In today’s world of Zoom meetings, screen time, and social media, taking time to enjoy the outdoors can be the best antidote. In fact, studies have even shown that spending time in nature can be good for your health! Why not swap some of your screen time with some scenic time in Columbiana County?
Columbiana County is the perfect place to appreciate what Mother Nature has to offer. With scenic vistas, many municipal and state parks, bird watching opportunities, and a variety of other outdoor recreational activities to choose from, there are plenty of ways to take some time to get outside. If you’re looking for things to do in Columbiana County, read on for some excellent options.
Pick your passion!
Columbiana County has outdoor recreational activities well suited for a variety of interests, ages, mobility levels, group sizes, and experience levels. We’ve compiled a list of some below, but be sure to check out our Recreation page for even more fun activities.
The Little Beaver Creek Greenway Bike Trail
Cycling
The Little Beaver Creek Greenway Bike Trail
“Like riding a bike…” Just like you never forget how to ride a bike, you’ll never forget the first time you cruise down the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Bike Trail. This 12-mile trail was first opened in 2000 and has become a popular route for cyclists, hikers, and runners alike. Following the path of the Little Beaver Creek River, the trail stretches from Washingtonville in the northern portion of the county all the way down to the county seat, Lisbon. Along the way, you can take in the trail’s scenic views from wooded areas to wetland wildlife habitats to open fields. You can also see incredible remnants from Ohio’s history like the Leetonia Beehive Coke Ovens, Teegarden Centennial covered bridge, and the Sandy Beaver Canal.
The trail has eight parking lots to start from, so you can do as much or as little of the trail as you’d like. Some lots are wheelchair accessible. There are also picnic tables, benches, and restrooms along the way. Take a look at the trail map to begin planning your route!
If renting a bike is more your style, Donna’s Bicycle Shop in Lisbon offers bicycles, tricycles, and tandem bikes for rent by the hour.
Beloved by Cyclists for Years
Columbiana County has a history of being beloved by cyclists. Since 1995, “Spring In Columbiana County, Ohio” has involved a gathering of regional cyclists to tour the county. This event is commonly referred to as SICCO and it’s organized by a local cycling group called the “out-spokin wheelmen”. The event is open to anyone. It involves a 35-mile route throughout the county and occurs annually on the first Sunday in May.
Centennial Park
Disc Golf
Get your steps in and test your disc golf skills with us. Columbiana County is home to six disc golf courses around the county, all of which are free to play.
Scenic Vista Park Disc Golf Course
Udisc.com ranking (4.4)
Located in Lisbon, this beautiful and woodsy 18-hole course built in 2018 is a challenge that winds in and out of forested areas and open holes.
East Palestine Disc Golf Course
Udisc.com ranking (4.2)
East Palestine Disc Golf Course is an 18-hole course located in East Palestine City Park. This course does have a lake that comes into play on a few holes, so beginners should take care to review the course map before starting their round.
Centennial Park Disc Golf Course
Udisc.com ranking (3.8)
Enjoy one of Salem’s best-known and historic public spaces, Centennial Park, by playing a 9-hole round of disc golf! The course allows you to admire the park’s wooded areas, including old, dense oak trees.
Firestone Park Disc Golf Course
Udisc.com ranking (3.8)
This course is an excellent option for disc golf beginners but provides plenty of enjoyment for veterans as well. This 9-hole course in the city of Columbiana’s Firestone Park weaves through the park, giving you some unique scenery including a public pool, pickleball courts, and a lake.
Thompson Park Disc Golf Course
Udisc.com ranking (3.8)
If you want to play a LOT of disc golf, East Liverpool’s Thompson Park Disc Golf Course contains a mix of 27 both wooded and open holes.
Hammond Park
Udisc.com ranking (3.7)
Stroll through Wellsville’s beautiful Hammond Park, which is home to an 18-hole disc golf course that was built in 2022.
The Links at Firestone Farms
Golf
Whether you’re looking for an 18-hole championship course to test your skills, want to enjoy a more casual 9-hole round, or simply wish to play somewhere new, Columbiana County is the place to play your round. Visit our Recreation page to learn more about the courses located in or near Negley, Columbiana, Lisbon, East Rochester, Beloit, Calcutta, and Alliance.
Guilford Lake State Park
Watersports
Are you looking to spend some time on or in the water with swimming, boating, canoeing, and kayaking? Columbiana County’s waterways are the perfect spot. Be sure to check out our Recreation page for even more ideas.
Guilford Lake State Park
As the county’s largest lake, Guilford Lake State Park is a fantastic destination for anyone interested in water sports. The nearly 400-acre lake permits both hand-powered watercraft as well as boats with motors up to 10 horsepower. If you don’t have your own, kayak and paddle boat rentals are available as are power boat rentals. There’s also a public swimming beach on the northwest side of the lake.
Little Beaver Creek
Did you know that the Little Beaver Creek was the first river in Ohio (and in the nation) to be designated a wild river? Kayakers and canoers alike can enjoy gorgeous views and experience wildlife on its 36-mile route. It has eight access points from just south of Leetonia to East Liverpool, with parking, restrooms, and picnic benches offered at many of them. While the river has mostly quiet pools and clear swiftly flowing tributaries, some areas do have rapids most appropriate for experts, so plan your route carefully and research the water levels before you go.
Zepernick Wildlife Area
You don’t want to miss this 518-acre wildlife area situated in the western part of
Columbiana County, near Hanoverton. The area features a 39-acre lake accessible by a boat ramp located off of the largest parking lot. Its marsh, ponds, open fields, and wooded areas are also great for hiking, fishing, and hunting.
