HomeOhioCanal Winchester › Portman Park

Portman Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 179 Google reviews · Running trail in Canal Winchester, Ohio · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Portman Park'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.

PavedDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parkingQuiet

Park with a playground, picnic tables, and paved trails, plus soccer and kid-friendly hiking.

What runners say about Portman Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (179 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Very peaceful serene place to hang out!”

This park is a nice park nestled in Canal Winchester area. The park has play area for younger children, including swingsets. Walking trails are paved, if you choose to walk or ride you bikes on paved walking/running trails this is a great place for you to enjoy a little bit of country in the city.

★★★★★ — Michael , Feb 2018

Nice size community park. It has a lot of open space that I'm guessing is used for soccer. Some other things in the park are playground equipment, bike path alongside Blacklick Creek, picnic tables, and a decent size parking area.

★★★★★ — Rjd , Feb 2022

Very nice but there isn't any good signage saying where you are or a map of the trail available here. Didn't go past the road, not sure if it intersects the trail or I'd the trail continues on around the bend.

★★★★☆ — Matt , Jul 2022

A nice park on both sides of Blacklick Creek. The Blacklick Creek Greenway is paved all the way through on the East side of Blacklick Creek and under Refugee Road.

★★★★★ — Railbiker , Dec 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 179 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.

🛣️ Paved surface 6 mentions

“Walking trails are paved, if you choose to walk or ride you bikes on paved walking/running trails this is a great place for you to enjoy a little bit of country in the city.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“They also have a portapotty there, and if that isn't to your liking, there's a Kroger and such just down the road.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Some other things in the park are playground equipment, bike path alongside Blacklick Creek, picnic tables, and a decent size parking area.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“The little Creek/river that goes through it is accessible for both people and dogs.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Very peaceful serene place to hang out!”

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Plan your run at Portman Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitecolumbusrecparks.com
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 3:30–9 pm
Tuesday 3:30–9 pm
Wednesday 3:30–9 pm
Thursday 3:30–9 pm
Friday 3:30–9 pm
Saturday 3:30–9 pm
Sunday 3:30–9 pm

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 Portman Park

3750 Martha Jane Pl, Canal Winchester, OH 43110

Get directions

Running trails near Canal Winchester

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

Turnberry Community Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 57 reviews

Reynoldsburg, OH

Dog-friendly

Natural local park featuring a playground and picnic area along with hiking and biking trails.

under a mile away

Glacier Knoll

4.6 ★★★★★ 129 reviews

Canal Winchester, OH

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

Wetlands park featuring viewing decks along with walking trails, including a dog-friendly option.

under a mile away

Pickerington Ponds Metro Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 930 reviews

Canal Winchester, OH

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

A popular destination for bird watching, this park also has trails for hiking, jogging & biking.

1.8 miles away

Blacklick Woods Canopy Walk

4.6 ★★★★★ 326 reviews

Reynoldsburg, OH

LoopMixedShadedScenic

Hiking area with a rope bridge and a kid-friendly trail, plus picnic facilities and a restroom.

1.9 miles away

Blacklick Woods Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 546 reviews

Reynoldsburg, OH

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Vast park, complete with a nature center, a playground and multiple trails for walking, plus an aquarium and kids' activities.

2.0 miles away

Blacklick Woods Metro Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,204 reviews

Reynoldsburg, OH

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Popular, 643-acre park featuring wooded trails, wildlife sightings, picnic areas & other activities.

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Canal Winchester, 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.