Easy Hikes Near Me

Blendonwood Ravine Day Hike, 10:30 am

Two/five miles fitness hike at Highbanks (Oak Coves)

Friday Happy Hour Hike

Hike Blendon Woods Metro Park

Hi ladies. We will meet in front of the Nature Center and head to the two Observation decks. We will then hike Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook and Sugarbush trails to get approximately four miles total distance. We will walk approximately a 18 minute mile pace. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes.

Free yoga

Fast-paced 6 mile hike

Hiking at Sharon Woods

Meet at the Maple Grove picnic area for a 4 mile hike at 18 min/mile pace.

Explore the Ohio State Fair One Step at a Time

Lets join Central Ohio Friends for an active day exploring the Ohio State Fair. We’ll spend the day walking the fairgrounds, checking out exhibits, entertainment, animals, vendors, food stops, and other attractions. I’m building a flexible itinerary around the official fair schedule and will post updates throughout the day so anyone arriving later can find the group. Expect a lot of walking. Depending on how long you stay and how much of the fair we cover, many attendees could finish the day with approximately 10,000–20,000 steps or more. Come for the full day or join us for part of it. Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, water, and a charged phone are strongly recommended. Your contribution supports the planning, communication, coordination, location updates, and hosting involved in organizing the event. It also helps reduce no-shows and makes it more likely that those who RSVP genuinely plan to attend. *Fair admission, parking, food, rides, and personal purchases are separate.* Additional contributions are always appreciated and help support future events. These events are made possible through the continued support of our community. Contribution link found in the comments. The exact meeting location and planned schedule will be posted closer to the event. I’ll also provide updates throughout the day so anyone joining later can find the group. Plans may change based on weather, crowds, the official fair schedule, and group interest. Whether you’re looking to meet new people or simply enjoy an active day of walking with friends, we’d love to have you join us!

Saturday Afternoon hike - Franklin Park - See event description for update

Join us for a casual hike out at Franklin Park, the park around the Franklin Park conservatory. This will be a casual get together for people to meet greet and socialize with other introverts in our city. Come out and see some familiar faces, or make new friends too! 👉We'll meet right outside the conservatory, but not actually go into the conservatory. Its an easy spot for us to find each other to start the walk. 👈

Hike High Banks - 9:30 AM START

Hike approx 4.0 miles at approx. 17 minute mile pace. Meet in front of the Nature Center.

Trails & Ales! Sharon Woods Metro Park / The Draft Room

**History** [Sharon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/sharon-woods/) officially opened in October 1968 to provide open green space for the rapidly expanding population of Westerville and northern Columbus. Located in Sharon Township — the biblical source of its name meaning "a plain" — the park preservation efforts began earlier in February 1962. Planners initially acquired a 139-acre parcel of land to protect it from impending highway developments. Through 23 distinct land transactions with local farmers and developers, the park district successfully amassed the core acreage by August 1965. Today, this meticulously planned 761-acre oasis serves as one of the most frequently visited properties in the Central Ohio Park System. The geographic foundation of the park is heavily rooted in ancient history and glacial till. Thousands of years before modern development, the area was utilized by Paleo-Indian and Archaic peoples who hunted native wildlife using flint-tipped spears. Centuries later, the land transitioned into heavily forested terrain populated by majestic beech, hickory, and oak trees. Early American settlers eventually cleared portions of the land for agricultural use and family farming. Remnants of these historical eras are still preserved across the landscape, safeguarding the natural heritage of Franklin County. The park features the 320-acre Edward S. Thomas State Nature Preserve, named after a pioneering Ohio naturalist. This specific tract of land protects an impressive old-growth forest containing eight distinct species of oak trees. Remarkably, some of these towering oaks are over 250 years old, predating the founding of Columbus itself. The preserve also protects a deep ravine system formed around Spring Creek, which supports diverse tree species like black walnut and Ohio buckeye. This dedicated sanctuary ensures that pristine, old-growth ecosystems remain untouched by urban sprawl. Recreational infrastructure expanded rapidly throughout the 1970s to accommodate booming visitor numbers. In 1972, the park district engineered a massive 100-foot-high sledding hill featuring a 500-foot slope for winter activities. Shortly after, excavations began in 1974 to construct a paved 3.8-mile multipurpose bicycle and walking loop. Upon its completion, the smooth trail was proudly declared the finest and safest recreational bike trail in Central Ohio. Park staff also established family picnic sites and incorporated fishing opportunities at the 11-acre Schrock Lake. Sharon Woods has long served as a crucial testing ground for advanced ecological management. In April 1974, resource managers made history by conducting the park system's very first prescribed burn on a 15-acre field. Decades later, the park faced severe ecosystem degradation due to an overpopulated deer herd that grew from zero in 1968 to 500 by the early 1990s. The resulting six-foot browse line completely decimated native wildflowers and forest undergrowth. Strict conservation and deer management protocols were successfully implemented, allowing the understory and vibrant wildflowers to recover beautifully. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of the park](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SHW_map_2023_1980px.jpg). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Edward S Thomas, Oak Openings, Spring Creek, and Lake Trails. The trails are individually not long, but we'll hike them in a couple directions and end up doing around 5 miles. Sharon Woods is generally not too strenuous. Most of the hike will be on graveled nature trails, but some of it will be on grass and potentially in the sun. **Where We'll Meet** When you enter the park, drive all the way back to the rear parking lot by Schrock Lake. You'll see a picnic area and playground here, as well as restrooms and a water fountain. Our hike will start near these restrooms. **After the Hike** After the hike, we'll head over to [The Draft Room](https://www.draftroomcbus.com/). This brewery is located right next to [Pasquale's Pizza](https://www.pasqualespastahouse.com/), [Can’t Believe It's Vegan](https://cantbelieveitsvegan.biz/), and [Jimmy John's](https://locations.jimmyjohns.com/oh/westerville/sandwiches-1514.html). These eateries will [deliver](https://www.draftroomcbus.com/menus) to the brewery, or you can stop and bring something in. The actual address of The Draft Room is [570 W Schrock Rd, Westerville, OH 43081](https://www.google.com/maps/place/570+W+Schrock+Rd,+Westerville,+OH+43081/@40.1115698,-82.9456815,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8838f52171863dbd:0xbc5b0380f89850c7!8m2!3d40.1115698!4d-82.9456815!16s%2Fg%2F11bw4d67c5?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), and it's fairly close to Sharon Woods. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

Ladies Night Out at Brass Eye Rooftop!

Ladies, it’s time to trade the to-do lists for good food, conversation, cocktails, and rooftop vibes! Join us for a fun evening at Brass Eye Rooftop, where we’ll enjoy great drinks, delicious bites, beautiful views, and even better company. Whether you’re new to the group or a familiar face, this is the perfect chance to relax, laugh, and make new friends. Put on your favorite outfit, bring your best stories, and let’s toast to friendship, fun, and a fabulous night out! Hope to see you there!