Hogback Ridge Park - Sunbury, OH
Hogback Ridge Park: Dog-Friendly Hiking and Nature in Sunbury, Ohio
Hogback Ridge Park is a serene 41-acre nature preserve located just east of Alum Creek Reservoir in Sunbury, Ohio. Well-loved for its curated gravel and dirt trails winding through beautiful wooded ravines, this park offers pet-friendly hiking in a tranquil setting. Dog owners can enjoy easy-to-moderate walking paths, optional stairways for a better workout, and wildlife viewing opportunities, all with dogs allowed on-leash throughout the park.
This family-friendly park features a staffed nature center (check hours), picnic tables, public restrooms, and plentiful shade thanks to the mature forest canopy. There’s ample parking near the visitor center, and wheelchair accessible entrances assist guests of all abilities. While there isn’t a designated off-leash dog area, the scenic, shaded trails are perfect for exploring with your leashed pup in Sunbury. Don’t forget to take in the pond and wildlife blind, a favorite spot for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed at Hogback Ridge Park? Yes, dogs are welcome at Hogback Ridge Park as long as they are on a leash.
- What are the leash requirements for dogs? Dogs must remain on-leash at all times while visiting the park.
- Are there walking or hiking trails at the park? Yes, the park features multiple hiking trails and looped paths of varying lengths, suitable for both casual walkers and more adventurous hikers.
- Are there restrooms at the park? Yes, there are public restroom facilities and a porta potty available near the nature center.
- Is Hogback Ridge Park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the park offers wheelchair accessible parking and entrances.
- Is there parking available at the park? Yes, parking is available near the nature center and at several other small lots within the park.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, the wooded environment provides plenty of shade along the trails, and there are picnic tables for seating.
- Are children’s activities or playgrounds available? While there isn’t a playground, the park is good for kids and offers a nature center with educational elements and kid-friendly hikes.
- Are staff or rangers present at the park? Yes, there are rangers and staff at the nature center who can assist visitors.
Reviews
Hogback Ridge is a serene 41 acre preservation park nestled in Delaware County east of Alum Creek Reservoir, just south of Kilborne.
I love the park for its curated gravelled trails through several ravines. It also has a wildlife blind area near a pond great for bird watchers.
There is a staffed nature center with educational elements and bird watching areas. The rangers are great with kids, and can address most any question about the park and it’s wildlife.
It’s a wonderfully peaceful park near sunset, with the sun streaming through the trees every view is something to behold.
This is an excellent, quick trail. Many options to loop back sooner. If you travel this road often you must stop and take a walk at this trail. Mostly flat, some incline, optional stairs if you choose to walk down the ravine. Medium-wide dirt/gravel path. Nice view of a swamp.
Awesome little park that I found on Google Maps. This place has a visitors/nature center. It was closed due to Covid-19. But, looked like they have restroom facilities. There is still a porta potty if need be. Plenty of parking available. The trails are easily walkable. Not much water in the creek today. Nice place to enjoy a walk and enjoy nature.
Not an easy park to navigate and explore in terms of 1) access 2) easy to navigate 3) signs of park. Access to this park requires a good 10 minutes of country road of 2 lanes and the main sign is not easy to find unless you follow GPS. Once you enter, it leads you to a very narrow one lane path used for both in and out traffic so be cautious. Parking arrangements are also strange in 3-5 cars in several circles and they are limited. There are 3-4 trail entrances to take you short 2-3 miles of circles but the trail connected to the alum creek state park is shared with horse riders so be careful with their discharges, unmarked trails, narrow path and not so well maintained forest area once you step into the state park. I wish they do not connect with a state park or horse trails after all. Here are my tips to enjoy your time at this park;
1) park right next to the nature center and walk toward the water fountain behind the center that takes you to the best trail of this park; if you park away from the center, walk toward the trail behind of the center to start -check my map that I posted
2) follow the path until you see the intersection of stairs down to the hill on your left side and another one-strait one leading you to the horse trail, alum creek state park
3) take the stairs that take you to the rest of the park and turn around if you see the sign of the state park and notice the path gets narrower and less maintained
4) somehow, if you enter the state park, it is easy to get lost and they did not mark their trails well nor maintain trails. Follow the pink or orange ribbon until you get back to the Delaware county park.
Small trails that you can hook together to make a 1.1 mile trail. Easy to follow. Love that there are steps to get the heart rate up. Porta potty on site and a nature center, not open on the weekends. Beautiful woods highly recommend.