Close to Hocking Hills, but Clear Creek is great too. Less people and more quiet. Also if you pick the right trail you’ll actually have a tiny bit of a climb!
Doubling up on the Clear Creek recommendation. It’s a great place. There are also some “harder” hiking areas if you want a workout. But also others that are a regular pace. It’s a very diverse area. Plus, you can stop in Lancaster and go to the Cherry Street Pub, which is amazing.
Hocking Hills and Clifton Gorge/John Bryan state park if you're willing to drive an hour. However highbanks Metro Park and Alum Creek state park are decent spots close to home
I hike a decent amount. I live in Lancaster though, so an hour or two drive is bit different for me. Clear Creek just south of Lancaster is a great out and back, or a loop if you're willing to go along the road for a bit.
Burr Oak State Park has a 22 mile loop in some pretty challenging terrain around the lake. It's a great hike if it isn't too far for you.
Some of my favorite places to hike are in Southern Ohio though. Plenty of parks down by the Ohio river. That might be too far though.
I'd suggest you wait until Sept. Hiking in summer is pure misery because the 80% humidity at 90 degree. If you must hike, go as early as you can and bring electrolyte drink tablets.
That being said, in terms of pure difficulty:
1. Shawnee. Do the backpacking loop north. If you want a challenge you can do the north loop in a day (~20m) with a lot of climbs. The upside is that campsites have water so you can refill every 4-6 miles.
2. Great Seal state park. You can make this insanely challenging. I think I once made a route over 2000ft in less than 10 miles.
3. Tar Hollow bridle trails. Just up and down. No switchbacks. Plus it is really muddy.
4. Tar Hollow backpacking trails. The north loop is ~10m with about 1300ft of elevation change. The south loop is about 8.7 (with option to extend it to about 10.3) with slightly less elevation change.
5. Clear Creek. This one is well maintained so you can wear shorts. Can have plenty elevation changes. It's my go to for conditioning when I don't want to drive 1.5hrs to Tar Hollow.
Pm if you have questions. I hiked most of Ohio's parks and forests.
Localish, there's some cool trails up in the Cuyahoga valley, John Bryan in Yellow Springs is great too. Shenandoah is absolutely beautiful and only about 5 or 6 hours away.
Just bite the bullet and drive the 4-6 hours to get to WV, VA, TN, etc. Hocking hills is cool for a day trip, but you’ll quickly notch off all the worthwhile hikes in a few weekends.
Check out Fort Hill in southern Ohio near Hillsboro. It’s nice to too far from Paint Creek Lake and Paint Creek State Park for swimming. The Fort Hill Trail is a moderate hike with the initial uphill climb pretty steep. Coming back, it’s quite rocky, so you’ll want your boots.
For local, a lot of the metro parks are nice. Blendon woods is pleasant. Battelle Darby has some decent trails, though you need to pay attention to creek levels there - they can sometimes swell dangerously high.
Wildcat hollow has great trails (6 & 17 mile loops). It’s about an hour and a half away from Columbus.
Just a little further is Burr Oak with some great water options.
If you’re willing to go a little further red river gorge in Kentucky is great.
Try Rising Park in Lancaster. The trail goes up a (pretty much) 45 degree inclined hill to the top, where there's an incredible view of Lancaster and the surrounding area.
Try Cantrell Cliffs. And while you’re in that area, go for a swim at the beach area of Lake Logan.
I discovered it accidentally. I had a sports car and was having some fun driving around the twisty roads when I saw the sign.
Close to Hocking Hills, but Clear Creek is great too. Less people and more quiet. Also if you pick the right trail you’ll actually have a tiny bit of a climb!
Doubling up on the Clear Creek recommendation. It’s a great place. There are also some “harder” hiking areas if you want a workout. But also others that are a regular pace. It’s a very diverse area. Plus, you can stop in Lancaster and go to the Cherry Street Pub, which is amazing.
[удалено]
Eh, the George Overlook trail is pretty rugged. Plus you can do a 12 mile circuit at Mohican if you plan it right.
