OVERVIEW

Most of the trails documented here are primarily asphalt surface multi-use ones. If you prefer natural surface trails that are longer than a mile, you pretty much have to go one of the Metroparks in and around Columbus. One excellent and extremely popular running venue is the Highbanks Metropark located off US23 north of Columbus. Essentially, you just get to I-270, exit north and keep going for about five miles. The park entrance is on the left side a few dozen yards before the light at East Powell Rd/Polaris Parkway.

The park is an enormous facility with several parking areas, picnic areas, observations decks, and so on. Unlike Sharon Woods, this is kind of a build-your-own trail situation. Rather than try to detail each of the trails in specific. I am putting up the map and the trails with general descriptions and some photos which I think are representative of each.

GETTING TO HIGHBANKS FROM THE OLENTANGY TRAIL

Hopefully, in a few years, the trail will connect from Worthington Hills. In the meantime, there is no easy non-vehicular way to bridge the gap. Worthington Hills ends on the west side of the river near SR 315 which is a narrow, twisting, two lane road all the way up to Powell Rd (which piles up traffic almost 24/7) with no clearance on either side. Powell crosses the Olentangy over a narrow ttwo-lane bridge. There is a closed entry to the Big Meadow area (closed to vehicles) which you can use not too far from the intersection on the south side of Powell Rd. My advice, however, is to wait for the trail connector.

MAPS

The thumbnail to the left will bring up the full sized version of the Metroparks map below. The thumbnail to the right will bring up the full sized version of the aerial map below.

The thumb image to the left dates from the 1990's.

DESCRIPTION: THE HIGHBANKS TRAIL SYSTEM

Except for the asphalt loop and the connector in the picnic area, all the trails are nature trails with numerous connectors and loops which affords the ability to shape a run in pretty much any length and degree of difficulty. These are the main trails:

	The Dripping Rock Trail (Yellow) which is listed as 2.5 miles. This is a large loop that circles through woods around the center of the public use areas with two spur connectors and a short asphalt bypass tail, The Oak Coves Path (0.5 miles) which accesses the main picnic areas and parking. It is hard pack gravel with significant ups and downs throughout including some fairly challenging hills. It is almost entirely under the forest canopy so there is little direct sunlight. The presence of the river and such significant biomass, however, keeps it fairly humid. It crosses the main road twice and there is a short connector to the Coyote trail about a half mile west of the nature center. The north side of the trail has some areas of hard pack dirt and there is a set of stone and beam steps west of the nature center as well.
	The Coyote Run Trail (Orange) also called the Nature Trail or the Pet Trail, listed as 3.5 miles. (dogs are permitted, on a leash). This is an undeveloped and un-surfaced nature trail which runs through the meadows and woods of the north east end of the park. Those parts under the forest canopy are mostly packed dirt and the open sections are mown meadow grass. There are a few ups and downs through the short woody sections and the meadow sections are relatively flat. The trail is a string of four loops--although the main segment looks to be open all the time, parts of the loops have gates that can be closed. This trail runs close to both US23 and East Powell Rd so there is traffic noise in places, albeit at a distance.
	The Overlook Trail (Black), 2.3 miles of gravel trail which can only be accessed from Dripping Rock near the Oak Coves picnic area. This trail goes inland and then farther south into the deep ravine area with a large loop in the center before ending at the bluffs at the overlook platform. There is a short spur trail along the way, the Wetlands Trail (0.4 miles). There are some particularly challenging climbs along this route.
	The Big Meadows Path (Red), 1 mile, is an asphalt paved path which circles the meadow, following and crossing and re-crossing the access road loop. It is mostly open to the sky. There is water along the route. The is a gravel trail, the Scenic River Trail (0.7 miles)(Purple), which connects to and roughly parallels the Big Meadows Path on the west side affording a more scenic run nearer the river. It is fairly flat with only a slight rise south to north.

GPS Map of the Dripping Rick Trail with Elevations

This is a GPS map of the Dripping Rock trail with appropriate waypoints to show the relative positions of the various points on the trails with elevation lines.

Highbanks Dripping Rock: GPX file. Highbanks.gpx See image below for mapped trail marks and waypoints.

