Miami is home to many students who love the outdoors, adventure, and living an active lifestyle. And there are so many ways to get active on campus other than walking to and from classes and going to the Rec. Miami offers several mapped and maintained hiking trails, bike trails, outdoor adventure programs, and intramural sports. I personally love playing intramural broomball and taking time on the weekends or during study breaks to hike trails around campus. I’ve found that taking advantage of these opportunities is a great way to meet new people, find hidden gems in Oxford, and feel more connected to the University and town.
Hiking Trails
There are 9 distinct hiking or walking trails on and around Miami’s campus. With over 17 miles of trails in over 1,000 acres, these Natural Area trails are all connected, so whatever length of time or distance you desire, it is available. The trails have signs at all intersections with “you are here dots” showing just where you are. All signs point north so you can easily see where you are going and where you have been. My personal favorite trails are the Bachelor Loop and the Silvoor Trail. The Bachelor Loop is a longer hike with diverse scenery. My favorite part is the large suspension bridge at the end. It’s also a great photo op! The Silvoor Trail is a hidden gem on campus. It’s a bit shorter with beautiful rock waterfalls, natural rock benches, and gorgeous scenery year round.
Bike Trails
There are actual bike trails all around Oxford. My favorite is the bike trail in Peffer Park, located on the west side of U.S. 27, just south of the Art Museum. The trail begins and ends in the southwest corner of the parking lot. It is important to note that all other campus trails are protected nature preserves and biking on these trails is not allowed. Oxford also has an extensive 12 miles of trails for walking or biking. The Oxford Area Trail traverses several Oxford landmarks such as the Black Covered Bridge and Four Mile Creek. The trails are wide and paved so they are perfect for walking, wheelchairs, and bikes. You can find a complete map of the Oxford Area Trail here. The city of Oxford has also implemented bike lanes on major roads throughout town so biking around campus or around town is now safe and easy.
Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
Have you ever heard of the Outdoor Pursuit Center? The “OPC,” as it’s called, offers opportunities for adventure beyond Miami’s campus. They offer experiences in rock climbing, bouldering, ziplining, backpacking, and kayaking. They also provide rentals like tents, paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes.
Intramural Sports
Did you know that Miami University was one of the first institutions in America to create an Intramural Program? Miami did this to offer students access to structured sporting activities with an emphasis on participation, fun and safety. Intramurals are an opportunity to participate in a sport of your choice regardless of physical abilities and skill level. You can form teams with friends, classmates, or residence hall neighbors and participate in regular and playoff seasons of a sport of your choosing. Some sports commonly offered are soccer, volleyball, broomball, curling, flag football, spikeball, badminton, pickleball, kan jam, kickball, ultimate frisbee, dodgeball and more. In my time at Miami I have played on a broomball, curling, volleyball, and kickball team. It has been one of my most memorable experiences getting to play on these teams with my friends and getting to know so many other people through the program. It is also a great stress reliever and fun way to stay healthy and active.
I hope you feel inspired to get out and join a team, go on an adventure, or even just take a hike. Miami has so much to offer and you have four years to make the most of it!
Grace Cooper
