Parkhill Park

Small area for a hike, but lots of space to play with your dogs if you want. Beautiful trees, some trails in the woods, and access to the lake/reservoir.

Dare I say this is the most beautiful park in Columbus? Unmarked trail to the right of the parking lot takes you through a magical pine forest which then leads you down to a beautiful view of the reservoir. Doesn’t feel like Ohio.

Park used to be known as Walnut St., Park… this is one of the most wonderful, expansive trails I have seen in Columbus. When you first pull in it just looks like a small gravel driveway, but if you walk to the right into the large pines, the trail takes you down a steep ravine over a babbling brook into an old growth forest with a 200+ year old white oak, up an peninsula and to a red clay beach that opens up on Hoover. It is literally one of the most beautiful places I have seen in this state, and you would have no idea that it even existed just driving by.

My kind of trail! Natural, dirt path, and not heavily trafficked. Make sure you bring an extra pair of shoes to change into - the ones you wear will get dirty, no doubt. The trail is filled with beautiful, tall pine trees, which adds a unique fresh scent to the hike. At least one of the trails takes you down to the water. The path to get down is extremely steep! The trail also has lots of exposed roots - making it safer to walk than run. The park opens at 7 am; there was no one there when I arrived at 7 & when I left around 8 am

Great, quiet park nestled in the woods around Hoover reservoir. Trails could use a little love, but the focus on natural areas is nice. Small parking area and narrow driveway, so use caution coming and going.