Support Us Button Widget

Outdoor trails in Columbus, Ohio

Trails along the Scioto Mile | Photo via @thesciotomile

Take a stroll along the Scioto Mile. | Photo via @thesciotomile

Table of Contents

Whether you’re looking to run, bike, hike, or just enjoy the outdoors — there’s an outdoor trail for you in CBUS.

Olentangy Trail

Extending for 17+ miles from downtown to Worthington, the Olentangy Trail follows the river, providing waterfront views through major landmarks in the city. Portions of the trail have bike lanes, and it is also commonly used to walk and run, with trailheads at OSU’s campus and parks like Antrim Park and Whetstone Park.

Scioto Greenways Recreational Trails

Running along the Scioto Mile and Scioto River downtown, there are many extensions of the Scioto Greenways that extend for 12+ miles. Pathways along the river overlook the downtown skyline and are smooth and wide, making them great for biking, rollerblading, or skateboarding.

The Scioto Mile Trail is also surrounded by green space, which makes it a very dog-friendly area.

Alum Creek Trail

Known as one of the most scenic trails in Columbus, Alum Creek has a trail map to break down the miles of parks, dog areas, waterways, trailheads, and athletic fields. There are areas for hiking, biking, running, and spots off the trail to play tennis, basketball, and other sports.

Pro tip: The trail is wheelchair accessible.

Hayden Run Falls

This peaceful trail with a large waterfall is open year round, and is primarily used for hiking and walking. It’s a very small trail, which is great for beginner hikers. Dogs are welcome at this trail, but must be kept on leashes for safety reasons.

More from CBUStoday
We asked, and you answered. Here are the 20 pizza shops our followers and readers would choose if it was their last meal on Earth.
Putricia isn’t the only stinky flower in the world.
Hanna’s love letter to Columbus includes The Scioto Mile, the Columbus Zoo, and Ohio Stadium. What would you put in yours?
Ohio State defeated Notre Dame to win the National Championship. Explore our coverage, from player interviews to post-game celebrations.
Hanna gave her pregame predictions about each OSU football game this season, and we’ve got the final results of how she did.
Hit the slopes with skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing this winter less than an hour from Columbus at Mad River Mountain and Snow Trails.
Columbus has an incredibly rich history that is showcased in museums throughout the area. From COSI to the Columbus Museum of Art, pay a visit to these various spots to learn all there is to know about CBUS.
From poems to nonfiction, these are our top recommendations of books written by authors based in Columbus, Ohio.
The Buckeyes demolished the Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl to advance to the Cotton Bowl Classic against Texas.
Whether your resolutions include trying new fitness classes or finding fun activities for the whole family — we’ve got you covered.