top of page
Young fitness woman legs walking with group of people exercise walking in the city public

 JOIN US THIS SATURDAY!

Weekly walks step off every Saturday at 8 AM from the Schiller statue in Schiller Park. Choose 3- or 5-mile routes through downtown neighborhoods and parks. No minimum fitness requirements - all walking paces are supported!

Welcome to Our
Walking Club

Since 2015, the German Village Walking Club has been open to all walkers everywhere. No matter where you live—or your pace, distance, or experience—you're always welcome to walk with us. You never need to be a formal member to join a walk. So come out and give us a try! We offer 3- and 5-mile routes through Columbus' downtown parks and urban neighborhoods so you can choose a distance that works for you, and walkers of all fitness levels are supported. We meet at the Schiller statue in Schiller Park every Saturday at 8 AM (weather permitting). Many of us stick around afterwards for coffee and conversation at Winans. (We don't walk when it's lightening, icy, or sub-zero wind chills. Instead, we head directly to Winans!) You’re welcome to walk with us anytime, whether or not you’re a formal member—though we’d love to have you join officially. Membership is just $35 for the first year ($25 thereafter) and comes with some great perks. Come as you are. Whenever you can. We’re glad you’re here.

What You Can Expect

When you walk with the German Village Walking Club, you can expect consistency, variety, and community. When you walk with us, you’ll meet people who start as walking companions and quickly become friends—real friends who enjoy lingering after walks for coffee and conversation and who support one another’s health and fitness goals.

When you walk with us, you can count on us. We show up every Saturday—rain or shine—with rotating routes through urban parks and downtown neighborhoods. We offer 3- and 5-mile options, so you can choose a distance that fits your mood, your fitness, or your time.

Beyond the weekly walks, the club offers opportunities for people to formally come together for activities such as group breakfasts, volunteering to support the South Side neighborhood, cheering each other on at races, and celebrating together at our members-only holiday party. Just as often, though, connections happen informally. Folks gather for happy hours, spontaneous meetups, and seasonal events (think: arts festival in the summer and holiday lights at Christmastime). Because community doesn’t only happen on Saturday mornings.

If you sign up for the newsletter, you can expect to receive a weekly email with links to helpful information about health and fitness. That's also where we share occasional news about the accomplishments of club members. 

Most of all, you can expect real people, genuine connections, and friendships that extend well beyond walking. If you’re ready to walk, we’ll be there.

Weekly Routes
Tying Shoelaces_edited.jpg

Weekly Routes

Our weekly routes rotate among five favorite 5-mile walks through parks and neighborhoods. The route for the upcoming Saturday will be marked with flashing >>. A 3-mile alternative is always available and will be explained at the Schiller statue before we start. Click on any route below to view a map.

Upcoming walk route is indicated below by:

Downtown Bridges

Downtown Bridges

Starts at Schiller Park, heads through Scioto Audubon Park, north on Scioto Trail, up and west across Broad St. Bridge, south past COSI to Main St. Bridge, and back through Scioto Audubon Park to Schiller Park. (Click for map)

North Bank Park

North Bank Park

Starts at Schiller Park, heads through Scioto Audubon Park, north along Scioto Trail to North Bank Park, back around to Broad Street, up to Statehouse, south through Columbus Commons and back to Schiller. (Click for map)

Franklinton + Veterans Museum

Franklinton + Veterans Museum

From Schiller Park, head through Scioto Audubon to Main St. bridge downtown. Head west across bridge, bearing left on Rich Street into Franklinton. Right turn on McDowell St., pass breweries, all the way to Gravity. Head east on Broad St. to Veterans Museum (run the spiral steps). Cross Broad St. bridge up to High St., then through the Statehouse grounds and Columbus Commons. At Rich St, head east to Third St., then south back to Winans. (Click for map)

Otto's Route

Otto's Route

From Schiller, head to High St., then south to Greenlawn Ave. West on Greenlawn across bridge. Turn right and follow trail signs to the trail underneath bridge. Head to end of trail, turn around, and follow same route back. Add a loop around Schiller Park to get 5 miles.

