Winter Spring Summer and Fall. The Olentangy Trail is my go-to place for hiking and taking photographs. It is five minutes from my home. The trails are either paved or there are so many wood chips on the ground that mud doesn’t have a chance, unless the river floods and then the entire area is under water and a mess. This doesn’t happen often, but the parklands and trails are in a flood plain.
The trail is more than 12 miles long and connects with the Scioto Trail in downtown Columbus. The Olentangy River dumps into the Scioto River downtown at a place appropriately called Confluence Park.
The trail is a gem and one of central Ohio’s most-used resources. Hiking, running, biking, skateboarding from sunup to sundown. Just above the trail, there are lots of playgrounds and picnic areas. There are beautiful views of the river and there are woods and grasslands. Considering that this is an urban park, there’s an abundance of wildlife and many varieties of plants and wildflowers.
Nancy and I take lots of walks on the trail with her dog, Pepper. I often took Pauline down to the trail because it is paved and very flat. It was easy for her to navigate in her chair. It was a great way for Pauline and Kazu to enjoy nature. After Pauline died, I often took Kazu down to the trail for walks. While he was with Pauline and working, there was no stopping to smell. After I adopted Kazu and he was retired, he was allowed to be a dog. He loved taking walks and connecting to all of central Ohio’s critters through his keen sense of smell. When the kids were little, we would take bike rides from the trail access near our home down to the Park of Roses. Lots of wonderful memories.
If I want to get out for an hour or so at any time of day, it is a great choice for me. I’ve been there during snowstorms, rainstorms, dense fog, bright sunshine and through every season. It isn’t a great place for finding big scenes, but if shooting small, it can be a wonderful location. I know the place well and have my go to spots at this go to place.
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I voted today. Amen… for now.
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