Columbus, OH Cross Country Skiing Trails and Maps

763 Reviews

Looking for the best Cross Country Skiing trails around Columbus?

Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Columbus, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
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Type
24 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Blackhand Gorge Trail

4.3 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Blacklick Creek Greenway Trail

17.8 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Dirt

Buckeye Scenic Trail

5.5 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Camp Chase Trail

15.3 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Great American Rail-Trail

3743.9 mi
State: DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Heritage Rail-Trail

7 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Kokosing Gap Trail

13.4 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Little Miami Scenic Trail

77.7 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Concrete

Ohio to Erie Trail

293 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Olentangy Trail

21.7 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Concrete

Prairie Grass Trail

29.2 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Roberts Pass Trail

6.5 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

T. J. Evans Trail

14.2 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Xenia-Jamestown Connector

18.5 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Clinton-Fayette Friendship Trail

9.1 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Fairfield Heritage Trail

9.5 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Foor Leisure Path

1.3 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Hoover Scenic Trail

0.6 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Ohio Canal Greenway

2.7 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Concrete

Paint Creek Recreation Trail

34.8 mi
State: OH
Asphalt
Accordion

Simon Kenton Trail

35.5 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

T. J. Evans Panhandle Trail

9.8 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Canal Winchester Trail System

4.8 mi
State: OH
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Closure Notice: The Blackhand Gorge Trail is experiencing ongoing closures due to construction. Please check with Ohio DNR for more current information.   The Blackhand Gorge Trail is the only bike...
OH 4.3 mi Asphalt
Overview The Blacklick Creek Greenway Trail runs interrupted for nearly 18 miles between Reynoldsburg and Groveport on the southeastern edge of Columbus. About the Route The trail parallels...
OH 17.8 mi Asphalt, Dirt
The Buckeye Scenic Trail, a recent addition to the expanding Licking County trail system, stretches roughly 6 miles from the northern reaches of Heath to Lakewood High School on US 40. In the north,...
OH 5.5 mi Asphalt
Overview The Camp Chase Trail is a notable paved 15-mile greenway that takes trail users through the mostly rural outskirts of Columbus and out towards London, Ohio.  A majority of the route is...
OH 15.3 mi Asphalt
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY 3743.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview The Heritage Rail-Trail runs 7 miles between the outskirts of Plain City and the City of Hilliard. Following a former railroad corridor, the trail connects several parks and runs through...
OH 7 mi Asphalt
Overview The Kokosing Gap Trail delights visitors with its rich railroad history, which is on display throughout its 13.4- mile paved route. Once the corridor of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the...
OH 13.4 mi Asphalt
Overview The Little Miami Scenic Trail is a jewel in the crown of Ohio rail-trails, spanning nearly 78 miles between the outskirts of Cincinnati and Springfield over historical bridges and through...
OH 77.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Closure Notice: There are several closures and detours in place for the Ohio to Erie Trail. See here for more information. Overview The Ohio to Erie Trail is a colossal project, not just for the...
OH 293 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview For visitors and locals alike, the Olentangy Trail is the ideal way to explore Columbus, the dynamic capital of Ohio, as well as the surrounding communities. Named after the eponymous...
OH 21.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The 29-mile Prairie Grass Trail is one of four rail-trails that radiate from Xenia Station, the hub of a vast, paved trail network in southwestern Ohio. The site is a former Baltimore & Ohio (B&O)...
OH 29.2 mi Asphalt
The Roberts Pass Trail runs from downtown London, Ohio, to rural Fairfield Township. The trail passes through farmland for 6.5 miles, although dense tree cover shades the route at all...
OH 6.5 mi Asphalt
Overview Located in central Ohio, the 14-mile T. J. Evans Trail is a popular route, attracting both locals and visitors. With its tree-covered canopy that provides respite from the sun on hot...
OH 14.2 mi Asphalt
The Xenia–Jamestown Connector links these two eponymous communities and continues east beyond Jamestown to the village of Octa in Fayette County.  It’s part of Ohio’s Miami River Valley trail...
OH 18.5 mi Asphalt
Opened in 2017, the Clinton-Fayette Friendship Trail, spanning 9.1 miles, is the longest rail trail in central Ohio's Clinton County. Following a former railroad corridor, the rail-trail spans the...
OH 9.1 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Fairfield Heritage Trail winds through and connects the community of Lancaster. It links a college, high school, junior high school and elementary school, as well as numerous parks and shopping...
OH 9.5 mi Asphalt
The Foor Leisure Path is a short, paved trail that links the northern edge of Groveport’s quaint residential core with the Blacklick Creek Greenway Trail. The connection allows Groveport residents to...
OH 1.3 mi Asphalt
The Hoover Scenic Trail continues north from the paved Genoa Trail to Weise Road just south of Galena. The trail follows the northwestern shoreline of the sprawling Hoover Reservoir within a scenic...
OH 0.6 mi Asphalt
The Ohio Canal Greenway extends south from Hebron on an old Penn Central Railroad right-of-way. Farm fields border the trail on the west, while remnants of the historic Ohio and Erie Canal are to the...
OH 2.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Paint Creek Recreation Trail is the flagship pathway of a planned trail network in the Ohio counties of Fayette, Ross and Highland. Nearly 35 miles of paved trail are currently open linking the...
OH 34.8 mi Asphalt
Accordion
Seamlessly spanning the 35.5-mile distance between the Ohio communities of Bellefontaine and Springfield, the Simon Kenton Trail presents visitors with ample opportunities for recreation and wildlife...
OH 35.5 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Cruising along on the nearly 10-mile T. J. Evans Panhandle Trail (known locally as the Panhandle Trail), you might be surprised to encounter a massive basket seemingly plunked down by a giant. In...
OH 9.8 mi Asphalt
This nearly 5-mile trail system weaves throughout historic Canal Winchester, Ohio, a southern suburb of Columbus. The extensive network links residents with parks, businesses and the city’s high...
OH 4.8 mi Asphalt
Columbus’ Downtown Connector Trail provides a vital link between neighborhoods and schools on the city’s east side and the downtown area. On its east end, the paved pathway begins adjacent to I-670...
OH 5 mi Asphalt

Recent Trail Reviews

Scioto Trail

tschmitt

June, 2025 by terry43017

Fun variety of beautiful views. Trail was clean but could have had better markers in a few locations. Had to consult map several times.

