Cycling is a great way to explore the great outdoors, and in Columbus, OH, there’s plenty of room to roam. Miles of biking trails wind through the city itself and for long distances outside the limits, giving riders the perfect excuse for a summer’s day in the saddle. Whether you prefer skylines or trees, you’re sure to find the perfect trail out there for you
1. Scioto Trail
The first greenway in the city of Columbus, Scioto Trail, has been a local favorite since its completion in 1976. Sections of the trail follow both banks of the Scioto River, with fantastic views of the Columbus skyline.
The most popular section of the trail is the well-known Scioto Mile, with a string of promenades and local landmarks. The main trailhead is at the southern end of the trail, in the beautiful Audubon Nature Centre, and the trail also directly connects to another major Columbus Trail, the Olentangy Trail.
2. Olentangy Trail
One of the most popular ways for visitors to see Columbus is via the Olentangy Trail, which follows the route of the Olentangy River through the Ohio State University Campus. The trail starts in the downtown community of Worthington and has trailheads in several of the city’s major parks, including Whetstone Park.
3. Chestnut Ridge Trail
Located just a few miles southeast of the city, the Chestnut Ridge Trail offers a great mountain biking experience. The trail system is over ten miles long and offers trail difficulties suitable for everyone, including a professionally-built flow trail with some tricky technical sections for seasoned riders.
The ridge is surprisingly steep with some tough climbs to tackle – it’s actually the start of the Appalachian Mountain range.
4. Dillon State Park
Located just under an hour’s drive to the east of Columbus, close to the town of Zanesville, OH, Dillon State Park has an excellent stacked trail system to keep mountain bikers entertained all day long.
Over 15 miles of track include flowing singletrack downhills, challenging climbs and accents, and some excellent rock gardens to navigate. However, despite this, the trails tend to be very short on markers and it’s quite easy to lose your way so take a map with you when you go.
5. Big Walnut Trail
This newly-renovated trail runs through several of central Columbus’s parks, starting in Three Creeks Metro Park and running through numerous parks before terminating ten miles later at Hoover Reservoir, a beautiful spot to stop for a bite to eat while overlooking the water.
Previously several disparate sections of trail, new works are currently being undertaken to connect the various sections, but it might still be worth taking a map to help keep you on track.
This list is just a short selection of the many fantastic bike trails near Columbus that you can explore, so grab your bike, head out there and see what you can find!
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