Topiary Route

Topiary Route

Starts at Schiller Park, heads north through Columbus Commons and Statehouse, east on Gay St. to Art Museum, south through Topiary Park to Grant St. south to Beck St., west through Frank Fetch Park and back to Schiller. (Click for map)

What People Say

EVERY STORY IS DIFFERENT. THE COMMON THREAD IS COMMUNITY.

What's your reason?

KATIE R.

I wanted to find a group of people who are active, like being outdoors and giving to the community. I did a Google search and the GVWC popped up. During my first visit in October 2025, I was made to feel so welcome, everyone was so kind. The winter gloves/hats/scarves collection in December to benefit a local community organization is the type of activity that I enjoy participating in. This walking club is exactly the kind of social group I've been looking for.

LYNNE B.

I joined GVWC in 2017 when I moved to German Village and had recently separated from my husband. I was new to Columbus and lonely. I loved walking and wanted to make new friends. GVWC became an extended family. I have made great friends, learned more about Columbus, done some great volunteer work, survived an epidemic and a divorce, all with the support of GVWC. I find myself inviting people to join us regularly, hoping they will find what they are looking for as I have. I am thankful to Larry, our founder, for what he has built and nurtured.

DAVID & JANET R.

In 2017, Janet and I traded familiarity for excitement, packing up to Columbus to start a bold new chapter in our lives. But reality hit hard—new jobs drained our energy, networking events felt like sales pitches, and genuine friendships stayed just out of reach. That's when Otto Beatty, a good friend from business circles, kept nudging us to join the German Village Walking Club at Schiller Park. We begrudgingly showed up, and everything shifted. The group welcomed us as if we were old friends. We wandered through brick-lined streets, past storybook homes and blooming gardens, trading stories and forming lifelong friends! Though we moved out of state in 2025, we'll forever cherish the German Village Walking Club for transforming our daunting move to Columbus into an eight-year love affair we hated to leave. For anyone seeking new friends or a sense of belonging in unfamiliar surroundings, this is the club to join! Forever GVWC Members!

LISA M.

I will never forget running into you and other GVWC members on the bike path at Audubon Park in the summer of 2024. It was a time of great transition for me and my husband and we were just getting to know our new neighborhood. Your kindness and generosity and welcoming words really made a difference for me. I'll be forever grateful.

Contact Us

New here or just curious? We’re happy to answer questions—reach out anytime and sign up for our newsletter to stay connected.

614-314-7798

Thanks for submitting! You'll hear from us soon!

image.png

Funny Story!
The GVWC's
inauspicious
start.

The Full Story Here

GVWC Founder

LarryWalksFast

Become a Member

Good news! You don’t have to be a paid member to walk with us. Everyone is welcome to show up any Saturday for our 3- or 5-mile walks, and many folks stick around afterward to socialize at Winans. Anyone can sign up for our newsletter to stay connected, and if you decide to become a paid member, you’ll score a GVWC Club T-shirt, a $15 gift card to Columbus Running Company, and an invitation to our annual members-only party. Think of membership as a way to support the club and enjoy a few extra perks.

Send checks for registration ($35) and annual renewal ($25), made payable to "German Village Walking Club," to:

ATTN: German Village Walking Club

41 W. Frankfort St., Columbus, OH 43206

Send Us Your Photos

WHERE IN THE WORLD HAS YOUR WALKING TAKEN YOU?

