Capen Park — Attraction in Columbia Township

I absolutely love this place. The cliffs are fantastic to hike on, and it's a great place to go birding as well. I've completed many of my ornithology assignments for college here, and it's always fun to try to count how many turkey vultures are circling the thermals of the bluffs. The trails between Capen Park and Grindstone are a pocket of forest that are perfect to hike, and I have not been able to explore it all even after over a dozen hikes.

I also raise service dogs for a nonprofit, and the creek below the cliffs is a great place to take them for enrichment and introducing them to water. I've taken our pups there several times now, tied a long line to the tree roots and let them play, it's a great activity, especially since we now have a golden retriever who is terrified of water that we're teaching that swimming is fun with...

If you are a dog parent and are looking for off-leash hiking opportunities, this is the place to go. There are winding, seemingly endless trails to enjoy with your doggo, and unlike some other nature areas that allow for off leash dogs (note for first-timers: read the rules!), you won't often run into cyclists on the paths. In ten years, I can say I've run into maybe one cyclist. Aside from the dog friendliness, the area is beautiful and offers myriad types of trails, from ones that are flatter and easier to your pretty steep hiking up to...

Capen Park is more than just an outdoor area: it has walkable and bikeable paths as well as stunning scenic lookout points. You might see lovely engagement or family photos taking place at this spot because of the gorgeous views. The unique part about this trail is that you don't have to travel far away and is found within Columbia city limits. There are countless college students that will walk to this trail to get away from school stressors! Capen Park is a "Must Visit" trail to experience next time you are...