If you love being active outdoors, you can now get rewarded for your time in nature through the new Columbus Outdoor Trails Pass.

Experience Columbus + the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission teamed up for the free program, and here’s how it works.

What is the program?

There are many outdoor trails in CBUS, whether they’re for biking, running, rowing, or hiking. Each time you check-in at a participating trail, you can receive points that go towards monthly drawings for local gift cards. The more trails you check-in at, the more chances you’ll have to win.

Wetlands at Batelle Darby Creek | Photo via @supermanfdbs

Participating trails

There are a variety of trail options across many suburbs of Columbus that are participating in the program, including:

Alum Creek Trail at Three Creeks Metro Park — Enjoy paths for biking and open play areas, plus hit the water for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.
Darby Trail at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park — Take in scenic views across the prairies, wetlands, and forests of this metro park, including bison roaming in pastures.
TJ Evans Trail — An active bald eagle nest can be found along this biking trail, just look past Racoon Creek in a sycamore tree.
Emerald Trail at Indian Run Falls Park — The trail is known for its waterfalls, and you can take in the sights and sounds on a nearby bridge.

This is what the pass will look like once you add it to you mobile device. | Photo by CBUStoday

Signing up + getting started

Fill out your information online, and you will be texted or emailed a pass with the option to save it to your phone’s home screen, making it very easy to access. Whenever you’re within a quarter mile of a participating location, you’re able to check-in.

Redeeming your rewards

You could win $100 gift cards to places like the North Market, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, COSI, and DSW. Participants can win one gift card per calendar year — this program runs through 2024 and 2025.