About An Hour From Columbus Is A Scenic Ohio Park With Dramatic Cliffs, Trails, And Fishing

If you're in Columbus, Ohio, and want to explore the hemlock ravines, streams, and sandstone cliffs of Hocking Hills, drive to Clear Creek Metro Park. The 5,470-acre park is a quiet escape; even locals often miss it. One resident had this to say, "I always drove past the signs when going to Hocking Hills," and then, after visiting, said the park is "so amazing, we stop each time we go to Hocking now!" Those who detour can hike the wooded trails through blackhand sandstone formations that wind along Clear Creek. It's not unusual to spot visitors fly-fishing on the creek or dropping their lines from its two lakes.

Clear Creek Metro Park sits just 45 minutes southeast of the city, with two entrances: one in Lancaster and the other in Rockbridge. Long before it opened, the floodwaters from melting glaciers carved the rocky cliffs that you see today. After businessman Allen F. Beck realized the value of the land, he purchased large sections for conservation. Eventually, roughly 4,700 acres were donated to Franklin County to create the Allen F. Beck State Nature Preserve, the state's largest nature preserve, within Clear Creek Metro Park's borders. Today, it protects many plant species, including Canadian hemlocks and colonies of rhododendrons. The habitat is also home to nesting warblers and other species of birds.

Clear Creek is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to sundown, meaning visitors will have plenty of daylight to hike the trails and cast a line. With free admission, it's a budget-friendly way to get out and see Ohio's wilder and more scenic side. Plus, because it's so close to the city, you can easily squeeze in a visit between game days and food runs at Short North, Columbus' most walkable neighborhood.

There are lots of ways to experience Clear Creek Metro Park. Beyond the preserve, there are several historical sites to see as you explore. Additionally, the park is ideal for picnicking, wildlife viewing, and nature photography. Like nearby Slate Run Metro Park, an underrated park near Columbus with unique wildlife and scenic trails, nature is the star of the show here. "Beautiful park with great hiking trails. Lots to see: wildflowers, mushrooms, birds, bugs, frogs, fish, butterflies! The forest here is stunningly beautiful. So peaceful and quiet," remarked a Google user.

Strap on your hiking boots and hit the trails. The park lists 11 trails stretching across 12+ miles. The longest is the 2.5-mile Cemetery Ridge Trail, a mixed surface path through woodlands and open meadows with water views. Just be prepared to burn extra calories along the steep, rocky sections as you climb to the ridge. An AllTrails user commented that the trail starts with "a brutal climb, but after that, it levels out and is on the easier side of moderate."

Stand beneath the high sandstone cliff formations that define the Hocking Hills landscape as you hike the Hemlock Trail and the Chestnut Trail. As the hardest trails in the park, they're not recommended for the casual hiker. Instead, beginner hikers should choose the 2-mile Creekside Meadows Trail. Both dog- and kid-friendly, this trail is a flat, easy route along the creek. You can spot wildlife and take breaks by the water or bring a snack to enjoy at the picnic areas. If you want views without the hike, take a scenic drive along Clear Creek Road. You'll wind along the creek and pass Written Rock, the dramatic blackhand sandstone cliff towering above the road.

Fishing is another way to spend time at Clear Creek Metro Park. With multiple fishing areas along 6 miles of shoreline, the easiest spot to reel in rainbow trout is along Clear Creek. Past guests often highlight fly-fishing from the water, with one Google user saying, "Great place to take a kid fishing and teach fly casting with a chance to catch a rainbow trout." Before you cast, have your Ohio fishing license with you if you're over 16, and be aware of the fishing regulations along the creek. Keep anything over 12 inches, and you can only catch two trout in a day.

Want to combine hiking with your fishing adventure? From the small pull-off along Clear Creek Road, hike the short Lake Ramona Fishing Trail that leads to an observation deck with benches. Here, anglers can drop their lines from the dock or from the dam along the bank of the 5-acre lake. Fishbrain users have caught bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass here. Alternatively, in its blog post, Public Lands mentions that the 1-mile steep trek to Lake Emily will reward anglers with larger bass and bluegill.

Metroparks recommends fishing in the colorful fall season. The weather is crisp, the creek is the clearest, and the fish will be biting. After you're done fishing and hiking the trails at Clear Creek, it only makes sense to stop by Hocking Hills State Park. It's 11 miles away and offers a more developed nature escape with an 81-room lodge, a 17-acre recreational lake, and a stargazing observatory. Visit in autumn to see the towering trees and waterfalls surrounded by foliage.