Scioto Trail

Watch out for mud over the trail at the river just south of the Greenlawn Avenue bridge near Lou Berliner Park.

June, 2025 by acgreanias

Watch out for mud over the trail at the river just south of the Greenlawn Avenue bridge near Lou Berliner Park.

Foor Leisure Path

My husband and I walked this beginning to end and back in 48 mins. Not bad for my husband with a bad knee and hip plus we are both bariatric patients

June, 2025 by sammaslyk0207

My husband and I walked this beginning to end and back in 48 mins. Not bad for my husband with a bad knee and hip plus we are both bariatric patients

Accordion

Ohio Canal Greenway

Wow! Asphalt!

June, 2025 by sjf0809

Wow! After reading previous reviews of cinder, grass and ping pong size gravel, I wondered what I was getting into. I don't like gravel and bumpy rides. Others can ride unpaved trails if they desire, but I prefer smooth trails. What a pleasant and welcome surprise to see that the trail has a surface of asphalt. I didn't see any cracks or problems, so it must be fairly new. It is an easy straight ride out and back. It goes along the canal and farmlands, and is mostly covered with a canopy of trees. The covered bridge was another little surprise.

Blackhand Gorge Trail

Closed

June, 2025 by sjf0809

TraiI is CLOSED. I wanted to go on the trail on June 12, 2025 but the trail and road in Toboso were closed for major construction. I don't know for how long. Best to verify that is it open before making the effort to go into the park. It loos amazing, so I will return someday.

Little Miami Scenic Trail

Great Trail…Except

May, 2025 by stevegebhart99

This trail is fantastic and an easy day ride. I would not venture any farther north than the Hartman Rock Garden, which I would recommend seeing. That’s because the trail is dangerous in Springfield. It’s scary, goes through a rough part of town, with loose dogs, shady characters and “call 911” painted along the trail for good reason. Heading south from the rock garden is a joy with many sights along the way. This is one of my favorite rides in Ohio so far.

Alum Creek Trail

excellent trail

May, 2025 by blarnold

Went from Three Creeks Metropark to Westerville for an overnight. Trail was fun as it had a bit of everything!!

Hellbranch Trail

2025 Review

May, 2025 by coachmcclory

The southern part of the trail that starts at the Spindler Road Parking Complex or Dog Park has plenty of parking. From Spindler North to Franks Park the trail is gravel, and not great for road bikes. A lot of locals run, walk, or ride causal bikes on this part of the trail. If there is a heavy rain sections will have puddles. There are a few water features along the route which can be active with ducks, geese, and other birds. Franks Park has a parking lot as well.

From Franks Park North, the trail is asphalt. Until you reach Hilliard Rome Road. This section is more of a wide sidewalk than a multi-use trail. Once you reach Colonial Park Condos and turn into the Hilliard Municipal Park, it becomes asphalt again. There is a cross walk with lights on Scioto Darby and drives tend to respect as there is a lot of traffic here. The trail ends at the Heritage Trail, which can take you to Old Hilliard or out towards Plain City Ohio. The Hilliard Municipal Park has plenty of parking and also has trails for running and casual trail riding.

I ride this trail 10-15 a year at minimum and have road it a few times in 2025 already and trail is in decent shape. Great for runners and casual riding. I don't recommend Road Bikes south of Franks Park.

There is a project going on at the Municipal Park that may extend the trail West and another project that may extend the trail further south.

Buck Creek Trail (OH)

Bridge Closed

May, 2025 by vicar.josie

I’ve ridden this trail down to Xenia and back last summer and it was nice for the most part. This year I noticed a bit more unmarked large bumps and aggressive erosion alongside the creek. Currently the bridge to cross Buck Creek is closed and I’ve not come across anything indicating it will be fixed. Although the bridge appeared to be sturdy enough to support a walk, my boyfriend and I found an alternate route by car. Biking on Croft road did not feel safe to me but, other bikers accepted the unmarked detour. untilyou a

Little Miami Scenic Trail

Great trail, signage not awesome

April, 2025 by tod.hanson

Loved the trail - only did Xenia to Yellow Springs and back, in conjunction with one of the connector trails. Signs use trail numbers vs names, which we didn’t realize until we were on trail… Also, not clear signage at key intersections where trails intersect or turn. Won’t be a problem if you’re expecting/prepared for it, but not as clear and user friendly as many other top tier rail trails we’ve ridden.

Great American Rail-Trail

Warden to Lind

April, 2025 by howmarplus3

Ok section, kind of dull. Agriculture & cows. Found a bit of shade by a grain elevator for lunch. Several washouts filled with tumbleweeds as you get closer to Lind.

Paint Creek Recreation Trail

Beautiful landscape

November, 2024 by mpoling042220

We love to explore these trails on bicycles, it is has many spots to rest and plenty of beautiful to relax and take in the landscape. We love to pack a lunch and make a day of it. The trail is fairly easy to navigate, a few spots wind on and off the roadway,but no heavy traffic. ( Follow the signs)I would recommend packing your sunscreen,extra water and a light jacket. Very peaceful and relaxing, and great exercise.

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Accordion

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