Between the rivers, trails, wooded hills and cliffs, we are fortunate to live in a region rich with outdoor recreation. The Mid-Ohio Valley is home to roughly 270 miles of off-road trail, including the North Bend Rail Trail. We took to the trails this winter to share five of our favorite local hiking spots!

McDonough Park Trails

McDonough Park has a total of 5 miles of trails ranging from easy to moderate. The trails are wide, well-marked, and include some steep inclines in certain sections. These trails can be split into smaller sections or done in a complete 5-mile loop. There is also an easier completely paved trail in McDonough park; you can loop the trail three times to make one mile.

 

North Bend Rail Trail

If you’re looking for a flat trail with beautiful scenery, the North Bend Rail Trail is a great option. This trail is a total of 72 miles, but it has many entrance points throughout the entire span.

West Virginia University – Parkersburg Walking Trail

Located on the campus of West Virginia University in Parkersburg this trail is perfect for students to walk during a long break between classes or for the community to enjoy the beautiful campus they may otherwise miss out on. This trail is secluded in the trees, and it has a large meadow in the middle that is perfect for picnics!

Mountwood Park

At Mountwood, you will find many miles of trails winding through the beautiful forest. There is also a short and mostly level nature path that includes educational signs about the forest and wildlife that surrounds you.

 

Middle Island Trails

Middle Island, located on the Ohio River, is a 240 acer island that is covered in trails. Here you will see beautiful wet lands, forests, and grassy meadows. You can choose to loop the entire island or cut the trail into smaller loops.

Happy Trails!
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