Hours and Info

April 1-September 30: 6:30am-10pm
October 1-March 31: 6:30am-8pm

Phone: 614-620-1861
Nature Center: 614-895-6221
April-September: 9am-8pm
October-March: 9am-6pm
Reservations: reservations@metroparks.net

Programs at Blendon Woods

About

Blendon Woods contains spectacular stream-cut ravines with exposed ripple rock sandstone and open fields surrounded by beech-maple and oak-hickory forests. The 653-acre park is a great place to see a variety of songbirds, waterfowl and other wildlife, especially the flock of wild turkeys meandering about in search of food. The 118-acre Walden Waterfowl Refuge with its 11-acre Thoreau Lake provides a sanctuary for hundreds of birds, ducks and other wildlife. Open year-round, it features two elevated observation shelters with spotting scopes for viewing waterfowl.

Photo: Daniel Umberger

Photo: Patrick Kelly

Park Map

Click the map below for a zoomed/enlarged version

BLN-parkmap2018@2x

Trails

Brookside

0.8 miles
Easy – Hike – Gravel
Passes through woods, crosses Ripple Rock Creek and connects with the Hickory Ridge and Ripple Rock trails.
Interactive Map: Brookside

Goldenrod

1.3 miles
Easy – Hike – Pets – Grass
Passes through meadows that are filled with wildflowers in spring.
Interactive Map: Goldenrod

Hickory Ridge

0.3 miles
Easy – Hike – Gravel
Wooded trail that connects the Brookside, Overlook and Ripple Rock trails.
Interactive Map: Hickory Ridge

Lake

0.3 miles
Easy – Hike – Paved
Leads to the Walden Waterfowl Refuge and Thoreau Lake.
Interactive Map: Lake

Overlook

0.6 miles
Easy – Hike – Gravel
Passes through woods, crosses Ripple Rock Creek and connects with the Hickory Ridge and Ripple Rock trails.
Interactive Map: Overlook

Ripple Rock

0.4 miles
Easy – Hike – Gravel
A steep trail, goes through woods and connects the Brookside, Hickory and Overlook trails.
Interactive Maps: Ripple Rock

Sugarbush

2 miles
Moderate to Difficult – Hike – Cross-Country Skiing – Grass
Passes through a wood that opens onto a meadow. Heavily populated with many different species of birds.
Interactive Maps: Sugarbush

Photo: Haylley Turney

Photo: Tina Fronk

Shelters

Reservable Shelters

Dan Bissonette, photographer. The Dogwood shelter at Blendon Woods.
Photo: Dan Bissonette

Dogwood

This is an open air shelter with a charcoal grill, prep table, serving counter, four x 20’ and six x 8’ tables, two (2-plug) electrical outlets, lighting, drinking fountain, restrooms, and play area. The play area features a field, horseshoe pit with shoes, and swings (two regular, two baby swings). The Dogwood’s maximum capacity is 110 (80 undercover), and is ADA accessible. Parking capacity is 41 with three handicap parking spaces. All day and half day reservations available.

Click here for more information, photos or to reserve.

Dan Bissonette, photographer. Interior of the picnic shelter at Hickory Grove, Blendon Woods.
Photo: Dan Bissonette

Hickory Grove

This is an open air shelter with one wall. It has three x 20’ tables, one 16’ table, and five x 8’ tables, counter space, serving window, three (2-plug) electrical outlets, lighting, charcoal grill and prep table, drinking fountain, flush restrooms, dustpan and broom, fire extinguisher, wood burning fireplace (wood provided), sand volleyball court with net and ball, and play area. The play area features a field, four benches, horseshoe pit with shoes, and swings (two regular, two baby swings). Hickory Grove also features a disc golf putting practice game called, The Around 9, with discs. The Hickory Grove’s maximum capacity is 110 (60 undercover), and is ADA accessible. Parking capacity is 52 with two handicap parking spaces. All day reservations only.

Click here for more information, photos or to reserve.

Kye Joong, photographer.  Shadblow shelter at Blendon Woods.
Photo: Kye Joong

Shadblow

This is an open air shelter. It has three x20’ tables, one 16’ table, counter space, one double charcoal grill, prep table, two (2-plug) electrical outlets, lighting, drinking fountain, foot wash station, restrooms, wood burning fireplace (wood provided), and play area. The play area features a small field, horseshoe pit, and a children’s universal playset and swings (two regular, two baby swings). The Shadblow’s maximum capacity is 50 (40 undercover), and is ADA accessible. Parking capacity is 40 with three handicap parking spaces. All day and half day reservations available.

