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 series takes on a new look as your ticket to travel through 18 different parks and hike miles and miles of trails. Starting in December, visitors can hike in six different parks per month and have their ticket to travel booklet stamped.
Choose any trail for any distance and hike any day of the week. No more fighting for a parking spot on Saturday! After the hike, ask a staff member to stamp the travel ticket. Some things on the trip remain the same. After seven hikes, visitors can return their completed travel ticket to receive a unique 2020/2021 Winter Hike patch. Friends of Metro Parks will also have hiking sticks and medallions available.
Each month will feature a different theme to keep everyone inspired to get out and hike. In December, twinkling lights will illuminate the way along park pathways. Work up a sweat in January while hiking strenuous trails. Visitors can share their love of Metro Parks in the final six parks in the winter hike series.
Follow park’s Facebook pages to help plan your travel adventures and look for our #cbusparkie rotating selfie station at parks. Tag us using #cbusparkie so we can see your Metro Parks selfies.
Pick up your Ticket to Travel booklet at a featured park beginning December 1 or download the travel guide from our website. The parks are beautiful with a dusting of snow or bright sunny skies. Be sure to get out and travel in Metro Parks this winter!
Will the small year patches still be available for those who are collecting? I have 2019 and 2020 sewn around my owl patch and was hoping to keep it going!
Hi, Rachel. We’re not planning to do one this year as the winter hikes patch will have a year on it already and it’s a one-year, exclusive patch.
So excited you’re doing the winter hike series! Been doing them for years and was nervous about this year. LIVE the twist you’ve come up with. Anxious to get started! Thank you all for all you do! Stay safe and healthy!!
Can Girl Scout troops participate in this? We aren’t doing normal meeting this year and have been mostly meeting at various metro parks and city parks for a hike.
Yes, anyone can do the winter hikes.
What are the six parks for December? I want to get my crew ready!
Hi, Sandra. They are: Blacklick Woods, Chestnut Ridge, Highbanks, Homestead, Inniswood and Scioto Grove Metro parks.
Are well-behaved dogs on leashes welcome?
Hi, Duke. Leashed pets are welcome on any pet-friendly trail, in the dog parks and at the dog swimming areas. Thanks!
Are any of the parks handicap accessible meaning can a walker travel on the trail.
Yes, we have handicap accessible trails. Is there a specific park you’r referring to?
Were can we get the Your Ticket to Travel and how would we find someone to get our stamp? Do the rangers have stamps?
Hi, Barbara. You may call the ranger cell phone for the park or find a ranger or maintenance person. You can pick up the booklet from park staff or you can print it off from our website. Thanks!
What’s the best way to find a staff member to get a winter hike booklet? I know the nature centers have been closed.
Hi, Diane. You may call the ranger cell phone for the park or find a ranger or maintenance person. Thanks
What other hashtags should we use for our various photos of being at the parks? We want to promote the winter hike series beyond the “selfie” stations
Kathleen, you can use #cbusmetroparks.
Where do you find a park employee to stamp your book?
Also, where do you go at the park to pick you the packet? I’m new to the winter hike series but I’d really like to do it this year!
Hi, Lisa. You may call the ranger cell phone for the park or find a ranger or maintenance person. You can pick up the booklet from park staff or you can print it off from our website. Thanks!
Any suggestions for how to find “a staff member to stamp the travel ticket?” There aren’t always staffers around, especially if you visit early or in some of the remote parks.
Hi, Sean. You may call the ranger cell phone for the park or find a ranger or maintenance person. Thanks!
Are we able to still get the hiking sticks this year? I looked on the Friends of Metro Parks site but didn’t see them.
Hi, Stephanie. Hiking sticks can be earned again this year by becoming a paid member of Friends of Metro Parks ($10 minimum) and hiking all of the hikes.
How do you earn the hiking stick and medallion?
Hi, Alison. Hiking sticks can be earned again this year by becoming a paid member of Friends of Metro Parks ($10 minimum) and hiking all of the hikes.
Have you ever offered a hiking stick metal badge that can be added to the hiking stick? A hiker would earn the badge by hiking a certain number of hikes over a certain number of parks. Lorain County OH MetroParks did this and I have a few badges on my hiking stick.
We have not, but thanks for the suggestion!
Newbie to this and not understanding the details. What is the start date? Are there specific parks we must walk in each week? Do we need to hike a certain number of miles? Are the trails noted with the “themes” , i.e. Christmas lights? Where do we get the Ticket to Travel? Thanks!
Hi, Marianne. The start date was December 1. There are six parks per month. You can hike them anytime during the month, there is not a specific park per week, just six to hike in the month. The trails are not noted with themes. You can pick up a booklet from park staff or print your own off our website. Thanks!
Oops please delete my first comment. I don’t want my niece to see this. I’ll call tomorrow!
Hi – I’m trying to find the winter hike booklet on the website, but can not find it. Please provide the URL that will allow people to print it themselves, rather than trying to find a ranger to supply one. Thank you.
Hi, Maria. Here’s a link to the downloadable PDF: https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2021-Winter-Hike-Series.pdf
I am just seeing this an want to get started! Can we hike the December parks throughout January and February and still get the stamps at those parks?
Hi, Jackie. Yes, absolutely. Also, you can sign the booklets yourself if you don’t see a staff member.
QUESTION: Can you walk on the trails listed as “Pet Friendly” with your pet, and qualify for the Winter Hikes badge, or must they be pedestrian only trails?
Hi, Brian. Yes, you can walk on pet-friendly trails with your leashed pet. These hikes count toward your winter hikes.
Is it too late to get a travel booklet? I would like to get my kiddos involved. If not where can I find the booklets at the park? Thank you.
Hi, Kelly. It’s not too late! You can print a booklet off here: https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2021-Winter-Hike-Series.pdf
You can also pick one up from park staff while out in the parks. Thanks!