Ohio has a bad reputation in terms of natural beauty. Those not from the state or those who have only been to the western portions may think the entire state is flat with corn fields as far as the eye can see. I thought the same thing when I first moved here from Indiana six years ago (bold coming from an even flatter state).
Although yes, some of the state falls into that category, much of it does not. Much of the eastern and southern halves of the state fall into the broader cultural/geographic region of Appalachia, as we Bobcats know well. Being at the conjunction of two major geographic areas, Ohio has a surprising amount of outdoor activities and sights to see.
First, Ohio is home to one of only four national parks in the Great Lakes states, Cuyahoga Valley. The other parks are Indiana Dunes in Indiana, Isle Royale in Michigan and Voyageurs in Minnesota are the other three. CVNP was the 12th most visited national park in 2023, with over 2.8 million visitors. Unlike many national parks, Cuyahoga Valley has no entrance fees, and because it is between Cleveland and Akron, it is accessible to many.
Because the park was established to help preserve the Cuyahoga River, the natural wonders were not the first priority, but remain abundant today. Although not the stunning vistas of Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, CVNP hosts Brandywine Falls, Station Road Bridge and the Virginia Kendall Ledges.
The Ohio and Erie Towpath Canalway runs the length of CVNP along the Cuyahoga River, offering visitors the chance for a casual, flat bike ride through the park. There are also some less visited places in the park, such as Buttermilk Falls and the Buckeye Trail.
Encircling the state, the Buckeye Trail stretches over 1,400 miles, with one small section running through the northern part of Athens County, as well as passing through Hocking Hills State Park. Backpackers and hikers can choose to cover the trail on foot, or for bikepackers, there is an alternate route that goes from Cincinnati to Cleveland.
Another popular trail for bikepackers and bike tourers is the Ohio to Erie Trail. Running from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, the path connects a network of trails across the state, including the Towpath.
Along with Hocking Hills, Ohio manages many other beautiful state parks and forests. Residents are likely familiar with our neighbor Strouds Run, but within an hour's drive are destinations such as Zaleski State Forest, Burr Oak State Park and Tar Hollow State Forest. Not to mention Athens' other neighbor, Wayne National Forest.
Farther out of town are other notable spots such as Mohican State Park and Forest in Loudonville, Headlands Beach State Park in Fairport Harbor and Ohio Caverns about an hour northwest of Columbus.
When I first moved to Ohio in 2018, I did not know what to expect. I grew up in a cornfield and expected to be in a neighborhood in a cornfield here. However, it was much better than anticipated.
The access to so many outdoor destinations so close to home has allowed me to become the outdoorsy, backpacking, tree-hugging person I am today. Having an outside perspective allows me to see something in our beautiful state Ohioans may not, and I hope this gives you at least some inspiration to visit one of the many natural wonders Ohio has to offer.
Ethan Herx is a sophomore studying photojournalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Ethan know by emailing or tweeting them at eh481422@ohio.edu or @ethanherx.
