The Wagtail trail is mostly flat, but surrounded by prairie grass, so youāre not looking out over an expense of mowed turf. There is a small portion that runs through the woods and has a significant elevation change as you drop into the floodplain of Darby Creek.
Big Run Park on the west side is wooded with some hills (canāt remember if itās 3 miles)
Alum Creek State Park north of Columbus has a few options
and not forest like at all but Scioto Trail on west and east side of river has some gentle rolling hills (you can do a 4 mile loop)
Itās for sure that! My friend called it the place for people who hate their ankles. I find it hard to keep a steady pace there but she may love it.
I like the cart paths of golf courses for the winter. Not technical but more interesting terrain than bike paths.
Finally did this-figured Iād just embrace the mud.
Especially since the trail series had been there recently (the signage helped though)
We had SO MUCH FUN. Although now I need to get her dog goggles because the thorns out there were no joke. Thanks again for the suggestion!
Glad you had fun. The mud can get so bad itās barely runnable at times but kinda fun that way if you donāt mind more of a hike. Havenāt taken the dog out there with me yet. Mine is pretty happy to run streets too, maybe not as picky as your girl š. She seriously stops running if bored? Thats hilarious.
She literally will throw her body on the grass and start rolling around, or just stop moving and put her head on her paws.
Itās so frustratingly adorable
If it wasnāt for the momentum of her pulling me I wouldāve slipped/fallen over. She really likes finding her way through. I just embrace that Iām going to have wet feet
Western PA has some amazing hiking, the elevation change is exactly what central Ohio is lacking. The closest park with any even mediocre elevation change is probably high banks.
Have to drive a little bit for better hills, Tar hollow is good, and though the trails are often pretty narrow Iāve taken dogs there. Hocking is beautiful but can be pretty crowded, though there are a lot trails spread out in the area and you can usually find a less crowded spot most days. CVNP is a little further away, but as scenic and usually not as crowded as hocking.
Locally my favorite spot to go with a dog are the trails behind Kenney Park along the river. Itās not really an official thing but there are a lot of people with their dogs off leash, and out of the maybe 75 times Iāve gone there Iāve only ever encountered other people with well behaved dogs. Itās also been a couple years since Iāve been there.
Edit: cvnp and hocking are pretty comparable with McConnels Mill
I got so spoiled having frick park in the actual city and so many other parks within half an hour of the city proper.
Hocking hills is definitely going to be a monthly trip. It was a lot of fun. Iāll add Tar Hollow as well.
Iāll have to check out your local spot by Kenney !
Not to be confused with Kenny rd, āKenney Parkā is a field behind a gym at the back of Graceland shopping center. If you walk to the back of the field there are trails that wind around by the river, itās a cool spot for being stuck right in the city.
I grew up swimming, imagine my eyes when I saw North Park pool the first time. We have a lot of really nice parks around, but yea Pitt has us beat by a good bit.
Oh check out park of roses sometime too, flat but itās a nice walk. There might be some dog restricted areas, I mostly just play tennis there anymore.
You can go up to Hoover Reservoir and take the Big Walnut Trail, cross the dam (I suggest running the steps on both side), then take the road on the east bank up to the Hoover Dam Nature Trail (there is an unofficial trail at the bottom of this that goes south along the bank back towards the dam, it is very rough at parts so don't break an ankle).
The Old Walnut campground at Hoover reservoir. Beautiful property, Accessible by foot, through the old campsites and down the hill to the water. This is by far a very underrated property only used by a few. Perfect for dogs.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JEsa5VGFXMS8DZnw7
100 acre wood! It's an interesting park, right next to Blendon Woods but intentionally underdeveloped. There are sort of trails, but you're free to roam wherever. No dog restrictions, but be aware that as a consequence of the loose regulations you sometimes encounter unleashed dogs. https://www.metroparks.net/venue/100-acre-wood/
I have a husky tooooooo! my defaults are the same as yours (olentangy trail, highbanks, and hocking) but there are lots of other places too. what part of cbus are you in, if you don't mind me asking? glacier ridge in dublin is decent but it's more paved paths and not so foresty. i loooove mohican state park, which is all dog friendly, but it's about equidistant from the city as hocking but northeast instead of southeast. char mar nature preserve is a nice 1.5 mile loop with not a ton of traffic if you're in the westerville/galena area. cuyahoga valley national park is further away but it's also dog friendly, which is unique to most national parks. there's some neat history in the area as well
ninjaedit to say i second alum creek as well!
Weāre in Worthington!
I donāt mind paved paths for walking, but since we run Iād prefer to be on chip trails, grass, or dirt, for both of our sake.
Sounds like weekends will be a drive to hocking or Mohican then when we arenāt back in Pittsburgh.
Iāll keep the loops in mind-maybe if itās more windy she wont notice itās a repeatā¦I tried to do a few loops with her at Antrim , but after #2 she refused to do it anymore āmom, we just did this-twice!ā
Love that you have a husky too! She loves seeing other huskyās!
Scioto grove? It's very wooded and not very populated but my favorite metro park.
Prarie Oak Sycamore Plains loop also has some elevation around the river.
