Trails & Ales! Chestnut Ridge Metro Park / BrewDog DogTap

History

Chestnut Ridge Metro Park is named after Chestnut Ridge, which is the first ridge in the western foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Spanning 4,500 feet and rising to 1,116 feet, American chestnut trees once dominated this ridge. These giants, which could grow 100–150 feet tall, were decimated by a fungal blight starting in 1904, killing billions across North America.

The ridge’s upper slopes host black oak, shagbark hickory, and northern red oak, while lower slopes are lush with sugar maples and American beech, creating vibrant colors in the Fall. Over 70 bird species, including wood ducks, mallards, and green herons, have been spotted in a single day, making it a birding hotspot. Wildlife like deer, rabbits, and hawks are also common.

The land has a storied past, with original deeds reportedly listing Presidents Jefferson and Madison as purchasers. However, there’s no evidence that either president personally visited or resided on the property, and specific details about their role remain limited in available records. After their involvement, ownership of the land passed through various hands, with Metro Parks acquiring parcels between 1963 and 1975 to create the park.

Summary

Here is a map of the park.

For this event, we will hike the Ridge, Meadows, and Homesite Trails, and Law's Lane, which is unmarked on some maps. None of these trails is individually very long, so we will hike a few permutations and loops until we get in 4-5 miles.

I find both the strenuousness and the trail composition of Chestnut Ridge comparable to Highbanks. Some of the hike will be unshaded though, so be ready for the possibility of some sun.

You can consider hiking shoes and a change of socks here, but in my experience, Chestnut Ridge won't punish you if you don't have them.

Where We'll Meet

Drive to the rearmost picnic area at the back of the park. There's a latrine here, but no water fountain.

There are no water fountains at Chestnut Ridge, so I strongly recommend you bring some water of your own, at least for after the hike.

Cell service here isn't great, but in the past I've been able to walk around and at least find a bar of service somewhere so I could check messages. You're probably not watching any YouTube videos here, though.

After the Hike

After the hike, we'll head to BrewDog DogTap for drinks and food. Here's their beer menu and their food menu. They also have an outdoor area that's extremely popular. BrewDog's actual address is 96 Gender Rd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110.