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Welcome to Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks

Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks (Metro Parks) is a public agency serving the citizens of Central Ohio by providing a regional system of clean, safe, natural area parks. Metro Parks features 19 outstanding natural area parks with more than 230 miles of trails and over 27,700 acres of land in seven Central Ohio counties.

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News & Stories from your Metro Parks

Tim Talks: Winter hikes

Bundle up and hit the trails for our Winter Hike series! Discover a new trail on your winter hike and capture your winter memories at our fun selfie station.

Metro Parks Ticket to Travel

A ticket to travel through your Metro Parks

JILL SNYDER Assistant Manager of Interpretation and Education Bundle up and put on your hiking boots – it’s time for Metro Parks annual winter hikes! This year, the winter hike …Read More

Wander and Wonder: Geology rocks at Highbanks

Discover a new world at Highbanks Metro Park. Turn over rocks, discover new wildlife and explore the park.

Tim Talks: Homeschooling at Highbanks

Join the Gleason family for a family adventure at Highbanks Metro Park.

Activities in your Metro Parks

Man aiming a bow and arrow icon — Archery

Man wear a backpack and holding a walking stick icon — Backpacking

Bicycle icon — Biking

Boat on Dock icon — Boating

Man paddling canoe icon — Canoeing
/ Kayaking

Man cross country skiing icon — Cross Country
Skiing

Sun icon — Day Camps

Disc Golf basket icon — Disc Golf

Fish under hook and line icon — Fishing

One man sitting, one standing with arms overhead icon — Fitness

Golfer swinging club icon — Golfing

Man riding a horse icon — Horseback
Riding

Ice Skating

Mountains and Bicycle icon — Mountain
Biking

Tree with leaves icon — Natural
Play Areas

Two leaves icon — Nature
Centers

Male deer with horns icon — Nature
Preserves

Man hanging from monkey bars icon — Obstacle
Course

Pets

Picnic Table icon — Picnicking

Two people on teeter totter icon — Play Areas

Man wearing backpack climbing rock wall — Rock
Climbing

Man on sled going down hill icon — Sledding

#CBusMetroParks

Share your favorite Metro Parks moments by using the hashtag #cbusmetroparks on Instagram or follow us.

Head out to Metro Parks Annual Winter Hikes Series

Head out to Metro Parks Annual Winter Hikes Series and snap a #cbusparkie at our selfie station and send it to mediagroup@metroparks.net and tag us on Instagram. You can find the selfie station now through December 14 along the Multipurpose Trail at Blacklick Woods Metro Park. The selfie station will move to five other parks during the three-month long hike series. Follow us on Instagram for the next several locations.
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#cbusmetroparks #cbusparkie #selfies #winterhikes

Help yourself to seconds this Thanksgiving, we've

Help yourself to seconds this Thanksgiving, we've got you covered! Metro Parks 48th Annual Winter Hike Series kicks off December 1, 2020 and goes for three months at 18 different parks. So, smother those mashed potatoes with gravy and don’t forget the whipped cream on your pumpkin pie! 🥧 Photo: Chad Engler
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#cbusmetroparks #winterhikeseries #winterhikes #cbusparkie #getoutside

Wow, a beaver made work of a hackberry tree at Pra

Wow, a beaver made work of a hackberry tree at Prairie Oaks 😮 Beavers will sometimes leave a tree like this for a year or more. Once it falls and starts to decompose, a beaver will use parts of the tree to build a dam at wetlands or on a river bank 📷: Mark Thomas
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#cbusmetroparks #prairieoaksmetropark #nature #wildlife #fall

If you're not an early bird, head out to the parks

If you're not an early bird, head out to the parks for a sunset stroll at Pickerington Ponds. Maybe you'll be treated to this spectacular sunset 🔥 Photo: Dan Ferrin
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#cbusmetroparks #pickeringtonpondsmetropark #nature #sunset #fall

When fall comes back and hits you right in the fac

When fall comes back and hits you right in the face 😂 We're loving this warm, sunny day. Long live fall! 📸: Karen Chism, Blendon Woods
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#cbusmetroparks #blendonwoodsmetropark #nature #fall #wildlife

Head out to Inniswood near sunset to watch a stunn

Head out to Inniswood near sunset to watch a stunning golden glow settle over the gardens and enjoy the last of fall color 🍂 Photo: Bryan Knowles
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#cbusmetroparks #inniswoodmetrogardens #publicgardens #fall #sunset

It's Take A Hike Day! Bundle up and hit your favor

It's Take A Hike Day! Bundle up and hit your favorite trail and enjoy the beauty of nature🚶🏻 Photo: Mark Thomas
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#cbusmetroparks #takeahikeday #nature #fall #hiking

This right here is why we are morning people 😍

This right here is why we are morning people 😍 Look at these striking colors over Schrock Lake at Sharon Woods! 📸: Kim Strosnider
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#cbusmetroparks #sharonwoodsmetropark #sunrise #nature #fall

Metro Parks is implementing the following steps to

Metro Parks is implementing the following steps to protect the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Effective November 16, 2020, all Metro Parks employees and all visitors are required to wear a mask while in a Metro Park. Per the governor's order, exemptions can be made for persons who are medically or developmentally unable to wear a mask and children under the age of ten. The order requires that the mask cover the person's nose, mouth and chin. All participants in Metro Parks sponsored programs must wear a mask.

Additionally, please adhere to social distancing and stay six feet or two arm's length from other people who are not from your household.
Photo: Haylley Turney
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#cbusmetroparks

Have you seen this fluffy stuff floating around du

Have you seen this fluffy stuff floating around during your hikes? It's milkweed and birds will use it as nesting material in the spring at Clear Creek 🐦 Photo: Katie Bennett
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#cbusmetroparks #fall #clearcreekmetropark #nature #birds

Get Outside, It’s Your Nature!

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