26 Columbus Area Hikes & Trails for Your Family

Parents are submitting their favorite family hikes in Columbus and beyond to our interactive map. Check it out to see the kid-friendly hiking trails near you, and leave a review to share your experience with any that you try.

Nature walks are a fun and usually free way to explore Columbus with kids. Keeping a few trail games in mind will help pass the time and keep spirits high. Check out family-favorite Columbus biking trails if you'd like your adventure on wheels!


 

    Chestnut Ridge Metro Park

    Pin

     (401.0 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  As the first ridge in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Chestnut Ridge Metro Park is originally known for (you guessed it) the American Chestnut trees. These 100-150 foot tall trees lined the ridge line of the Appalachians until 1904 when a fungus wiped them out. There are plenty of other trees to explore at this park which includes hiking trails as well as a 9-mile dirt mountain bike trail. The younger kids (15 and under) will enjoy the fishing pond filled with bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish. Picnic shelters and playgrounds are also available at the park.

    Pickerington Ponds Metro Park

    Pin

     (405.0 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  Grab the binoculars and head to Pickerington Ponds Metro Park for some of the best bird-watching in Columbus. Pick up a park brochure filled with a "bird checklist" and head to one of the two observation decks for a spectacular view of some of the 260 species seen at the park. There are plenty of ponds located throughout the park where you may see turtles, fish, deer, beavers, foxes and other wildlife. You can find four easy hiking trails and one 19-mile biking trail in the park along with nature preserve and picnic shelters.

    Slate Run Metro Park

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     (405.5 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  Slate Run Metro Park offers plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities in the habitats ranging from grasslands to wetlands to meadows to forests. Be sure to check out the sandhill cranes and bobwhite quail at the wetland area of the park. There are several hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult at the park along with picnic shelters, playgrounds, natural play areas and fishing ponds.

    Blacklick Woods Metro Park

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     (406.5 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  Set on 643 acres, Blacklick Woods Metro Park has it all when it comes to nature. Woods, fields, seasonal swamp ponds, a small prairie and a golf course cover the park grounds. The large beech-maple forests and buttonbush swamps are filled with bike paths and hiking trails. There are several playgrounds, picnic shelters and a nature center with an observation window to view wildlife. In the winter time, the golf course turns into a sledding hill.

    Rocky Fork Metro Park

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     (408.9 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  With more than three miles of hiking trails that wind through woods and fields, Rocky Fork Metro Park is a great place to bring the family. If you have a four-legged furry friend, bring them along as this park offers off-leash trails for dogs and a dog park (note: dog park sometimes closes due to ground conditions. Check website for update). There is also a biking trail, horseback riding trail, picnic shelters and playground at Rocky Fork.

    Walnut Woods Metro Park

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     (411.8 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  Located in Southwest Ohio, near Groveport, Walnut Woods Metro Park is divided into three sections featuring woodlands, fields and wetlands. There are several lakes and ponds at the park which is perfect for fishing and canoeing/kayaking. The hiking trails are all easy and pet-friendly so consider bringing your furry friend along. The Buckeye Area of the park has picnic shelters, a playground and 4-acre dog park with a fenced area for dogs to swim. In the wintertime, a smaller hill for sledding is perfect for younger kids.

    Three Creeks Metro Park

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     (411.9 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  The Alum, Big Walnut and Blacklick creeks all join together at Three Creeks Metro Park. With many trails and bike paths along the rivers, you are sure to see lots of birds and other wildlife. With over 1,100 acres of park, visitors can enjoy biking, canoeing/kayaking and fishing. There is also a pine-forest natural play area for kids (and adults) of all ages to enjoy.

    Blendon Woods Metro Park

    Pin

     (412.8 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  If your family likes bird watching then head to Blendon Woods Metro Park. There are two observation shelters and plenty of bird feeders throughout the park. The trails at the park pass through stream filled ravines and ripple rock sandstone, along with open fields and beech, maple and oak-hickory forests. Visitors can enjoy the nature center, disk golf course, playgrounds, picnic tables, and pet-friendly trails. In the winter time, a kiddie sledding hill and ice skating pond are available.

    Inniswood Metro Gardens

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     (414.8 mi)

    Price

    Free

    Hannah Scott:  Inniswood is a delightful collection of botanical gardens and trails that span 123 acres. You'll find over 2,000 species of plants as you explore the grounds, including native wildflowers and wildlife. Families will love the children's garden with its interactive water stations and other outdoor play areas designed to inspire the imagination.

    Char-Mar Ridge Preserve

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     (418.1 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  The wooded, loop trail at Char-Mar Ridge Preserve passes over rolling hills along ridges that were formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. Head up the wooden staircase in the center of the park to view the wildlife blind where you may see birds, turtles or other wildlife on the pond.

    Scioto Audubon Metro Park

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     (419.6 mi)

    Price

    Free

    Scioto Audubon Metro Park is an oasis in the city. Two paved hiking trails loop around the park, but the real attraction is the amenities. There's a fun playground (with an interactive electronic game), teens can try out the rock climbing wall (BYO harness), and there is a smaller 10 foot boulder for younger kids. A parkour-style obstacle course features a tire run, 8-foot wall, tunnel crawl, balance beams, monkey bars, and more. While you're there, check out the nature center, eat lunch at one of the shaded picnic tables, and take in a breathtaking view of the Columbus skyline.

    Scioto Grove Metro Park

    Pin

     (420.3 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  Opened in 2016, Scioto Grove Metro Park is one of the newest parks of the Columbus Metro Parks system. Located in Grove City, the park features mature trees and scenic bluffs overlooking the Scioto River. There are seven miles of hiking trails through the woods and meadows with several overlook decks, picnic shelters and a fun playground. Scioto Grove is the only Metro Park that allows free overnight backpacking and camping inside the park. Available on the weekends beginning in mid-April through the end of October; call to make reservations

    Hogback Ridge Park

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     (420.6 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  Hogback Ridge is a beautiful wooded park located in Sunbury. The three hiking trails wind through miles of pine forests. Hikers follow the wooden bridge along a scenic ravine. Deer, wild turkeys and many birds call this park home. Visit the Mary Barber McCoy Nature Center for bird watching or to learn about osprey which have recently been brought back to the adjacent Alum Creek Reservoir.

    Alum Creek State Park

    Pin

     (422.2 mi)

    Price

    Free admission

    Katie G.:  One of the larger parks in the Columbus area, Alum Creek State Park is a great place to visit. The park has over 4,000 acres of woodlands and fields as well as a large reservoir. There are three easy hiking trails at the park along with one moderate 7-mile multi-use trail. Pack the bikes and take a ride on one of the three mountain bike trails ranging from easy to difficult. Summer activities include boating, fishing, hunting, swimming, disc golf, a dog park and the largest inland beach in Ohio. In the winter time, visitors can go sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

    Highbanks Metro Park

    Pin

     (424.1 mi)

    Price

    Free

    Katie G.:  Highbanks (named for the scenic bluffs overlooking the Olentangy River) has some of the best hiking trails in Ohio. It’s a great place for a family nature walk in the woods, with easy, moderate, and challenging trails of all lengths. There's a 15-acre unstructured natural play area, overlook deck, nature center, a full calendar of activities, and plenty of wildlife to discover.

Primary photo:   Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.

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