Family-Friendly Bike Trails Around Columbus

Katie G.:  The Camp Chase Trail is a multi-use trail that runs 16.2 miles from London to Columbus. As part of the Ohio to Erie Trail, this trail passes through Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park and Wilson Road Park, both with restrooms, water fountains, and picnic areas perfect for snacking.

If you've ever driven along state route 315 on a nice day, chances are you've seen bikers on the Olentangy Trail. This scenic, 13-mile paved trail starts in Worthington Hills and ends in downtown Columbus passing through several neighborhoods along the Olentangy River. There are trail heads at many major city parks offering families a place to rest, grab some water or let the kids play at a playground. The trail also passes through Ohio State University if you want to get out and take a tour of the campus.

Katie G.:  The Big Walnut Trail runs from Hoover Reservoir to Inniswoods Metro Gardens following the Big Walnut Creek. The 6-mile scenic paved multi-purpose trail is perfect for families, as it passes through cities and parks.

Katie G.:  As the name suggests, the Heritage Rail-Trail travels along an old abandoned railroad track starting in Old Hilliard and ending near Plain City. The 7-mile paved trail passes through Homestead Park, which is a great place to stop, have a snack and let the kids play on the awesome playground.

Katie G.:  The City of Westerville has been named a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. The city has more than 29 miles of multi-use trails traveling through parks, woods, neighborhoods, over rivers and along streets. The paths are color-coded and marked every half-mile with information kiosks along the way alerting cyclists of where they are, as well as restroom and water fountain locations if you need to take a break. The bike paths in Westerville are well-traveled on nice days so be prepared for crowds.

Katie G.:  Located in Southeast Columbus, the Blacklick Creek Greenway Trail is a 12-mile paved trail running along the Blacklick Creek. The trail passes through scenic nature preserves, wetlands and forests as well as three Columbus Metro Parks - Pickerington Ponds, Blacklick Woods and Three Creeks. There are plenty of opportunities to take a break, grab a drink and relax along the way.

Katie G.:  The City of Dublin has more than 100 miles of bike paths connecting many parks, schools, restaurants and stores in town. You will often find kids riding to school during the week or families riding around town on the weekends. The city caters to bicyclists with more than 50 bike racks around town and Bike Repair Stations with basic tools to fix your bike if needed. So on your next family bike outing, head to Dublin and visit one of the 60 parks, stop by one of the many art sculptures or take a ride through Historic Dublin for an ice cream break at Jeni's!

Katie G.:  Gnomewood is a fun mountain bike skills park for beginners and kids. The quarter-mile loop is filled with many obstacles along the way. There are wood planks and logs to cross, mini dirt hills to go over and ramps with sharp turns. Kids will have fun navigating along the loop and checking out the various gnomes hidden along the route. Be sure to bring helmets to wear, as there may be some falls while mastering the loop.

Katie G.:  The Darby Creek Trail runs between two Columbus Metro Parks - Prairie Oaks (in West Jefferson) and Battelle Darby Creek (in Galloway). The 8-mile trail parallels along the Big Darby Creek River connecting to Darby Bend Lake. The gravel trail may be better suited for the more experienced bike rider or older kids.

Katie G.:  Located in Dublin, Glacier Ridge Metro Park offers two easy bike trails perfect for kids of all ages. The Marsh Hawk Trail (3 miles) begins in the parking lot and passes through open fields, a disc golf course and ends in the woods where is connects to the The Ironweed Trail (2.8 miles). This trail leads to the Honda Wetland Center where families can learn about the park's habitat or climb the observation tower in hopes of spotting wildlife.

Katie G.:  Traveling along the downtown riverfront of the Scioto River, the Scioto Trail, is a 9-mile paved path that winds through several sights of downtown Columbus. Grab a quick stop at the Scioto Audubon Park to relax, grab a drink, use the restroom or challenge each other to a race on the obstacle course. This trail is divided into four sections with several trail heads along the way and connects to the Olentangy Bike Trail.

Katie G.:  There is a lot to see on the Alum Creek Trail, which connects bikers from Westerville to Three Creeks Park. Traveling through housing developments, businesses, a shopping mall, restaurants and a golf course, the paved trail travels through the cities of Westerville, Columbus and Bexley. There are several trail heads and signage located throughout the trail letting you know where you are and how far you've traveled. The trail is divided into three sections ( North, Central and South) so families with smaller children can break up the ride and choose to do one section at a time.