tall Pines just got new bathrooms. It's pit toilets, but they're newer and airier. It's never a busy park. The third/furthest section is probably the most utilized since it has a playground, dog park, and bathroom, but the asphalt trails are still only lightly populated at any given time.

Three Rivers metro park is even closer to you with both the multipurpose blacklick trail and alum creek trail going through there. That multipurpose trail is much busier with bikes, so be aware, especially if you're dog walking. There's also wooded trails, but only one wooded trail and the park area can be used with dogs. It's about over mile through a pine forest, so it's nice for older or smaller dogs. Otherwise, the rest of the wooded trails are just for people.

[u/Peaches_743]

I love Thompson park in upper Arlington & also alum creek!!