12 Scenic Trails To Explore In Ohio, One For Each Month Of The Year
Hiking in Ohio is one of our favorite pastimes and fortunately, it’s possible to do all year round. Whether your idea of a perfect hike involves brilliant fall foliage, a rushing waterfall, or perhaps a snow-covered wooded trail, you’ll find your ideal trail on the list. Without further ado, we present to you 12 scenic trails in Ohio, one for each month of the year. Ready to get started? Lace-up those hiking boots and let’s go!
Located within the Hills and Dales Metropark, the Adirondack Trail is a 2.1-mile trek that's especially peaceful in the wintertime. With lots of wildlife, a gentle terrain, and beautiful views, it makes for a great family-friendly adventure.
Five Rivers MetroParks, 409 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH 45402, USA
For a nice moderate hike that will renew your appreciation for the great outdoors, the John L. Rich Trail makes for an excellent choice. Take this 5.2-mile hike in February and you can look forward to an uncrowded hiking experience filled with peaceful forest terrain.
John Bryan State Park, 3790 OH-370, Yellow Springs, OH 45387, USA
Tucked away in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Plateau Loop Trail is one of the most popular in the region. And it's no mystery why! This lovely 4.4-mile loop is a great option for most skill levels, with relatively flat terrain and beautiful scenery at every turn.
Plateau Trail, Peninsula, OH 44264, USA
Our April hike is another beautiful destination within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Brandywine Falls Loop Trail makes for an excellent springtime hike because the abundance of rain will make the falls all the more dramatic. Keep in mind that this is one of the most popular destinations within the park, so try to arrive early if possible.
Brandywine Falls, Sagamore Hills Township, OH 44067, USA
Next up on our list of scenic trails in Ohio is the Bender Mountain Loop Trail. This hike measures 2.3 miles and is rated as moderate. Along the way, you can look forward to positively breathtaking views, such as the one photographed above.
Bender Mountain Trail, 6320-6468 Bender Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45233, USA
Our pick for June is a short-and-sweet trail that packs in tons of scenery. Measuring just 1.2 miles, Conkle's Hollow Gorge Trail is a great option for a summer outing with the kiddos. It's beautiful all year round, but there's something positively magical about visiting during the summertime.
Conkles Hollow, Benton Township, OH 43149, USA
July in Ohio can be quite warm, and fortunately, Rock House Trail offers plenty of shade. Plus, it's less than a mile in length, meaning you'll have time to really appreciate the unique scenery and rock formations along the way.
Rock House Trail, 16360 OH-374, Laurelville, OH 43135, USA
Caesar Creek State Park is one of the most popular parks in Ohio and for good reason. This breathtaking natural area offers all kinds of recreational opportunities, and one of our favorites is the Perimeter Loop Trail. You don't necessarily need to hike the whole thing (it's 12.4 miles in length), to get an appreciation for its beauty.
Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 OH-73, Waynesville, OH 45068, USA
For an all-day adventure that packs in tons of scenery, you can't go wrong with the Gorge Overloop Loop via the Buckeye Trail. Along the way, you'll encounter iconic attractions such as Cedar Falls, Rose Lake, and Old Man's Cave. The loop is 6 miles in length and considered moderately difficult.
Buckeye Trail, Benton Township, OH 43138, USA
Weaving through beautiful forest scenery, the Deer Lick Cave Trail is a 4.2-mile hike. Along the way, hikers will enjoy beautiful features such as bridges, creeks, and a waterfall. Plus, if you visit during October, you'll have the added benefit of being surrounded by vibrant fall foliage.
Deer Lick Cave Loop Trail, Brecksville, OH 44141, USA
Head to Christmas Rocks Nature Preserve for a truly unique hiking experience. Jacobs Ladder and Christmas Rocks Trail measures 4.5 miles with a moderate incline of about 500 feet. The views from Jacobs Ladder are astounding, especially with the last bits of fall color fading from the leaves.
Jacobs Ladder Road Southwest & Christmas Rock Road Southwest, Jacobs Ladder Rd SW & Christmas Rock Rd SW, Hocking Township, OH 43130, USA
Last, but certainly not least, Ledges Trail makes for an excellent way to finish a year's worth of scenic Ohio trails. This 2.3-mile loop is typically crowded during the warmer months but promises a bit more solitude in the winter. With beautiful terrain and gorgeous views, it's a great place to reflect on the past year.
Ledges Trail, Twinsburg, OH 44087, USA
Have you hiked any of these scenic trails in Ohio? Did any of your favorite seasonal trails miss the list? If so, be sure to share them with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you!
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Scenic Trails in Ohio
December 19, 2022
What are some scenic trails in Ohio for beginners?
Here in the Buckeye State, you don’t have to be an advanced outdoorsman or woman to enjoy a wonderful hike. Some of the best hikes in Ohio are under three miles, including the following beginner-friendly adventures:
- Ash Cave Trails (Hocking Hills State Park). The Ash Cave Trails within Hocking Hills State Park feature a 0.25-mile-long Gorge Trail that is wheelchair accessible, as well as a 0.5-mile-long Rim Trail.
- The Rock House Trail (Hocking Hills State Park). Also located in Hocking Hills State Park, the 0.5-mile Rock House Trail is a fairly strenuous hike that takes you to an incredible cave with a 25-foot-tall ceiling and window-like openings.
- The Valley Trail (Ault Park). There’s something magical about stumbling upon a railroad from years past in the middle of a forest, and that’s exactly what you can experience along one beautiful hiking trail in Ohio. The Valley Trail at Ault Park in Cincinnati features an abandoned railroad bridge from the late 1800s. The trail is a little more than half a mile, so getting there doesn’t take long at all.
- Stone House Loop Trail (Salt Fork State Park). This 1.8-mile-long moderate trail takes you to the Kennedy Stone House, which is a hidden gem listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Indian Mound Reserve Trails (Cedarville). The 166-acre Indian Mound Reserve in Cedarville features several hiking trails that are less than a mile, managed by the Greene County Park District. We recommend taking the 0.6-mile Upper Rim Trail to Cedar Cliff Falls.
- Hemlock Loop Trail (Bedford Reservation). The Hemlock Loop Trail at Bedford Reservation within Cleveland Metroparks is a short, easy hike that’s particularly beautiful. The 0.8-mile trail features a flat, woodland area along the Tinker’s Creek floodplain.
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