Dayton is ranked in the top five of "America's 15 most livable hiking towns" and was among some of the most outdoor-centric destinations across the country in a recent article by the organization RunRepeat.

The top-15 list specifically focused on locations where hiking destinations were easy to access, but also took into account the cost of living and other livability factors that would appeal to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a place to call home, the article said.

"This may be somewhat of a surprise to those unfamiliar with central Ohio," RunRepeat writers wrote about Dayton, but the outfit said the choice was made to include the Gem City because of its popularity as the "Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest" and the area's network of parks, paved trails, stunning hikes, mountain bike trails, and endless waterways for exploration — all within driving distance of the center of downtown Dayton.

Dayton was listed at no. 5, falling behind such destinations as Durango, Colorado, and Asheville, North Carolina.

This coverage was powered by the Downtown Dayton Partnership through their Fast Facts newsletter.