Category: Events & Things To Do

I’ve been doing some searching for dog parks and trails in Columbus, Ohio. Specifically off-leash ones in the northwestern quadrant, since I wouldn’t want to travel across the city just to visit a dog park. I want one that’s somewhat close to home and easily accessible (free parking). I’m thinking I need to take Ty to an off-leash park so he can become more comfortable around other dogs. I think most local parks allow dogs, for example, the Carriage Place Park on Sawmill rd. but not an off-leash area where they may be able to interact with other dogs.

Hayden Falls Park

I’ve found a very close park that says it’s off-leash, but it happens to be closed for construction! Does anyone know when it will be open again? Here is a link to a website I made, Pawfect Lounge: Pet Connection, with information on Hayden Falls Park. I’ve never been there, but it doesn’t seem to have a large open area for dogs off-leash to run around.

List of Parks

Here’s the results of my research of parks and trails. Some of these were found on the Columbus Parks website, but they had the wrong map and information for Hayden Falls Park, so I’m not sure if it’s maintained. You can see them all mapped out on one map on Pawfect Lounge: Pet Connection.

Big Walnut Dog Park — SouthEast of airport
5000 East Livingston Ave.
3 enclosed acres * 7am – 11 pm * 614-645-3300 * off-leash areas

Hayden Falls Park – Hayden Run Road /Between Riverside Drive and Dublin Road – Columbus, OH 43221 (Northwest Columbus)
Map AND Description on parks website seems to be wrong
nature preserve * pet exercise (off-leash) * Picnicing * woods & wildlife area lighted

Three Creeks Dog Park at Sycamore Fields – Far south/east – Route 33 and 270
2748 Spangler Rd. Columbus, OH 43207
5 enclosed acres * off-leash; separate large and small dog areas * water access for dogs w/pump * walking paths

Wheeler Dog Park – Short North, directly north of 670/ west of Neil ave; Not sure where to park – street parking
725 Thurber Drive West, Columbus OH 43215
1.5 enclosed acres * 8am – 11pm * 614-645-3300

Rules for Dog-friendly Trails

These rules are from the Columbus Rec & Parks Department.

• Pets not permitted on Greenway Trails
• keep dogs on leash (max length 6 feet) when walking near a trail
• clean up after pet – in trash can
• Pedestrians: Stay to the RIGHT of the trail except when otherwise designated

Trails at Metro Parks

http://www.metroparks.net/TrailsPetTrails.aspx

• 12 of 15 metro parks have designated pet trails
• dogs/cats permitted only in picnic areas, roadways, and pet trails; ON leash

Battelle Darby Creek – 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH 43119 (SW franklin county)

• wagtail Trail – 1.6 miles, easy to moderate –grass surface over prairies, grasslands, wetlands
• april-sept: 6:30am-10pm
• From I-270, take the West Broad Street (U.S. 40) exit west. Go about 5 miles on Broad Street and turn left on Darby Creek Drive. Continue about 5 miles on Darby Creek Drive passing the main park entrance to Alkire Road and turn right. Continue on Alkire Road about 1 mile (crossing over Big Darby Creek) to Georgesville Wrightsville Road and turn left. Pet trail parking lot is about 1.6 miles on the left, after the road zig-zags.

Blendon Woods – 4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Westerville, OH 43081 (NE )

• Goldenrod Pet – 1.2 miles, easy – grass surface, 2 meadows

Clear Creek – South of Lancaster; South Fairfield/north Hocking county

• Barnebey Pet trail – 1st mile of Chestnut Trail; one-way; Gravel surface. Pets not allowed past gate (enters forest)

Heritage Trail – 7262 Hayden Run Road, Hilliard OH 43026

• From I-270, take Tuttle Road and turn left onto Wilcox Road. Turn right onto Hayden Run Road. Entrance is about 2.75 miles on right.
• Along the trail is Homestead Park
• Multi-purpose trail 3.25 miles, easy – part of 7 mile heritage Rail Trail; Paved surface

Highbanks Park – 9466 Columbus Pike (Rt 23 N), Lewis Center OH 43035

• From I-270, take U.S. 23 north about 3 miles. Entrance is on the left, just before Powell Road
• Coyote Run Trail (3.5 miles grass surface, through forest and fields, closed when cross-country skiing conditions exist)
• Big Meadows Path (1 mile, moderate) – paved surface, through meadows
• Oak Coves Path (.4 miles, easy) – paved surface, through meadows

Scioto Audubon – 395 W. Whittier Street, Columbus OH 43215 – along scioto river

• From I-71, take the Greenlawn Avenue exit east one-third of a mile and turn left on South Front Street. Go a quarter of a mile and turn left on West Whittier Street. Entrance is one-third of a mile on left.
• Dog park in north east corner; wetlands, lots of activities – can’t tell by the Google Aerial photos, need to verify
• Scioto Greenway Trail – 2 miles, easy; goes south to Berliner park and north to Bicentennial Park, connection to Olentangy Greenway Trail

I’m sure this isn’t an exhaustive list. Please let me know if I missed any, or post some comments about these parks and trails if you’ve been to them! How do they stack up against each other? What is your favorite dog park?