Blog Neighbourhood picks

2026-11-033 min readThe Awesome stay guide editorial team

Cold-weather walking on Columbus's Olentangy Trail, with the Upper Arlington access points, distances and conditions that actually matter in January and February.

Where the Trail Meets Upper Arlington

The Olentangy Trail runs roughly 13 paved miles along the river from Worthington south toward Confluence Park in downtown Columbus, and Upper Arlington sits against its western bank for a long stretch. The most useful entry for visitors is the Northmoor Park access off West North Broadway near North Star Road, where a short connector drops you onto the main path. Kiwanis Park and the Lane Road area near the OSU campus give you two more options. All three have small parking lots, and all three are free. From the Northmoor connector south to the Lane Avenue bridge is about 2.5 miles one way; continue to the King Avenue crossing and you have added another 1.8.

Winter on this stretch means bare sycamores, a wide grey river and long sightlines through the trees where summer foliage normally blocks the view. The path is asphalt, plowed after most snows by Columbus and the university, though the Upper Arlington connectors can stay slick for a day or two. Daylight is the real constraint: in January sunset lands near 5:30pm, so a two-hour out-and-back should start by early afternoon. Weekday mornings are quiet; weekend afternoons bring runners and dog walkers even in February.

What to Wear and What to Expect

Temperatures in Columbus in January and February often sit in the high 20s to low 40s Fahrenheit, and the trail's exposure to wind off the water makes it feel colder than a sheltered neighbourhood street. Dress in layers you can shed, and bring a hat that covers your ears. Footwear matters more than on a summer walk: shaded sections north of the Lane Avenue bridge hold ice after a freeze-thaw cycle, and the bridge decks themselves ice first. Traction cleats that slip over boots cost little at any Columbus outdoor store. Bring water; the drinking fountains along the route are shut off seasonally, and the nearest open facilities are at the university or in Grandview Heights.

The birds are the reward. Winter thins the canopy and brings down woodpeckers, chickadees and the occasional hawk over the river corridor, and the water stays open enough in most years for mallards and Canada geese. If you walk south past the Lane Avenue bridge, the path passes beneath the Ohio State campus edge, where the university's oval and mirror lake are a ten-minute detour. Northbound, the trail toward Worthington is flatter and quieter. Skip the segment south of King Avenue in icy conditions: the underpasses there collect meltwater and refreeze overnight.

Warming Up Afterward

Upper Arlington's own Lane Avenue corridor between Northwest Boulevard and the river has coffee shops and casual restaurants within a five-minute drive of the Northmoor and Kiwanis access points. Grandview Heights, immediately south and east, offers more choice along Grandview Avenue and Fifth Avenue, both a short drive from the trail's Lane Avenue crossing. For a longer outing, cross into the Short North via High Street, about a ten-minute drive from the King Avenue end of the trail, where galleries and restaurants cluster around the convention center. Budget expectations vary widely; expect cafe prices in the modest range and full dinners notably higher in the Short North than in Grandview.

If you want the walk without a car shuffle, base yourself in Upper Arlington or Grandview Heights. Upper Arlington hotels sit mostly along Lane Avenue and Northwest Boulevard, close to the Northmoor and Lane Avenue trail ends and roughly 15 minutes from downtown Columbus outside rush hour. Grandview Heights puts you nearer the southern trail access and the Grandview Avenue dining strip. I would book Upper Arlington for a family visit with a car, Grandview Heights for a couple who wants to walk to dinner. Both are quieter than downtown in winter and easier to park at than Short North addresses.

Timing the Trip

Late January and February are the most reliable weeks for a cold-weather walk: the river is at its clearest, the paths are empty on weekday mornings, and hotel rates in the Columbus area are typically at their softest outside event weekends. Check the university calendar and any downtown convention schedule before you commit, because a home football weekend or a large convention can tighten availability across the metro, including Upper Arlington and Grandview Heights. Early December is an alternative, but the shorter days leave little margin for an afternoon walk and the trail can be busy with students finishing the semester.

Plan a single out-and-back rather than a through-hike. The most satisfying winter route is Northmoor Park south to the Lane Avenue bridge and back, roughly five miles and two hours at a steady pace, with a coffee stop on Lane Avenue at the end. Add the loop through Ohio State's oval if the light holds. What to skip: the northern Worthington stretch, which is pleasant but adds a drive without much new scenery, and any attempt to walk the full trail in one go in winter. Two hours of daylight walking beats a five-hour slog in failing light every time.

Before you book

What people ask before booking Upper Arlington.