Ohio

Looking for the best hiking in Ohio? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Ohio. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Ohio

  • Walton Hills, Ohio

    Bridal Veil Falls and Tinkers Creek Loop

    4.7
    3.54 mi / 489 ft gain
    This popular waterfall and gorge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park are linked by an easy, well-maintained trail. Both attractions are deserving sights – Bridal Veil Falls measures 15 ft tall, with multiple shale layers creating the veiled effect, while Tinkers Creek Gorge, at 896 ft deep, has ...
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  • Yellow Springs, Ohio

    Clifton Gorge

    4.0
    2.5 mi / 118 ft gain
    The entirety of this hike is within the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, a protected park with strict restrictions on off-trail travel with pets prohibited. Starting at the parking lot off of Jackson St, follow the trail northwest along the narrows of Clifton Gorge. Here, the river has carve...
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  • Northfield, Ohio

    Hike up Brandywine Creek to Brandywine Falls

    4.3
    2 mi
    You first park in the Brandywine Falls picnic area shown there on the map. There are three ways you go can go right off the start. You want to take the trail to the left named the "Stanford Trail." The trail consists of medium to large stones that are white in color. If you see this you are o...
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  • Laurelville, Ohio

    Explore the Rock House

    4.8
    0.5 mi / 150 ft gain
    From the Rock House parking lot, follow the trail for 0.1 mile down the hill until you come to a fork in the trail, at which point follow the yellow marked Lower Rim Trail that continues downhill through a set of carved sandstone steps and then turns to parallel the cliffs. From there, it's less ...
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  • Logan, Ohio

    Conkle's Hollow Gorge and Rim Trail Loop

    4.7
    2.92 mi / 718.5 ft gain
    Starting from the parking lot, cross the small foot bridge before coming to where the trail splits. You will have 3 options (straight, left or right). My personal opinion on route will be described below. Take the paved path that explores the valley floor first. It is an easy 1/2 mile out and...
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  • West Union, Ohio

    Buzzard Roost Trail

    4.31 mi / 581 ft gain
    Owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy, Ohio's Edge of Appalachia Preserve is home to over 19,000 acres of protected wilderness and rugged Appalachian terrain. And the greatest prize of the preserve is none other than the Buzzards Roost.Perched atop a slab of resistant limestone roughly 500...
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  • Rockbridge, Ohio

    Cantwell Cliffs Loop

    3.3
    0.91 mi / 292 ft gain
    Cantwell Cliffs is one of the more northern units of the overall Hocking Hills State Park Region. Located off of OH SR 374, a short 0.1 spur trail takes you from the parking lot to the rim of the gorge and the area's namesake cliffs. From there, you have two choices: Turn left and descend through...
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  • Youngstown, Ohio

    Hike the Gorge Trail Loop

    5.0
    2 mi
    This is a lovely 2 mile hike along Mill Creek. We parked by Lake Newport and started off on the West Gorge Trail toward the Mill. The trail itself was decent, with some rough spots, but still hike able. Make sure you go down to the Creek before you head across the covered bridge to the East Gorge...
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  • Heath, Ohio

    Quarry Rim-Chestnut Trail

    5.0
    6 mi / 400 ft gain
    Starting at the eastern trailhead off of Gratiot Rd, follow the paved Blackhand Trail for 0.2 mile till you arrive at the sign of the Quarry Rim Trail, a 0.9 mile trail that roughly parallels the bike trail, but takes you along the rim of the old sandstone quarry that was in operation in the late...
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  • Waynesville, Ohio

    Fossil Hunt at Caesar Creek

    4.7
    The location of the fossil hunt is within the emergency spillway of the Caesar Creek Dam. Once there, simply look at the ground and at any rocks in the vicinity. It won't take long to find a variety of Ordovician fossils; Trilobites (Ohio's State Fossil), Horn Coral, Gastropods, Brachiopods, and ...
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  • Swanton, Ohio

    Hike the Scout Trail at Oak Openings Preserve

    4.5
    The Scout Trail at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark in Swanton, Ohio is an easy hike that covers a lot of beautiful ground! I love this hike and do it several times each season (REALLY recommend the fall for the gorgeous colors!). I am constantly surprised by how few people take advantage of this ...
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  • Galloway, Ohio

    Hike the Darby Creek Greenway

    9.6 mi / 50 ft gain
    Starting your hike from the Cedar Ridge Picnic Area, head north along the Darby Creek Greenway, a well-maintained gravel path that is a multi-use trail alongside cyclists and trail runners. The trail switches between a number of different settings during the 4.7 mile one-way trek, including fores...
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  • South Bloomingville, Ohio

    Ash Cave

    5.0
    0.51 mi / 69 ft gain
    Getting to Ash Cave is extremely easy with a short half-mile loop hike from the parking area; there's also a rim trail above the cave that adds 90 feet of elevation and some extra distance. The cave is great for relaxing in the shade during a hot day, enjoying a spring picnic, or grabbing some im...
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  • Perrysville, Ohio

    Hike the Pleasant Hill Lyons Falls Loop

    5.0
    2.75 mi
    To get to this trail you can go to the Dam that is a part of Pleasant Hill Lake and there is a parking area across the street. After you start walking you reach signs that will ask where you want to go, either to the covered bridge or to the Lyons Falls.By going towards the covered bridge first y...
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  • Yellow Springs, Ohio

    Hike the North Rim of the Little Miami River

    4.5
    2.7 mi / 250 ft gain
    Starting at the lower parking lot, follow the signs that direct you to the trails near the shelterhouse. Within 0.2 of a mile the trail forks; follow the left fork heading east along the Little Miami River. This is the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati Stagecoach Trail, which for 1.3 miles winds its way alon...
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  • Lewis Center, Ohio

    Hike the Overlook-Dripping Rock Loop

    5.0
    4.8 mi / 100 ft gain
    Starting at the nature center near the entrance of the park, the 2.5 mile long Dripping Rock Trail heads off in two directions, to the south and to the west. Either way will take you back to the nature center at the end of the day. Going west takes you past an observation deck and then along a de...
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