12 Trails In Ohio You Must Take If You Love The Outdoors

There’s something so entrancing about the Ohio countryside. The great outdoors here in The Buckeye State can range from rolling hills and winding roads to thick, verdant forests. We have shoreline along lakes and rivers, and we have meadows that stretch into the horizon. What all these landscapes have in common is that they hide some of the very best hiking trails in Ohio. Lace up your hiking boots and pack some trail mix and water, because you are going to want to spend all day exploring these pretty places in Ohio.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/

1. Old Man's Cave Loop (Hocking Hills State Park) April Dray/Only In Your State Sandstone gorges, breathtaking waterfalls, eerie caves and unique rock formations await you at what's arguably Ohio's favorite trail, which is approximately 5.1 miles altogether. 2. E-Trail (Mt. Airy Forest) Cody/Flickr Close to downtown Cincinnati is the 8.4 mille out-and-back E-Trail of wooded hills and valleys in Mt. Airy Forest. 3. Ledges and Pine Grove Loops (Cuyahoga Valley National Park) Yi-Lang (Lucas) Liu/Flickr This 4.1 mile figure-eight trail features breathtaking views along the way that you simply have to see to believe. 4. Hemlock Gorge to Lyons Falls (Mohican State Park) Tom Hart/Flickr Go chasing waterfalls along this 9 mile out-and-back trail, which features a 300-foot deep sandstone gorge and two beautiful waterfalls. You'll find that this enchanting Ashland County park is full of surprises like these... Don't pass up a chance to kayak here in the fall when foliage is bright and beautiful! 5. North and South Zaleski Loop (Zaleski State Forest) Gabe D./Flickr For the advanced hiker who can backpack through the woods overnight, Zaleski State Forest trails are a must-do. Along the way, the trails feature vacant farms, abandoned mines, beautiful views, Indian ceremonial grounds and an old mining town. The North Loop is approximately 18.4 miles, and the South Loop is approximately 11.7 miles. Don't miss your chance to explore Ohio's second-largest state forest! 6. Clifton Gorge Trail (John Bryan State Park) See1,Do1,Teach1/Flickr This 5.2 mile day hike features the calm waters of the Little Miami River and a deep limestone chasm. The entirety of this 752 acre state park is full of beauty like this! 7. Redwing Trail Loop (Rowe Woods) Angelskiss31/Flickr Within the Cincinnati Nature Center, you can find this easy to hike trail in Rowe Woods, which features an abundance of wildlife and beautiful plants along the way. 8. Overlook Trail (Highbanks Metro Park) Jared Cherup/Flickr This 2.3 mile trail takes you to an observation deck 100 feet above Olentangy River. 9. Ridge-Creekside Loop (Clear Creek Metro Park) jin jian liang/Flickr Enjoy 5 miles of rugged cliffs, peaceful creeks and beautiful wildlife along this trail at Clear Creek Metro Park. If this park leaves you enchanted, consider taking some time to explore the other pretty places in the Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks System. 10. Scioto Trail State Forest Loop (Scioto Trail State Forest) Don O'Brien/Flickr Trace an old Shawnee trail along this 11.2 mile loop of wooded hollows, quiet foothills and peaceful streams. There's a lot of history hidden here, as this space once served as an artillery range for Camp Sherman during World War I. 11. Cascade Falls Trail (Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park) rarabecca/Flickr This short .5 mile trail leads to an impressive waterfall, complete with a short boardwalk and observation deck below the falls. If you enjoy this hike, set aside some time to explore the rest of this 167 acre landscape. 12. Brandywine Falls and Stanford Trail (Cuyahoga Valley National Park) Jasperdo/Flickr Start this 4.5 mile hike at Stanford House toward the breathtaking falls (from either direction) and loop back around the other way to the Stanford House. The staircase hike to Brandywine is gorgeous, and its fern-lined stone walls will make you feel like you're in a fairytale.

Which treks do you consider to be the very best hiking trails in Ohio? Which ones do you plan to explore soon? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Craving more outdoor adventure? Check out these short and sweet hikes for a sunny day.