Best running trails in Ohio
Ranked by the runners who actually run there — Google rating weighted by review volume, across 572,258 reviews of Ohio trails. A trail needs at least 25 reviews to qualify (511 in Ohio do) and each name appears once. Nobody pays for a place. Updated 2026.
The 20 below run across 20 cities, 6 of them paved, 3 loops, 4 shaded, and 5 with a stated distance. This is a popularity ranking, not a difficulty score — for what a trail is actually like underfoot, open its page for surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms and parking.
Rocky River Reservation
4.8 ★★★★★ 7,766 reviews
Woodland park split by the Rocky River, offering hiking trails with bird & deer sightings.
Highbanks Metro Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,373 reviews
Native American burial grounds, 100-ft.-high bluffs with river views & 11 miles of hiking trails.
Summit Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 5,151 reviews
Modern park offering playgrounds, a dog area and trails, plus restaurants and some waterside relaxation.
Winton Woods
4.6 ★★★★★ 5,279 reviews
County-owned park offering camping, hiking, golf, paddleboating on a lake, a working farm & more.
Sharon Woods
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,016 reviews
Recreation area with paved trails, golf, boating, an indoor playground & a village museum.
Wildwood Preserve Metropark
4.8 ★★★★★ 4,830 reviews
Wildlife habitat & recreational area, site of a historic manor house with tours & cultural events.
Blacklick Woods Metro Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,204 reviews
Popular, 643-acre park featuring wooded trails, wildlife sightings, picnic areas & other activities.
RiverScape MetroPark
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,159 reviews
Park along the Great Miami River, offering winter ice-skating, community events & floral plantings.
Euclid Creek Reservation
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,585 reviews
City-managed parks on & near Lake Erie, featuring a beach, fishing, trails & seasonal sports.
Hoover Reservoir Dam, Park & Dock
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,571 reviews
Large natural space with a lake offering boating, fishing & bird-watching including bald eagles.
Miami Whitewater Forest
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,242 reviews
4,345-acre oasis providing wooded hiking trails, a golf course, campsite & a lake for water sports.
Scioto Audubon Metro Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,145 reviews
Bird habitats plus hiking, fishing, volleyball, dog parks & a climbing wall on 120 riverside acres.
John Bryan State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,888 reviews
Hiking, fishing, camping & rock climbing are offered at this park overlooking a limestone gorge.
Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve
4.9 ★★★★★ 2,777 reviews
Tree-lined hiking trails along sandstone cliffs or at the foot of a gorge dotted with waterfalls.
West Branch State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,890 reviews
Camping & hiking locale with a meadow, woods & a 2,650-acre lake with forks & coves.
Oak Openings Preserve Metropark
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,750 reviews
Spacious preserve features summer & winter recreation, an interactive nature center & a playground.
Mosquito Creek Lake
4.5 ★★★★★ 2,919 reviews
Nearly 2,500 acres with trails, camping & hunting, plus a large lake for boating & fishing.
Solstice Steps
4.9 ★★★★★ 2,630 reviews
Park offering a playground, picnic tables, and grills, plus a lake and a volleyball court.
Where these trails are
The cities in this ranking, if you'd rather start from where you live.
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