More than just a walk in the woods, hiking offers a full-body workout, boosts your mood and enables you to connect with others. What’s more, as good exercise, hiking helps decrease your risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. And it strengthens bones and lowers anxiety.

So what’s not to like? If you haven’t already, try starting a hiking habit to improve your overall well-being. Stark and surrounding counties offer a wealth of trails to choose from. Here’s how to find them.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located between Akron and Cleveland, offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural history, recreational opportunities – and plenty of hiking. The park boasts more than 125 miles of hiking through a variety of habitats, with trails ranging from easy (nearly level) to more challenging. Visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park website for information and a map of hiking trails.

Carroll County Trails

A popular fishing destination, Leesville Lake and nearby Leesville Wildlife Area have hiking trails. While hunting is the most popular activity in the area, plenty of people also hike, study nature and birdwatch in these spots. Valley Run Wildlife Area, another popular hunting destination, also offers an opportunity to hit the trails.

Holmes County Hiking

The Holmes County Trail features 15.5 miles of paved surface not only for hikers, but also for buggies, bicyclists and equestrians. Nearby Ashland County boasts Mohican State Park, which offers scenic hiking trails suitable for a wide range of abilities, from easy to extreme difficulty.

Stark Parks

Stark Parks manages 15 parks and more than 120 miles of biking, hiking and equestrian trails spanning the county. Each trail has its own unique scenery, native plants, wildflowers and wildlife. Whether you’re in the mood for city sidewalks or secluded woods, Stark Parks has a trail to suit you. Visit the Stark Parks Park Finder to locate a park that sparks your interest.

Tuscarawas County Trails

The Tuscarawas County Park Department manages two sections of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail – Canal Lands Park and the Kimble Trail Section. Canal Lands Park offers about 6 miles of crushed limestone surface trail from Fort Laurens Museum to State Route 800. The Kimble Trail, also known as the Zoar Valley Trail, is about 4 miles long and provides access to Camp Tuscazoar, which also has hiking trails. You can find more Tuscarawas County hiking spots on Destination Learning.

Wayne County Trails

Rails to Trails of Wayne County has four trails totaling 21 miles. Learn more on their website. Barnes Preserve, a fully accessible nature park, is ideal for recreation and therapeutic walking and biking. Check out Visit Wayne County for information on Barnes Preserve and other outdoor recreation areas with trails. You can also find trails around Wooster by visiting AllTrails.

Local Trails

Many cities and communities have parks with walking paths and trails. Check with your local visitors bureau or parks department to find them.

Basic Safety

To be prepared, study the route ahead of time and know what you’ll encounter on your hike. And check the weather before starting out.

The American Hiking Society lists 10 essentials for hiking: appropriate footwear, map and compass or GPS, extra water and a way to purify it, extra food, rain gear and extra clothing, first aid kit, knife or multipurpose tool, sunscreen and sunglasses, backpack and safety items including a light, a whistle and a way to start a fire.

It’s also a good idea to wear insect repellent to ward off ticks and other insects that carry disease.