Spectacular stream cut ravines surrounded by beech-maple and oak-hickory forests highlight this 653-acre Metro Park. The 118-acre Walden Waterfowl Refuge with its 11-acre Thoreau Lake provides a sanctuary for hundreds of birds and other wildlife. The refuge is open year-round and features two elevated observation shelters with spotting scopes for viewing waterfowl. More than 220 species of birds have been sighted at the park.

Explore the beautiful outcroppings of exposed bedrock as you hike more than 5 miles of trails.

		BLENDON WOODS 4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road Westerville, OH 43081 (northeastern Franklin County) From I-270, take State Route 161 exit (30B) toward New Albany onto E. Dublin-Granville Road. Go 1.6 miles then take the Little Turtle Way exit and turn right. Go to Old State Route 161 and turn right. Entrance is 1/2 mile on left.

Four reservable picnic areas.

Disc Golf Course: Enjoy a great round of disc golf on the 3,500-foot, 18-hole course. Nominal fee per round. The course is open daily year-round (closes one hour before sunset.) Loaner discs are available from the booth or the park ranger. For information, call 614.620.1861 or visit www.bwdgc.com.

Camp Sugarbush: Available for rental to organized youth groups.

Nature Center: Your gateway to outdoor discovery. Ask a naturalist questions, discover nature through displays and look through the nature center's windows to see wildlife and get a view of The Creek, a 100-foot-long construction mirroring natural creeks in the park. (Hours)

Monarch Mansion: From June through September, visit this screened-in gazebo outside the nature center, home to free flying monarch butterflies raised at Blendon Woods for release on the annual Monarch Day.

Skating Pond: Winter outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy this one-foot deep pond.

Kiddie's sledding hill: A low hill provides just the right height and speed for young kids and beginning sledders to enjoy this fun winter activity. The hill can also be used for snow boarding.

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 in the 10-acre area.