Top 11 Dog Friendly Trails in Columbus, OH

Are you looking for a new trail to walk? Are you hoping to take your dog with you? Luckily, Columbus, OH, has plenty of dog friendly trails and parks. They have so many we cannot possibly discuss them all, so here are some fan favorites!

dog friendly trails columbus, oh

Top 11 Trails to Enjoy with Your Dog

Whether you are looking for a paved walkway or a hiking trail, these trails have you covered. There are shorter walks and longer walks and everything in-between.

Alum Creek State Park

This large state park has over 45 miles of trails to explore and hike with your four legged best friend. You could hike at this park every weekend and never run out of new things to see.

They have an off-leash dog park as well. One of the key features of the dog park is a large, fenced in dog swimming area. Camping and cabins are also available if you want to spend more than the day.

Alum Creek State Park is about 30 minutes north of Columbus.

Antrim Park

Antrim Park is located in the Northern part of Columbus, and has 120 acres to explore. Dogs must remain on-leash at all times at this park. The park is open from 7 am to 11 pm, and is conveniently close to Olentangy Greenway – another spot on this list.

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park

This park is located in the Southwestern part of Columbus. Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park has over 7,000 acres of forest and over 1,500 acres of wetlands.

This park has many trails ranging from only half of a mile to nearly 13 miles. Listed below are the four designated trails for dogs and their owners. Dogs are required to be on leash and leashes must be under 6ft long.

Dog Friendly Trails

All these trails are easy hikes with Darby Creek being the longest, at 5 miles, and Osprey Lake Trail the shortest, at half of a mile.

Dogs are allowed to go swimming in Osprey Lake. In the summer months, the park is open from 6:30 am to 10 pm. In the winter months the park is open from 6:30 am to 8 pm.

Bicentennial Park

Bicentennial Park is located in central Columbus. The park is open from 7 am to 11 pm. Dogs are required to be on leads in the park. The park itself has a few short trails, and offers access to the Lower Scioto Greenway.

Blendon Woods Metro Park

Blendon Woods Metro Park is located in the Northeastern part of Columbus. The park is open from 6:30 am to 10 pm in the summer and 6:30 am to 8 pm in the winter.

The park has a few short trails, most being under a mile. Dogs must be on a leash at all times in this park.

Char-Mar Ridge Park & Preserve

Char-Mar Ridge Park and Preserve is northeast of Columbus near the Hoover Reservoir. The park is open 8 am to 9 pm in the summer and 8 am to 7 pm in the winter.

The main trail, Glacier Ridge Trail,  which is a 1.7-mile long loop, which means you can keep walking it until you are ready to leave. Dogs are required to be on leads.

Highbanks Metro Park

Highbanks Metro Park is located north of Columbus. The park is one of the larger Metro Parks. The park is open from 6:30 am to 10 pm in the summer and 6:30 am to 8 pm in the winter.

The park has trails as short as a quarter of a mile, with the longest trail in the park being 3.5 miles. Trails are easy to moderate level. All dogs must be on leashes when they are at the park.

Olentangy Greenway

The Olentangy Greenway trail starts in Columbus and heads north along the Olentangy River.

The trailheads for the Olentangy Greenway are:

  • Worthington Hills Park
  • Olentangy River Parklands
  • Antrim Park
  • Whetstone Park
  • Northmoor Park
  • Clinton-Como Park
  • Tuttle Park
  • Confluence Parkland

Quarry Trails Metro Park

Quarry Trails Metro Park is on the westside of Columbus. The park is open from 6:30 am until sundown. All the trails in this park are short and easy walks. All dogs must be on leads in the park.

Scioto Greenway

The Scioto Greenway goes north and south through Columbus following the path of the Scioto River. The total length of the trail is 12.2 miles.

The trailheads for the Scioto Greenway are:

  • North Bank Park
  • Battelle Park
  • Bicentennial Park
  • Scioto Audubon Metro Park
  • Greenlawn Avenue Dam
  • Berliner Park

Scioto Audubon Metro Park

Scioto Audubon Metro Park is in central Columbus. The park has a number of small lakes and trails. In the summer the park is open from 6:30 am to 10 pm. In the winter the park is open from 6:30 am to 8 pm.

Dogs are allowed on trails and in public areas so long as they are on leashes. There is an off-leash dog park that is 2.5 acres, and even has an agility course.

Ready to Hit the Trails? Give Our Animal Hospital in Columbus, OH, a Visit First

Whether you have 30 minutes, an hour, or all day, this list should get you started. With so many trails to pick from, you and your dog can enjoy an exciting new experience every weekend.

Before you visit the dog friendly trails with our best friend, make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccinations and parasite prevention. To schedule your dog’s next exam, give our Columbus, OH, animal hospital a call at (614) 451-1204.

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About North Kenny Veterinary Hospital

North Kenny Veterinary Hospital has been serving Columbus, OH pet families with exceptional veterinary medicine since the 1950s. We put a strong emphasis on preventive medicine as well as low-stress handling to help pets have a more pleasant veterinary experience. We use Fear Free techniques for every cat and dog to help reduce their anxiety and calm their nerves.

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