IMPRESSIONS: RUNNING HIGHBANKS

This is running in Nature with all its issues so precautions are advised. Insect repellent before hand and body scans for ticks afterwards are advised. Water and comfort facilities are generally available near the points where the trails intersect the access road--Oak Coves, Big Meadows etc. Sun screen and hats are advisable for the asphalt trails which are in the open. Not so much for the gravel trails as they are almost entirely under the forest canopy. There are numerous picnic shelters, tables and such in the asphalt areas meaning lots of people--and if the scent of grilled brats is not your idea of ideal running circumstances--well, be warned.

Given the sometimes loose gravel, trail shoes are a plus but the gravel surfaces are firm enough for any kind of good running shoe--provided that the bottoms are not worn down.

The Coyote Run Trail, however, presents a different challenge. This is an undeveloped route with just enough clearing to make it distinct from the surroundings. As can be seen from the photographs, a good portion of this trail is simply mown meadow grass. The underlying soil is firm though not hard pack except where the maintenance machinery occasionally compacts it. When the trail does enter the woods, it simply packed-earth and there is no set width. One of the loop sections that runs through the woods is hardly more than a narrow footpath in places with puddles and occasional projecting roots and stones. The obvious issues for runners are obvious--hidden holes, stones, roots, the comparative slickness of grass, the possibilities for a misstep on broken terrain are all there. I'd advise a very good trail shoe and, if you are so inclined, bracing or taping ankles. That said, running through this area can be invigorating because it occasionally really gives you a feel for what it must have been like in this part of the world when it was occupied only by native Americans.

PHOTOS

	The entrance to the Dripping Rock Trail near the Big Meadows loop.							Fairly typical trail views for Dripping Rock and Overlook Trails.
	The Dripping Rock Trail entrance near the Oak Coves picnic area. (Note the wildflower warning!)							There are numerous bridges crossing ravines and creek beds.
	Lots of nature information if you are so inclined							The Oak Coves asphalt path exits the trail at one end of the picnic area and rejoins it farther down. It shortens and flattens the route somewhat.
								The split with the Overlook Trail
	The Overlook Trail passes through a meadow.							Another view
	Off hand, I'd say the elevation changes are the most significant on the Overlook Trail							Another example.
				Approaching the Overlook Platform.							The view from the Overlook deck.
				The Overlook view during the late Fall, early Spring and winter months improves for lack of blocking foliage.						It also it affords a nice view of the river down below the cliff.
	There are trail maps along all the routes and at most junction points to keep you on course.									The Dripping Rock Trail cross the access road only once, west of Oak Coves
					The northern side is a little more open and just a bit flatter.			The steps on the northern side of the Dripping Rock Trail.
								There is a short connector to the Coyote Run Trail seen here from the Dripping Rock side. It's about a half-mile west of the Nature Center on the northern side.
			The Big Meadows Trail.					Another view
	This is why they call it "Big" Meadows.							The Meadows trail crossing the main road.
	The Coyote Run (Pet) Trail.							Same spot, looking back at the Nature Center
	Typical forested Coyote Run Trail. Just hard pack, no surfacing.							Typical Coyote Run meadow trail--cut grass. The ground is firm although wet weather might change that.
	Another View. This area is closed when cross-country skiing conditions prevail							Forested loop farther down. The main trail is always open but some of the loops can be closed off.
	The post markers are not used here. These arrow signs are instead.							View of the big meadow. The trail enters the meadow and splits to loop around either side.
	The Adena burial mound in the center of the meadow.							Because it skirts the northern edge of the park, the Coyote Run Trail is occasionally within sight of East Powell Rd.
	Grass trail gently rolling. Word of advice, watch the trail cuts in the meadows as they tend to blend into the scenery.							One of the forested loops. The farther west, the less traveled. This is barely a footpath. Casual water and mud are also encountered.
	If the light through the canopy isn't too dim, the trail retains its grassy surface.							The path between the Dripping Rock gravel trail and the grassy Coyote Run from the other side.
	Access to the barns and wetland conservation area is by permission only.							The last meadow. The trail loops around the perimeter and meets itself.

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06/02/2008