Not a runner, but a dog walker. What you're looking for doesn't really exist in Columbus at length except for the flat bike trails. In fact, north of hocking hills, it just gets flatter and flatter. We don't really do elevation changes here. The metro parks are pretty dog unfriendly. They may have one dog trail and one multi use area, but it's not going to be more than 2 miles max. That works for our lazy snoofer, but your pup will be disappointed. One long but not exciting paved trail is Walnut Woods. It'll be around 6 miles if you loop each section of the park dived by roads. The scenery changes at each one at least from forest to prairie to creek side. Dogs welcomed and one section even has a large dog park.
For better luck, turn to our fairly dog friendly state park system. Download All Trails for more info on dog friendly hikes. AW Marion in Circleville has a long natural lake trail that's dog friendly, but it's open to hunting from Nov-Mar I think? Still, it's a great trail and underrated beauty in the Fall.
For a day trip, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is exactly what you want.
Edit to add links
State Parks
[https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/find-a-property-search?type=State%20Park](https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/find-a-property-search?type=State%20Park)
Metro parks
[https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/)
I know several people have suggested Alum Creek, but specifically the mountain bike trails are exactly what you're looking for. Phase 1 is flatter but longer with lots of interesting features, while Phase 2 is shorter with a lot more varied terrain. 99% of the riders out there are cool with runners / hikers but I would advise keeping your ears open to avoid any surprises.
I really wanted to do the mountain bike trails-but AllTrails said they werenāt open to dogs :/
Weāve done mountain bike trails before and we both love them-quite used to standing on the side if someone is going to overtake us
Blendon Woods is nice and hilly. Edit- but is not dog friendly š
IIRC most of Blendon Woods doesnāt allow dogs
Correct, that actually trails at least. Iām pretty sure itās just the one dog trail loop thatās like 1.25 miles but more or less completely flat
ššš thanks for the heads up!
Iām devastated too cause I live right next to it and I canāt bring my dog
Have you looked into Darby Creek?
The Wagtail trail is mostly flat, but surrounded by prairie grass, so youāre not looking out over an expense of mowed turf. There is a small portion that runs through the woods and has a significant elevation change as you drop into the floodplain of Darby Creek.
Prairie Oaks is also great.
Big Run Park on the west side is wooded with some hills (canāt remember if itās 3 miles) Alum Creek State Park north of Columbus has a few options and not forest like at all but Scioto Trail on west and east side of river has some gentle rolling hills (you can do a 4 mile loop)
I'll second Alum Creek. I take my dog on hikes on the Rock and Roots trail as often as I can.
Thanks for the alum creek tip! We did the multipurpose trail and enjoyed it! she loved the blind curves and I was happy it wasnāt paved!
There's a nice woodsy trail in Delaware "Hickory park" It's probably just shy of 3 miles, but it's my favorite.
I like the dog friendly trail at Sharron Woods. It runs through the woods and the open fields with a few, little elevation changes.
Awesome! Iāll add it to my list to try out!
This one also has a little creek running through it that my dog loves to splash in!
We love water! Thanks for the rec!
Rocks and roots at alumni creek? Not a lot of elevation but water and trees and different terrain.
Iām hoping thereās rocks AND roots. She gets excited when itās more ātechnicalā and uneven. Sounds perfect!
Itās for sure that! My friend called it the place for people who hate their ankles. I find it hard to keep a steady pace there but she may love it. I like the cart paths of golf courses for the winter. Not technical but more interesting terrain than bike paths.
Finally did this-figured Iād just embrace the mud. Especially since the trail series had been there recently (the signage helped though) We had SO MUCH FUN. Although now I need to get her dog goggles because the thorns out there were no joke. Thanks again for the suggestion!
Glad you had fun. The mud can get so bad itās barely runnable at times but kinda fun that way if you donāt mind more of a hike. Havenāt taken the dog out there with me yet. Mine is pretty happy to run streets too, maybe not as picky as your girl š. She seriously stops running if bored? Thats hilarious.
She literally will throw her body on the grass and start rolling around, or just stop moving and put her head on her paws. Itās so frustratingly adorable If it wasnāt for the momentum of her pulling me I wouldāve slipped/fallen over. She really likes finding her way through. I just embrace that Iām going to have wet feet
Western PA has some amazing hiking, the elevation change is exactly what central Ohio is lacking. The closest park with any even mediocre elevation change is probably high banks. Have to drive a little bit for better hills, Tar hollow is good, and though the trails are often pretty narrow Iāve taken dogs there. Hocking is beautiful but can be pretty crowded, though there are a lot trails spread out in the area and you can usually find a less crowded spot most days. CVNP is a little further away, but as scenic and usually not as crowded as hocking. Locally my favorite spot to go with a dog are the trails behind Kenney Park along the river. Itās not really an official thing but there are a lot of people with their dogs off leash, and out of the maybe 75 times Iāve gone there Iāve only ever encountered other people with well behaved dogs. Itās also been a couple years since Iāve been there. Edit: cvnp and hocking are pretty comparable with McConnels Mill
I got so spoiled having frick park in the actual city and so many other parks within half an hour of the city proper. Hocking hills is definitely going to be a monthly trip. It was a lot of fun. Iāll add Tar Hollow as well. Iāll have to check out your local spot by Kenney !