dave and janet

dave and janet

20171021_080445

20171021_080445

steph-hugging-granddaughter

steph-hugging-granddaughter

christie and otto

christie and otto

Perry Chad Monica Miles Kids

Perry Chad Monica Miles Kids

Our motto

Our motto

Joint walk w/ NAWC

Joint walk w/ NAWC

The club

The club

Valters 11-18-23

Valters 11-18-23

Walkers

Walkers

coffee cup

coffee cup

Cindy at the Senior Games

Cindy at the Senior Games

Friends and fun

Friends and fun

It's a cold group 2-19-22

It's a cold group 2-19-22

In Israel

In Israel

Dr. Shilpa and the Mount Carmel Tent

Dr. Shilpa and the Mount Carmel Tent

Friends at a holiday party

Friends at a holiday party

Grania - GVWC is the place to be

Grania - GVWC is the place to be

Walking with the AAMWW

Walking with the AAMWW

Purple outside Winans

Purple outside Winans

Joyce is a champ!

Joyce is a champ!

Ken walked El Camino

Ken walked El Camino

Vern

Vern

Dee and group

Dee and group

We walk year-round

We walk year-round

Dee and Kristen

Dee and Kristen

Karin and her mom

Karin and her mom

GVWC at AA walk

GVWC at AA walk

Chris

Chris

Shilpa speaks before our walk

Shilpa speaks before our walk

Neal and Joyce

Neal and Joyce

Ken at El Camino

Ken at El Camino

Dale and Terri

Dale and Terri

Nancy and Jeff

Nancy and Jeff

Good advice

Good advice

Diedre jumping

Diedre jumping

Walking

Walking

Walking in the summer

Walking in the summer

Michael 40

Michael 40

GVWC walked through a pandemic

GVWC walked through a pandemic

Dr Steph @ the Flying Pig

Dr Steph @ the Flying Pig

Dr. Steph and Linda at the Queen Bee in 2018

Dr. Steph and Linda at the Queen Bee in 2018

LarryWalksFast and Mrs. WalksFast

LarryWalksFast and Mrs. WalksFast

John speaks to the crowd

John speaks to the crowd

20181215_095428

20181215_095428

Gathering at the statue 2-23-19

Gathering at the statue 2-23-19

First Day Back 7-11-20

First Day Back 7-11-20

More good advice

More good advice

Drew doing pull-ups

Drew doing pull-ups

Sometimes we have guest speakers

Sometimes we have guest speakers

MIke pacing the Columbus Half 2010

MIke pacing the Columbus Half 2010

LWF and Dee

LWF and Dee

GVWC at Reeb 4-24-18

GVWC at Reeb 4-24-18

OHIO

OHIO

Winans Experience

Winans Experience

Drew Doug Kels no NAWC

Drew Doug Kels no NAWC

valter as easter bunny

valter as easter bunny

john and chad and christina

john and chad and christina

grroup at statue

grroup at statue

Winans

Winans

outside winans

outside winans

aam5k1

aam5k1

GVWC 1

GVWC 1

Holiday Lights Group

Holiday Lights Group

Columbus Commons Last Group

Columbus Commons Last Group

scioto mile 3

scioto mile 3

Whole gang

Whole gang

Sheryl Brooke Emerald City

Sheryl Brooke Emerald City

AAMWWI GVWC Passion Team

AAMWWI GVWC Passion Team

group Reeb May 23 2017

group Reeb May 23 2017

_edited

_edited

GVWC Servers

GVWC Servers

Jim and Chef  Eduardo

Jim and Chef Eduardo

Dr. Steph Col Half 2016 2

Dr. Steph Col Half 2016 2

Taking a break before the crowd

Taking a break before the crowd

Chris the Pastry Lady

Chris the Pastry Lady

lss raffle 1

lss raffle 1

happy greek

happy greek

group 1

group 1

happy greek group 2

happy greek group 2

Campbell Team

Campbell Team

Em Smas Gab Finish

Em Smas Gab Finish

Mile 25.5  Chicago

Mile 25.5 Chicago

deb karin 4 miler NA

deb karin 4 miler NA

finish hot

finish hot

th (2)

th (2)

