Hiking

Take a hike . . . with Columbus Outdoor Pursuits!

Planned hikes are scheduled and led each month by volunteers to many familiar places and to new destinations.  In the winter months, we offer mid-week night hikes that are usually followed by a group dinner. These hikes often take place in different parts of Columbus and surrounding neighborhoods and last about 1 to 1½ hours. 

Our weekend day hikes take us to State Parks, State Forests, Metro Parks and other parks in Ohio. They vary in length from 5 miles to 15 miles. Most hikes depart from the Columbus area mid-morning and return late afternoon or early evening. Our more popular hikes take us to the Hocking Hill area or other state parks in southeast Ohio, but we hike all over the state!  We also offer weekend hikes and overnight camping trips (you will need to provide your own camping gear). These occur starting late spring through late fall.

If these trips sound interesting, but you’re just starting out, COP also offers a Hiking Class in the fall.  We cover the basics of hiking that includes footwear, proper clothing, the Ten Essentials, trip planning, and more.

Consult the Hiking Activities calendar to see a listing of upcoming trips and classes.  Contact the trip leader listed for trip questions or your suitability for a given trip.  Make sure to read our articles and peruse our photos to see our members in their latest adventures on the trail!

For general questions regarding the hiking program,
contact the Hiking Activity Leader Pat Smith at 614-443-5226 or hiking@outdoor-pursuits.org