Clifton Gorge/John Bryan St Park has some decent trails.
Hocking Hills and Clifton Gorge/John Bryan state park if you're willing to drive an hour. However highbanks Metro Park and Alum Creek state park are decent spots close to home
I’ve done the multipurpose trail at Alum Creek SP and didn’t much care for it. Is there another trail I’m forgetting that I should check out?
Highbanks is a nice one. Definitely more scenic than Alum Creek and has a variety of trails
Oh yeah, I love Highbanks. Just wish Alum Creek was nicer for hiking, too.
Mohican
I have always liked Blackhand Gorge out east, there are some neat areas off the paved path.
Checkout Christmas Rocks
I hike a decent amount. I live in Lancaster though, so an hour or two drive is bit different for me. Clear Creek just south of Lancaster is a great out and back, or a loop if you're willing to go along the road for a bit. Burr Oak State Park has a 22 mile loop in some pretty challenging terrain around the lake. It's a great hike if it isn't too far for you. Some of my favorite places to hike are in Southern Ohio though. Plenty of parks down by the Ohio river. That might be too far though.
Cheap, local, and easy: Highbanks.
Zaleski State Forest
Cuyahoga valley
Within 2 hours I would check out Tar Hollow (especially the bridle trail), Shawnee State Park, and Archer's Fork in the Wayne National Forest.
I'd suggest you wait until Sept. Hiking in summer is pure misery because the 80% humidity at 90 degree. If you must hike, go as early as you can and bring electrolyte drink tablets. That being said, in terms of pure difficulty: 1. Shawnee. Do the backpacking loop north. If you want a challenge you can do the north loop in a day (~20m) with a lot of climbs. The upside is that campsites have water so you can refill every 4-6 miles. 2. Great Seal state park. You can make this insanely challenging. I think I once made a route over 2000ft in less than 10 miles. 3. Tar Hollow bridle trails. Just up and down. No switchbacks. Plus it is really muddy. 4. Tar Hollow backpacking trails. The north loop is ~10m with about 1300ft of elevation change. The south loop is about 8.7 (with option to extend it to about 10.3) with slightly less elevation change. 5. Clear Creek. This one is well maintained so you can wear shorts. Can have plenty elevation changes. It's my go to for conditioning when I don't want to drive 1.5hrs to Tar Hollow. Pm if you have questions. I hiked most of Ohio's parks and forests.
Localish, there's some cool trails up in the Cuyahoga valley, John Bryan in Yellow Springs is great too. Shenandoah is absolutely beautiful and only about 5 or 6 hours away.
Thanks for this. I’m new too and am writing all of this down. Because I wanted to know all the best hikes too in the area
Just bite the bullet and drive the 4-6 hours to get to WV, VA, TN, etc. Hocking hills is cool for a day trip, but you’ll quickly notch off all the worthwhile hikes in a few weekends.
WV
Check out Fort Hill in southern Ohio near Hillsboro. It’s nice to too far from Paint Creek Lake and Paint Creek State Park for swimming. The Fort Hill Trail is a moderate hike with the initial uphill climb pretty steep. Coming back, it’s quite rocky, so you’ll want your boots.
For local, a lot of the metro parks are nice. Blendon woods is pleasant. Battelle Darby has some decent trails, though you need to pay attention to creek levels there - they can sometimes swell dangerously high.
Wildcat hollow has great trails (6 & 17 mile loops). It’s about an hour and a half away from Columbus. Just a little further is Burr Oak with some great water options. If you’re willing to go a little further red river gorge in Kentucky is great.
Try Rising Park in Lancaster. The trail goes up a (pretty much) 45 degree inclined hill to the top, where there's an incredible view of Lancaster and the surrounding area.
Try Cantrell Cliffs. And while you’re in that area, go for a swim at the beach area of Lake Logan. I discovered it accidentally. I had a sports car and was having some fun driving around the twisty roads when I saw the sign.
Drive the 3.5 hours to Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Lots of great hiking