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Olentangy Nature Trail
4.3 ★★★★☆ 27 Google reviews · Running trail in Columbus, Ohio · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- 4 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Olentangy Nature Trail'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.
What runners say about Olentangy Nature Trail
A really nice little trail but kind of tricky to find as it's behind the police station. 1/4 mile circle trail through a nice wooded area.
This is a quiet and easy one mile loop nature trail that is located behind a Columbus Police substation. There aren't any amenities.
It is a very short trail, but when you need a quick blast of nature and isolation this is a good place. I had the trail entirely to myself. It is a goofy location behind a police station
Interesting trail in Columbus. You can hear the roar of OH-315, but you can't see it. Trailhead is behind the Columbus Police Northwest Substation. Park in their parking lot behind the station.
Trail conditions & character
“Trailhead is behind the Columbus Police Northwest Substation.”
“This is a quiet and easy one mile loop nature trail that is located behind a Columbus Police substation.”
Plan your run at Olentangy Nature Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- Loop distance4 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
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 |
Running trails near Columbus
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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