HomeOhioGahanna › Creekside Park & Arboretum

Creekside Park & Arboretum

4.8 ★★★★★ 392 Google reviews · Running trail in Gahanna, Ohio · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Creekside Park & Arboretum's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedOpen 24hLit at nightScenicRestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

Pedestrian-friendly park featuring a creek for paddle boats and kayaks as well as a fountain and dining.

What runners say about Creekside Park & Arboretum

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (392 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 12 mentions

“Beautiful place to walk and talk through after a nice dinner at one of the restaurants right by the pound and fountain.”

A really nice walking park behind a city center of restaurants and stores. No playground areas for small children, but lots of peaceful paths for walking and biking. There are lights that come on when it gets dark, which is nice. All the paths close to the water is really great.

★★★★★ — Aileen , Nov 2021

You MUST visit this place in late April, early May if you love Virginia Blue Bells. The paved, accessible trail around the creek is blanketed in these flowers. There are nice bathrooms on site. The trails are not long enough for hiking unless you want to walk in circles.

★★★★★ — Stephanie , May 2023

Beautiful walk in Gahanna! Visited Creekside just after work. A much needed walk enjoy! It’s a good stop.

★★★★★ — Amanda , Apr 2023

This place is absolutely beautiful. My family and I enjoyed walking around to see all the beautiful views. My family and I enjoyed watching the little ducklings swim with their mother while we were there. We also loved the area with the water fountains to sit and relax at.

★★★★★ — Kanisa , Jul 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 392 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 13 mentions

“Beautiful place to walk and talk through after a nice dinner at one of the restaurants right by the pound and fountain.”

More trails like this →

🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“The paved, accessible trail around the creek is blanketed in these flowers.”

More trails like this →

🪵 Boardwalk 2 mentions

“There's multiple restaurants along the boardwalk as well as trails along both sides of the creek!”

More trails like this →

💡 Lit for night running 2 mentions

“The Christmas lights are beautiful and every year they seem to add more.”

More trails like this →

🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“The restrooms were really clean and the smell of the restaurants were really good too.”

More trails like this →

🚰 Water fountains

“We also loved the area with the water fountains to sit and relax at.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Creekside Park & Arboretum

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Websitegahanna.gov
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Creekside Park & Arboretum

123 Mill St, Gahanna, OH 43230

Get directions

Running trails near Gahanna

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Big Walnut Trail

5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews

Gahanna, OH

under a mile away

Friendship Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 782 reviews

Gahanna, OH

Natural surfaceScenic

A 23-acre plot with sports fields, picnicking, a playground & creek access for canoeing & fishing.

under a mile away

Big Walnut Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 45 reviews

Columbus, OH

PavedScenic

under a mile away

McCorkle Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 164 reviews

Gahanna, OH

Shaded

Soccer, a playground, and picnic tables are offered at this park with walking trails.

under a mile away

Woodside Green Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 584 reviews

Gahanna, OH

PavedShadedScenic

Park with a natural play area and other playgrounds, plus picnic areas plus baseball fields and trails, as well as canoe, kayak and fishing spots.

1.7 miles away

Gahanna MTB

4.6 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Gahanna, OH

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Gahanna, OH →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.