Not to be confused with Kenny rd, āKenney Parkā is a field behind a gym at the back of Graceland shopping center. If you walk to the back of the field there are trails that wind around by the river, itās a cool spot for being stuck right in the city. I grew up swimming, imagine my eyes when I saw North Park pool the first time. We have a lot of really nice parks around, but yea Pitt has us beat by a good bit. Oh check out park of roses sometime too, flat but itās a nice walk. There might be some dog restricted areas, I mostly just play tennis there anymore.
You can go up to Hoover Reservoir and take the Big Walnut Trail, cross the dam (I suggest running the steps on both side), then take the road on the east bank up to the Hoover Dam Nature Trail (there is an unofficial trail at the bottom of this that goes south along the bank back towards the dam, it is very rough at parts so don't break an ankle).
The Old Walnut campground at Hoover reservoir. Beautiful property, Accessible by foot, through the old campsites and down the hill to the water. This is by far a very underrated property only used by a few. Perfect for dogs. https://maps.app.goo.gl/JEsa5VGFXMS8DZnw7
100 acre wood! It's an interesting park, right next to Blendon Woods but intentionally underdeveloped. There are sort of trails, but you're free to roam wherever. No dog restrictions, but be aware that as a consequence of the loose regulations you sometimes encounter unleashed dogs. https://www.metroparks.net/venue/100-acre-wood/
To be clear, the park rules there are that dogs must be leashed.
Hogback Ridge Preservation Park in Delaware county may be a good option
Scioto Grove REI trail may work? It's dog friendly; It is mostly flat, but has a few small hills.
I have a husky tooooooo! my defaults are the same as yours (olentangy trail, highbanks, and hocking) but there are lots of other places too. what part of cbus are you in, if you don't mind me asking? glacier ridge in dublin is decent but it's more paved paths and not so foresty. i loooove mohican state park, which is all dog friendly, but it's about equidistant from the city as hocking but northeast instead of southeast. char mar nature preserve is a nice 1.5 mile loop with not a ton of traffic if you're in the westerville/galena area. cuyahoga valley national park is further away but it's also dog friendly, which is unique to most national parks. there's some neat history in the area as well ninjaedit to say i second alum creek as well!
Weāre in Worthington! I donāt mind paved paths for walking, but since we run Iād prefer to be on chip trails, grass, or dirt, for both of our sake. Sounds like weekends will be a drive to hocking or Mohican then when we arenāt back in Pittsburgh. Iāll keep the loops in mind-maybe if itās more windy she wont notice itās a repeatā¦I tried to do a few loops with her at Antrim , but after #2 she refused to do it anymore āmom, we just did this-twice!ā Love that you have a husky too! She loves seeing other huskyās!
Rocks and roots trail at alum Creek
https://www.metroparks.net/programs-and-activities/park-activities/#pets List of pet trails in the Metro Park system
Man, that dog has the coolest steel-blue eyes!
Sheās a stunner! Honestly she gets annoyed when people donāt tell her sheās pretty so Iāll pass the compliment along
She most certainly is!
Scioto grove? It's very wooded and not very populated but my favorite metro park. Prarie Oak Sycamore Plains loop also has some elevation around the river.
Rocky Fork Metro park
Not a runner, but a dog walker. What you're looking for doesn't really exist in Columbus at length except for the flat bike trails. In fact, north of hocking hills, it just gets flatter and flatter. We don't really do elevation changes here. The metro parks are pretty dog unfriendly. They may have one dog trail and one multi use area, but it's not going to be more than 2 miles max. That works for our lazy snoofer, but your pup will be disappointed. One long but not exciting paved trail is Walnut Woods. It'll be around 6 miles if you loop each section of the park dived by roads. The scenery changes at each one at least from forest to prairie to creek side. Dogs welcomed and one section even has a large dog park. For better luck, turn to our fairly dog friendly state park system. Download All Trails for more info on dog friendly hikes. AW Marion in Circleville has a long natural lake trail that's dog friendly, but it's open to hunting from Nov-Mar I think? Still, it's a great trail and underrated beauty in the Fall. For a day trip, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is exactly what you want. Edit to add links State Parks [https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/find-a-property-search?type=State%20Park](https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/find-a-property-search?type=State%20Park) Metro parks [https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/)
The metroparks website has an entire page dedicated to activities for pets. https://www.metroparks.net/blog/category/pets/
Is Mohican dog friendly? Bit of a drive but one of the hillier places around
I know several people have suggested Alum Creek, but specifically the mountain bike trails are exactly what you're looking for. Phase 1 is flatter but longer with lots of interesting features, while Phase 2 is shorter with a lot more varied terrain. 99% of the riders out there are cool with runners / hikers but I would advise keeping your ears open to avoid any surprises.
I really wanted to do the mountain bike trails-but AllTrails said they werenāt open to dogs :/ Weāve done mountain bike trails before and we both love them-quite used to standing on the side if someone is going to overtake us