Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Battelle Darby Creek (7,060 acres)
6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. April through September
6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. October through March

Battelle Darby Creek is the largest Metro Park with more than 7,000 acres of prairies, fields and forests, and more than 20 miles of riparian forest along the Big and Little Darby Creeks. The Darby creeks are noted nationally for their tremendous diversity and abundance of both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals.

Designated state and national scenic rivers, the creeks are home to around 100 species of fish, five of which are endangered in Ohio. Forty-four species of freshwater mussels live in these waters, eight of which are on the Ohio endangered list.

Metro Parks has restored about 500 acres of wetlands, 500 acres of wet prairies and more than 500 acres of lush flowering prairies using only seeds native to the Darby Plains. The entrance road to the Indian Ridge Picnic Area is a great place to enjoy the splendor of such beauties as purple coneflower, royal catchfly, prairie dock, big bluestem and other wildflowers and grasses.

The park features more than 18 miles of trails and several scenic areas for picnicking.

Cross-country skiing

Hiking trails

Pet trail

Picnicking

Canoeing

Sledding

Natural Play Area

Fishing

Hunting

Bison

Nature programs

Playground equipment

Environmental study sites

BATTELLE DARBY CREEK
1775 Darby Creek Drive
Galloway, OH 43119
(southwestern Franklin County)

From I-270 take the West Broad Street (U.S. 40) exit west. Go about 5 miles on Broad Street and turn left onto Darby Creek Drive. Main entrance is about 3 miles on the right.

Indian Ridge Picnic Area: 2705 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway OH 43119. Continue south on Darby Creek Drive past the main park entrance about 1 mile. Entrance is on the right, just south of Alkire Road.

Canoe Access/Sledding Hill: 8465 Alkire Road, Galloway OH 43119: From I-270 take the West Broad Street (U.S. 40) exit west. Go about five miles on Broad Street to Darby Creek Drive. Turn left onto Darby Creek Drive and proceed 3.75 miles to Alkire Road. Turn right on Alkire Road and go about 0.75 miles. The parking lot for canoe access and the sledding hill is on the left.

Ice Skating Rink: 3711 Gardner Road, Georgesville OH 43123: Take I-70 west to exit 85, SR 142 and go south about 6.5 miles on Plain City-Georgesville Road / Gardner Road. Entrance is on the right.

Pet Trail: 2914 Georgesville/Wrightsville Road, Georgesville, OH. From I-270, take the West Broad Street (U.S. 40) exit west. Go about 5 miles on Broad Street and turn left on Darby Creek Drive. Go about 3.75 miles to Alkire Road and turn right. Go about 1 mile to Georgesville/Wrightsville Road and turn left. Entrance to the Wagtail Trail is about 0.3 miles on left.

Osprey Lake: 5800 Harrisburg-Georgesville Road, Darby Dale OH 43123: Take exit 97 on I-71 and go 5.25 miles on SR 665 to the T-junction of Norton Road/Harrisburg-Georgesville Road. Turn left onto Harrisburg-Georgesville Road and go about 0.4 miles. Entrance is on the left.

Pleasant Valley Area: 9137 US Route 62, Orient OH 43146: Take exit 94 on I-71 and go 1.75 miles on Sr 62 / SR 3 southwest towards Harrisburg. Entrance is on the left.

Public Hunting Area: Must have proper state and federal licenses to hunt legal species. In addition, special regulations apply at the park's public hunting area. Hunting Area Rules & Regulations

One reservable lodge and two reservable shelters.

Osprey Lake: Anglers can fish for catfish, bluegill and largemouth bass at this 14-acre pond. There is also a dog swimming area.

Canoe and Fishing Access: Located off Alkire Road, outdoor enthusiasts can easily get into Big and Little Darby Creek to fish, canoe or kayak.

Streamside Classroom: Metro Parks naturalists conduct free nature programs for school and youth groups.

Natural Play Area: Kids and adults can go off-trail and interact with nature in a more direct way than usual, by climbing trees and rocks, digging in the dirt, playing in streams and generally having fun.

Bison: Park at the Cedar Ridge Area parking lot (main park entrance) and walk about one mile north on the Darby Creek Greenway Trail to see the park's herd of six bison in their two bison areas (either side of the trail).

Pleasant Valley Area: Features three trails, totaling 2.25 miles. Leashed pets are permitted on all three trails, and there is a special dog swimming area southwest of the parking lot. Fishing is permitted along both quarry lakes with a valid fishing license. There are no trash cans at this area, though we provide bags at the site so visitors can collect and carry out their own trash. Please assist us in maintaining a clean, safe park. We encourage disposal of discarded fishing line and tackle into recycling containers near the parking lot. Map of area