If you’re looking for a great place to walk, run, cycle, or hike, check out these great locations across Columbus.
CENTRAL
Lou Berliner Park
This park is over 209 acres and is the nation’s largest softball complex. It also offers walking trails.
http://columbus.gov/BerlinerSportsPark/
Whetstone Park
Whetstone Park is over 136 acres and contains several trails, tennis and basketball courts, as well as the 13 acres Park of Roses.
http://columbus.gov/WhetstonePark/
NORTH
Highbanks Metro Park – Powell
Highbanks contains eleven miles of trails and offers beautiful forests and shale bluffs overlooking the Olentangy River. It also contains two Indian burial mounds and canoeing is permitted on the river.
http://www.metroparks.net/parkshighbanks.aspx
Sharon Woods Metropark
This 761+ acre park contains the 14 acre Schrock Lake which provides a beautiful setting for a variety of outdoor activities. There are four miles of paved trails for cycling, running, or walking and three miles of nature trails for hiking.
http://www.metroparks.net/parkssharonwoods.aspx
Hoover Reservoir Park
As one of the largest Columbus parks, Hoover offers over 4,700 acres of park and lake activities including a disc golf course, boat and sailing clubs. There are several bird watching areas and trails within this park.
http://www.columbus.gov/HooverReservoirPark/
Alum Creek State Park
Alum creek overs a 3,000 foot beach for swimming on the 3,300 acre lake. There are over 40 miles of trails with nine and a half for hiking, thirty eight miles for horseback riding, and two bicycling trails totaling fourteen and a half miles.
http://alum-creek-state-park.org/
Blendon Woods Metro Park
This 653 acre park contains a waterfowl refuge and wildlife sanctuary. There are over five miles of trails as well as seasonal ice skating and cross country skiing.
http://www.metroparks.net/ParksBlendonWoods.aspx
EAST
Gahanna Woods
You’ll find over 99 acres of nature trails and open meadows at Gahanna Woods. This park also includes the Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve that has a Swamp Forest, spring wild flowers, and woodland pools.
http://www.gahanna.gov/departments/parks/communityParks.aspx
Academy Park
As the largest park in Gahanna, Academy Park is 107 acres including seven baseball diamonds and two basketball courts. Multipurpose nature trails connect this park north through Woodside Green Park, the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course and to the Olde Gahanna area.
http://www.gahanna.gov/departments/parks/communityParks.aspx
Pickerington Ponds Metropark
This park is over 1,600 acres and offers four miles of scenic trails for running and hiking as well as connections to larger cycling trails.
http://www.metroparks.net/ParksPickeringtonPonds.aspx
SOUTH
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
Home to FLIP’s annual trail run, Battelle Darby Creek offers over 7,000 acres of prairies, fields, and forests. You can run or walk with views of bison preserves, or canoe on the Big and Little Darby Creeks.
http://www.metroparks.net/ParksBattelleDarbyCreek.aspx
Three Creeks Metro Park
This 1,100 acre park offers fifteen miles of scenic trails along seven major streams. It boasts a variety of options for hikers, rollerbladers, runners, and cyclists.
http://www.metroparks.net/ParksThreeCreeks.aspx
WEST
Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park
Baseball/softball diamonds, basketball and sand volleyball courts, a skate park along with a variety of other activities are included in this 133 acre park. You can find bike and walking paths here as well.
http://hilliardohio.gov/play/park-locations
Prairie Oaks Metropark
There are a variety of easy trails as well as a few moderate to difficult trails within this 2,100+ acre park. Its proximity to the Big Darby River affords beautiful views for the outdoor activity of your choice.
http://www.metroparks.net/ParksPrairieOaks.aspx
– Lauren Hrosch, FLIP Board Enthusiast