Beehive Coke Ovens
Hiking
Hiking opportunities are available all over Columbiana County, including in many of the parks mentioned here such as Guilford Lake State Park, Beaver Creek State Park, Scenic Vista Park, Hellbender Bluff, Zepernick Wildlife Area, and the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Bike Trail. But, that’s just the start of hiking here!
Beehive Coke Ovens
In Leetonia, you’ll find an opportunity for a truly unique hiking experience as well as a good reminder of our region’s economic history. The Beehive Coke Ovens are brick structures that are all that remain of the Leetonia Iron and Coal company, which used the ovens to purify coal from nearby mines. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The park itself is 10-acres with an additional 25-acre nature preserve. It is also connected to the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Bike Trail, if you’d like to walk a paved route.
North Country National Scenic Trail
Columbiana County is home to a long-stretch of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which stretches 4,800 miles across eight states from North Dakota to Vermont. It roughly follows the route of the Sandy and Beaver Canal Systems and it trails through Beaver Creek State Park before reaching Pennsylvania. Hikers will experience both on-road and off-road hiking on this route, and camping spots are available along the way. The views will range from rolling hills, scenic farmland, and quintessential small towns to dense forests, river views, and scenic overlooks.
Beaver Creek State Park Wildlife Education Center
Watching the Wildlife
Columbiana County is home to an abundance of birds, fish, and mammal species. Come observe these creatures in their natural environments and experience the wonders that nature has to offer.
Ohio Owls and Birdwatching
If you’re an ornithologist, or just a casual birdwatcher, there are plenty of sites around the county to catch a glimpse of Ohio Owls and other birds. Birdinghotspots.org has a useful map of the best locations around the county for birdwatching.
Beaver Creek State Park Wildlife Education Center
For families (or really anyone interested in learning more about wildlife in Ohio) the Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center is an excellent educational resource. During your visit to this museum of natural history and learning center, you can see over 300 mounted specimens from across North America, discover how to identify different birds, view Native American artifacts, and even hold a live snake!
Hellbender Salamander
We couldn’t write a post about Columbiana County’s wildlife without mentioning the famous Hellbender salamander. It is Ohio’s largest amphibian and can grow up to two feet long or more. Seeing this endangered animal is rare, but you may catch a glimpse of one at one of our parks such as Hellbender Bluff or Beaver Creek State Park.
Beaver Creek State Park Campground
Camping
There’s nothing quite like setting up camp, relaxing by a bonfire, and sleeping underneath the stars. Columbiana County has plenty of places to rest your head for the night, including public and private camping options.
Guilford Lake State Park Camping
Guilford Lake State Park Campground has 40 electric sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. The campground’s private beach and playground make it perfect for families. Its positioning along the lake also gives campers access to boat docks, and kayaks and paddle boats are available for rent.
Beaver Creek State Park
You can’t possibly experience everything Beaver Creek State Park has to offer in a day. It is a beautiful park for hiking, fishing, kayaking, or canoeing. The park also has incredible historic locations you won’t want to miss, including Gaston’s Mill, the Thomas J. Malone covered bridge, the Sandy and Beaver canal, and a historical marker to memorialize the death of famous bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd. The campground itself has 6 electric sites and 39 non-electric sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring.
Hellbender Bluff
Hunting
For those of you who are just counting down the days until hunting season, there are several public hunting areas in the county.
Hellbender Bluff
Hellbender Bluff is a 752-acre wildlife area located south of Lisbon. It’s an excellent opportunity for hunters – especially if you’re interested in whitetail deer or turkey (both of which have a significant population in the wildlife area).
Principal game at Hellbender Bluff includes:
- Whitetail deer
- Turkey
- Rabbit
- Ruffed grouse Woodcock
Scenic Vista Park
Scenic Vista Park is another public hunting area near Lisbon. The 250-acre park lives up to its name with a mix of second growth forest and grassland meadows.
Principal game at Scenic Vista Park includes:
- Whitetail deer
- Turkey
- Squirrels
For additional hunting information be sure to check out the Recreation page on our website.
Beaver Creek State Park
Fishing
Get your tackle box ready because Columbiana County has a variety of places for fishing. We’ll feature two of the state park opportunities here, but there are many others in the region. Just remember, you will need a valid fishing license and will need to follow Ohio’s fishing regulations.
Guilford Lake Fishing
Guilford Lake State Park is a stunning area to cast your line in. If the fish aren’t biting in one spot, you’ve got plenty of others to choose from over 7.7 miles of shoreline and 361 acres of water. Guilford Lake has 3 fishing piers, one of which has several fishing attractors nearby. There are also multiple boat ramps around the lake. Be sure to download the fishing map today to make sure you’re prepared!
According to the Ohio DNR some of the fish you can expect to catch at Guilford Lake include:
- Bass
- Bluegill
- Crappie
- Channel catfish
- Crappie
Beaver Creek State Park Fishing
Beaver Creek State Park near East Liverpool is another great fishing location. With access to stream fishing, you’ll have the opportunity to catch smallmouth bass and rock bass.
Beaver Creek State Park Equestrian Camp
Horse Riding
Beaver Creek State Park also has some of the best horse riding trails in the state. The trails range from easy terrain, such as gently sloping hills with groomed surfaces, to challenging terrain with steeper hills and wider water crossings. When you and your horse are ready to rest for the night, you can stay at one of the 59 primitive campsites, the Equestrian Camp on Sprucevale Road.
When you’re ready to hit the outdoors, Columbiana County is a paradise. It’s the perfect place to create your own adventure with a variety of outdoor recreational activities, including biking, golfing, hiking, kayaking, boating, fishing, hunting, camping, and horse riding. Located in the gorgeous foothills of the Appalachian mountains, it truly offers a one-of-a-kind experience.