Winterhawk Trail Loop: 12 miles around Alum Creek Reservoir

Winterhawk Trail Loop - Alum Creek

Best Trail Running in Central Ohio

Best (Trail) Running in Central Ohio

My Favorite Running Spots

1.     Highbanks Metro Park

When the Pokémon people are not around the park is still fairly busy.  The trails are wide and covered with course sand and very well groomed.  Between the Dripping Rock, Overlook, and the River loops and their associated branches it is about 6.5 miles.  The dog walk trails are flat but less crowded and add another 3+ miles.

2.     Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park

Very lightly used.   Trails similar to Highbanks.  The main loop from the Cedar area to the Indian area including the Terrace Trail and the Ancient trail is about 6 miles.  A few large hills.  One on the Terrace trail and one coming back to the parking lot up the Cobshell hills.  Add the Little Darby trail and get 3 more miles.  For EXTRA VALUE add the Buffalo trails out to the old horse track (run a few furlongs)  and back for an additional 8.5 miles.  I’ve done all of it in a morning and it is a terrific run.

3.     Slate Run Metro Park

Slate run is less used then either Highbanks or Darby.  There is a small set of trails in the woods and a larger set in open meadows around some pounds (watch out for the geese).   About 8 miles if you do both.  Hills are mild.  Nice change of pace.

4.     Clear Creek Metro Park

Clear creek is one of my favorites.  Hardly used.  Decent hills with some wide paths and some single trace trails.  The Hill up to Cemetery Ridge is a bear.  I usually park at the Fern parking area and run up the fern trail and back down the Hemlock trail.  I take the Creekside trail to the Hill up to Cemetery Ridge.  Then across the Cemetery Ridge Trail to the Chestnut trail.  Once across the Chestnut Trail I run the Tulip and the lake trails then back across the Chestnut trail and down the Fern Trail to my car.  That loop is about 13 miles with 1900 feet of elevation change.  I call it a decent workout.

5.     Alum Creek Multipurpose Trail

Nice change of pace.  Muddy in the spring.  Can be a little “buggy”.  Ticks are around in the spring.  Footing is not great and sometimes the grass is high.  Flat trail.  5.7 miles around the main trail.  There are 2 shortcuts – One 0.75 miles and the other 4 miles.

6.     Alum Creek Horseback Trails (off of Howard Road)

a.     Hunter’s Hollow

Starting off of Howard Road on the East side of the reservoir heading South.  It is  nice single track trail with many ravines.  

b.     Winterhawk Trail Loop

Beginning across Howard Road from the Hunter’s hollow loop and heading North.  It crosses Hogback road at about 3.5 miles and crosses Alum Creek at the town of Kilborne at mile 7.  The trail continues on the west side and is much straighter – only 5 miles back to the Horseman’s Camp at Howard Road.  Total length is about 12 miles.  There are some boggy portions throughout the loop but most especially on the Hogback to Kilbourne section. Some pretty view of ravines and the river / reservoir.

c.      Maple Glen (Tunnel Trail)

Beginning across Howard Road from the Horseman’s Camp and extending south for about 2+ miles and then through the tunnel under routes 36/37.  The single track trail continues until mile 5.5 where it meets a 3 mile loop at the “Either Way” sign. 

7.     Rocks and Roots Trail

At the west side of the reservoir off of Hollenback Road next to the marina and the dog park.  About 12 + miles of mostly single track trails.  No real hills but nice views of the reservoir. 

8.     Prairie Oaks Metro Park

Just west of Columbus and Route 270 off of Route 70 at Route 42.  Turn left to get to Battelle Darby Creek and right to get to Prairie Oaks.  A minimally used park, with a lot going for it.  About 8 ¼ miles of nice trails to run.  From the Coneflower Loops to the Alder Trail and the Tall Grass Trail leading to the Rocky River Trail.  Finally a 2 mile loop around manmade lakes finishing a levy between the lakes and the Big Darby Creek. Wet / Muddy in the spring but nice the rest of the year. 

Hunter's Hollow - Snowy trail run

Africa Road, Benjamin Hanby, Alum Creek, and the Underground Rail Road

Most people do not know that north Columbus was part of the Underground Railroad for slaves to escape north from Kentucky to Canada.  They would wade through Alum Creek to lose the scent that dogs would follow.  Benjamin Hanby (author of Up on the Roof Top and My Darling Nellie Gray) used his house for shelter.  North of Hamby house a small settlement of former slaves formed along g a lane latter called Africa Road.

The dam at Alum Creek was created between 1970 and 1974.  It was retrofitted in 1978.  In January 2005 it reached it's highest levels with heavy rain and snow melt - The dam held!

Think about that while you are running the trails!

Snowy Trail Run: Hunter's Hollow at Alum Creek - Part 3

Snowy Trail Run: Hunter's Hollow at Alum Creek - Part 2

Alum Creek Running Trails - 56 miles of Fun!

The Trail Running Options around Alum Creek Reservoir are MANY:

• Multipurpose Trail - Just north of the dam on the east side of the reservoir.  Grassy trail that is often muddy in the spring.  The main trail measures 5.7 miles with a 0.75 mile and a 4 mile shortcuts.  
• Extra miles
• You can run the roads south to the dam and get some miles in
• Across the street are the mountain bike trails

• Rocks and Roots Trails -  about 13 miles of very nice trails created by dedicated volunteers.   Single track trails that wind along the western edge of the reservoir centered on Hollenbach Road near the marina and dog park.
• Horseback Trails

• Hunter's Hollow trail on the east side of the reservoir and south of Howard road.  A bit muddy in the spring.  A windy trail with two loops.  The payoff is a nice overlook near Route 36/37.  The out and back is about 8 miles - more or less depending on whether you do the optional loops. 

• Winterhawk Trail - This winds along the east side of the reservoir north of Howard Road extending past Hogback Road to Kilborne road and then along the west side of the reservoir back to Howard road and the Horseman's Camp.  The total loop is about 15 miles of mostly single track trails. 

• "Tunnel" Trail starts at Howard Road on the west side of the reservoir, across from the Horseman's Camp.  This trail extends south and goes UNDER routes 36/37 through a Tunnel (hence the name that I call it).  After that the trail winds along the western edge of the reservoir until it ends in a 3 miles loop that tells you that you can go "Either Way". The total length of this lollypop run is about 14 miles measured from the parking lot on the east side of the dam. 
• Summary:
• These trails are a great collection of mostly single track trails
• Rarely used compared to more popular running venues like Highbanks Metro Park
• They are a little muddy in the spring but overall very runnable
• They lack any significant hills and I go to Mohican when i want some real hill work..

Tunnel / Either Way Trail - 14 Cold, Snowy Miles - A dream come true..

For a review of this trail run click HERE

Snowy Trail Run: Hunter's Hollow at Alum Creek - Part 1

Either Way Trail

Trail Run: Alum Creek Multipurpose Trail Part 3 of 3

Awesome day trail running at Alum Creek

Trail Run: Alum Creek Multipurpose Trail - Part 2 of 3

Trail Run: Alum Creek Multipurpose Trail - Part 1 of 3

Trail Run: Alum Creek Multipurpose Trail - 5.7 miles

Trail Running: WInterhawk Trail Part 4 of 4

Trail Running: Winterhawk Trail - Part 3 of 4

Trail Running: Winterhawk Trail - Part 2 of 4

Trail Running: Winterhawk Trail Part 1 of 4