Eco-friendly Hiking Plan
This year the goal is simple but deliberate, energetic, we hike sustainably where we live first. I take you all virtually to explore Ohio’s state parks, preserves, arboretums, city parks, hidden gems, and more. I will also fold in planned travel to visit my sister in North Carolina. As well as trips back home to West Virginia. I plan to even sprinkle in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. I’ll do this in a way that honors the land, reduces my carbon impact, and celebrates the natural world local.
We’re not waiting to see the world somewhere else. We’re learning to love the world right where we are.
Why Eco-Friendly Hiking Matters
Eco-Friendly hiking isn’t about guilt. It’s about intention. It means hiking where you already are and where you’re already going. Instead of planning huge trips that blow your carbon-footprint out of the sustainable realm. It means choosing nearby parks and preserves over flights, embracing city parks, local trails, hidden overlooks, and lake shore paths. And still planning longer multi-state legs when meaningful and reasonable.
This approach:
Shrinks the carbon footprint, builds local connection, deepens seasonal awareness, supports local economies, and grows appreciation for everyday nature.
Some of Ohio’s State Parks, Preserves, and Outdoor Wonders We’re Seeing
Hocking Hills State Park
A cornerstone of Ohio hiking with waterfalls, deep rock shelters, winding forest trails, and sandstone ravines. It’s dramatic, popular, and beautiful, but also a reminder that crowds can challenge trails and quiet places alike. Hiking sustainably means going off-peak or seeking the lesser-known corners of the park to spread impact. As well as signing up for permits (they are free for specific areas) to protect the environment.
Maumee Bay State Park
Perched on Lake Erie’s shore, this 1,336-acre park offers boardwalk hiking, wetlands, bird watching, fishing, and nature observation. Bonus – No miles of difficult terrain, great for low impact days and water-linked hikes.
Highbanks Metro Park
This park is just north of Columbus with roughly ten trails. It has massive bluffs above the Olentangy River, ancient earthworks, and a nature center. Here you can learn how this all connects to geology and culture. The Perfect place for mindful hikes that meet both history and ecosystem.
Kelleys Island State Park
I may be most excited for this one. Sitting on Lake Erie the island park with six miles of mixed trails, shoreline, habitats, and glacial grooves. This is a place where water meets stone and slow walks deliver unexpected insight.
Hidden Nature Preserves like Wahkeena Nature Preserve, with wetlands and orchid habitat, unique fen landscapes, and boardwalk trails. Offering us a lesson in preservation and quiet observation.
City and Gateway Gems
Arboretums, hidden parks, local preserves, and more. Hudson Springs Park with lakes and easy trails. The Holden Arboretum canopy walk, mixing local beauty with accessible low-impact visits.
Smaller hidden spots like the Buckeye Trail that spans over 1,400 miles of varied terrain, linking birding routes, marshes, forests, prairies, and beaches right across Ohio. These places work at reminding us that nature doesn’t need to be far.
Comment and share ways you already practice Eco-Friendly hiking, or ways you plan to practice them in the coming year! I love to hear from all of you!
North Carolina
We’ll hike trails near Asheville and the Blue Ridge parkway. I’ll be prioritizing waterfalls, overlook points and local favorites.
West Virginia and Pennsylvania Routes
West Virginia’s natural treasures like North Bend State Park provide rail-trail hiking and wooded climbs with minimal emissions per mile. Nearby Pennsylvania’s Raccoon Creek State Park or Ryerson Station State Park. These offer forested trails that are a short drive from the Ohio border and great for combined adventures.
Michigan Days
Lake shore paths, urban parks and natural dunes, give us water, wind, and open space without long internal flights.
How We Practice Low-Impact Hiking
Stay on trail or areas you are allowed to explore. This is to protect flora and soil.
Always pack in, pack out.
Try to choose trails near home first.
Gently Carpool or combine trips.
Balance rugged hikes with easy preserves.
Learn local natural history as you hike.
This isn’t about saying no to travel. It’s about saying yes to responsible adventure that doesn’t erase the places we love.
A thought as we part….
This year, I aim to build a map of sustainable footsteps. As well as a collection of Ohio parks, preserves, arboretums, city parks, hidden gems, and eco-friendly travel corridors. These reflect how I plan to see the world without leaving a heavy mark behind. Nature is everywhere. Let’s make sure our footprints are thoughtful.
Share with someone you’d like to practice more Eco-friendly ways to love and see nature with!
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