Click here for more information, photos or to reserve.

Sycamore Shelter at Blendon Woods

Sycamore

This is an open air shelter with one wall. It has a kitchenette with a large serving counter, electric chest cooler, and a sink with running water. It has one large double grill, six 2-plug electrical outlets, broom, fire extinguisher, four x 20’ tables, ten x 8’ tables, water fountain, restrooms, and play area. The play area features a field, three benches, two horseshoe pits with shoes, a sand volleyball court with net, and swings (two regular, two baby swings). The Sycamore’s maximum capacity is 130 (80 undercover), and is ADA accessible. Parking capacity is 65 with three handicap parking spaces. All day and half day reservations available.

Click here for more information, photos or to reserve.

Non-Reservable Shelters

Non-reservable shelters are located at first road on the right as you enter the park. Picnic tables, grills, restrooms, playground equipment, playfield and ranger station.
5 Shelters: Enclosed on three sides, Seating approximately 30 each, Grills
2 Open Shelters: Seating approximately 80, Grills

Picnicking at Blendon Woods.
Photo: Dan Bissonette

Activities

Doggies and handlers take a walk on the Sugarbush Trail at Blendon Woods during the Paws in the Park event
Photo Cheryl Blair

Three hikers walk along a snowy trail at Blendon Woods
Photo: Frank Kozarich

Cross-country skier on the Coyote Run Trail at Highbanks.
Photo Barbara Nye

The 1.2-mile Sugarbush Trail is reserved for use as a cross-country ski trail when conditions are suitable.

Monarch Day fun
Photo Bruce Simpson

Camp Sugarbush
Scout Troops can reserve this 45-acre Day Camp for day camping or overnight camping. Organized and sponsored youth and church groups can reserve it for day camping only. Call 614-508-8111 (M-F, 8am to 4pm)

Disc Golfer at Blendon Woods
Photo C. Shirring

18-hole par-63 disc golf course, 3734 ft. in length, with 9 holes less than 200 feet and 9 holes 200-300 feet, plus a disc golf practice putting game, Around 9. Free. Please bring your own discs. 614-620-1861

Note: there is also an Around 9 disc golf practice putting game, with discs, at the Hickory Grove picnic shelter, available for people who reserve the shelter. (Around 9 – Disk Golf Practice Putting Game Information)

Skaters on the ice skating pond at Blendon Woods.
Photo Dan Bissonette

A 0.4-acre skating pond, 18 to 24 inches deep.

A woman and child walk across a log in the natural play area at Blendon Woods Metro Park.
Photo Ashley Leavitt

A 10-acre area with a wooded hillside and ravine where kids can safely roam and enjoy unstructured play in nature by climbing trees, playing in the dirt and other fun adventures.

Our thanks to REI and to Michelle Zugaro for donations that allowed us to create some great play features for the Wild Child in all of us, including a zip line, teeter-totter, basket swing, cargo climbing net, a tether-ball game and various stepped logs over ravines and streams. Read Michelle and Maris Zugaro’s poignant story behind their donation

Directions: Turn right at ranger station then second left to parking lot. Entrance at far end of the lot.

Bird watching trough the nature center windows at Blendon Woods.
Photo Andrea Krava

Discover nature through displays and look through the nature center’s windows to see wildlife at the features and stream.
NATURE CENTER HOURS
April to September: 9am to 8pm
October to March: 9am to 6pm

People walk a dog on the Goldenrod Trail at Blendon Woods Metro Park.
Photo Tina Fronk

PET TRAILS

Goldenrod Trail
1.3 Miles – Easy
Hike/Pets – Grass
Passes through meadows that are filled with wildflowers in spring.

Domesticated dogs and cats are also permitted in picnic areas, parking lots and on roadways. Pets shall be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

Visitors have a picnic lunch at Blendon Woods
Photo Cheryl Blair

Seven free shelters are available on a first-come first-served basis and include picnic tables, grills, play equipment and restrooms. Four reservable shelters are also available.

Get Outside, It’s Your Nature!