Shilpa addressing crowd

Shilpa addressing crowd

Shilpa addressing crowd 2

Shilpa addressing crowd 2

Shilpa addressing crowd 3

Shilpa addressing crowd 3

start schiller

start schiller

Dr. Steph Col Half 2016 1

Dr. Steph Col Half 2016 1

past 8

past 8

goofy walkers

goofy walkers

Walk the Talk - Gloria Mo Darla Chuck

Walk the Talk - Gloria Mo Darla Chuck

Community Walk Start

Community Walk Start

LWF push-ups on Audubon Scioto trail

LWF push-ups on Audubon Scioto trail

The Girls

The Girls

LWF

LWF

janel2

janel2

Group Winans

Group Winans

GGMT team

GGMT team

drew and em col 2025

drew and em col 2025

Roberta2

Roberta2

Columbus Fall Pic of River 11-1-25

Columbus Fall Pic of River 11-1-25

frank stoy

frank stoy

Jolyn and Mindy

Jolyn and Mindy

otto NYC

otto NYC

Otto Bullseye

Otto Bullseye

john speak

john speak

Jim tree 2

Jim tree 2

Jim tree 3

Jim tree 3

transparent new CRC logo

transparent new CRC logo

Jim tree 1

Jim tree 1

external-file_edited

external-file_edited

janel 1

janel 1

lss aja after completing 4 Halfs

lss aja after completing 4 Halfs

linda col 2025

linda col 2025

Feb 2025 GVWC Party

Feb 2025 GVWC Party

Larry and Shilpa

Larry and Shilpa

drew and kelsey turkey trot

drew and kelsey turkey trot

dave and janet pisa

dave and janet pisa

Mindy

Mindy

LSS AJA Mainly Marathons

LSS AJA Mainly Marathons

Eleanor Linda Steph Glass City May 2024

Eleanor Linda Steph Glass City May 2024

Group Picture April 2024

Group Picture April 2024

Em and Lou

Em and Lou

otto hiking

otto hiking

wintery Feb 2024

wintery Feb 2024

10-12-21

10-12-21

Crowd eating

Crowd eating

Rod Bullseye

Rod Bullseye

steph col 2025

steph col 2025

Vicki Bullseye

Vicki Bullseye

joyce and cindy

joyce and cindy

Dave being Dave

Dave being Dave

Al Marathon Finisher

Al Marathon Finisher

external-file_edited

external-file_edited

IMG-3594

IMG-3594

2-18-24 Hearty Crowd

2-18-24 Hearty Crowd

Schiller Maine

Schiller Maine

Family Doing Portland Half

Family Doing Portland Half

Linda and Steph

Linda and Steph

_edited

_edited

D-A-K Pig

D-A-K Pig

Ari at the Pig

Ari at the Pig

Cindy Boston

Cindy Boston

BS and GVWC

BS and GVWC

Jamie bullseye

Jamie bullseye

6-14-22

6-14-22

ari in newsletter

ari in newsletter

CHristie

CHristie

otto

otto

vicky

vicky

Resized_20230115_074217 (1)

Resized_20230115_074217 (1)

snow crowd 1-13-18

snow crowd 1-13-18

IMG_5459

IMG_5459

cold walkers

cold walkers

dressing for the part

dressing for the part

main group2

main group2

baby plus YPs

baby plus YPs

joyce

joyce

extra mile

extra mile

IMG_2681 (1)

IMG_2681 (1)

Resized_20221106_164318

Resized_20221106_164318

janel 1

janel 1

IMG_6593

IMG_6593

20221106_165758

20221106_165758

drew relay across america

drew relay across america

D Group.

D Group.

AA Walk

AA Walk

_edited

_edited

6-2-20

6-2-20

Jori2

Jori2

Yellow Springs

Yellow Springs

dr step linda aep 10K

dr step linda aep 10K

joyce2

joyce2

D and the Gang

D and the Gang

Cindy Senior Games

Cindy Senior Games

GVWC loosens up

GVWC loosens up

steph and linda 2

steph and linda 2

Shilpa addressing crowd

Shilpa addressing crowd

bottom of page