Book excerpt: Who says you have to travel far from home to go on a great hike? In Best Hikes Columbus veteran hiker Johnny Molloy offers the absolute best hikes in the greater Columbus area. Each featured trail is perfect for the urban and suburbanite hard-pressed to find outdoor activities close to home. This guide leads you up hills, over creeks, and through forests to the best outdoor adventures around Columbus: Discover incredible vistas and spectacular rock formations at Conkles Hollow Explore an aboriginal village site at Battelle Darby Creek Park. Experience Ohio’s natural beauty at the Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve. Every chapter includes up-to-date hike specs, a brief hike description, directional cues, and a detailed map.