Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Backyard Birds Hike
2025-03-15 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a 1.5-mile hike looking for the common birds you might see in Ohio. Limited binocular supply. Meet at Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr. Ages 10+

St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt
2025-03-15 11:00 - 14:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Walk the Spring Creek Trail and try to find a hidden Leprechaun. Bring 1 per-person back to the Naturalist’s office, turn it in and earn a prize.

Green Giants Hike
2025-03-15 10:00 - 12:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take in forest views on a 4-mile backcountry hike to a true old growth oak tree. Terrain at Clear Creek is rugged and uneven, be prepared for elevation gain. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring water. Meet at the old maintenance shop, 9935 Opossum Hollow Road, Rockbridge (39.59240, -82.54627). Please note there is not a restroom at this meeting location.

Toddler Hike
2025-03-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us for a staff-led Toddler Hike around the lakes at Quarry Trails! We will walk as far as possible in the time allotted. We will be on stroller friendly trails so feel free to bring strollers and wagons. Toddlers will receive a sticker at the end of the hike!!
Meet at the lakes area parking lot bulletin board, Use the park entrance off of trabue Rd. 2319 Quarry trails Dr.

Hidden Leprechaun Hunt
2025-03-15 06:30 - 18:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Take a hike around the park and look for the hidden leprechauns. If you find one call or find a Ranger for a prize!

Fast-Paced Full Moon Hike
2025-03-14 19:30 - 20:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Enjoy a Fast-Paced walk through the nighttime woods. Not suitable for strollers or slow walkers.

Full Moon Hike
2025-03-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a brisk 4-mile hike through forests and fields. Meet us at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Drive.

Pi Day 5K
2025-03-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Kingfisher Shelter and take a 3.14 mile walk and enjoy some pie after!
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Drive Columbus Oh 43228 and follow the roadway back to the lake area parking lot.

Pi Day Campfire Pies
2025-03-14 16:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Stop by the Nature Center and enjoy Pi Day with a pie made over a campfire.

Shamrock Scavenger Hunt!
2025-03-14 15:00 - 16:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Come out to Scioto Grove Metro Park and hunt for shamrocks! Shamrocks will be scattered all around the Arrowhead picnic area section of the park, find them all and win a prize!! Meet at the arrowhead picnic shelter for instruction and supplies, free and fun.

Spring Ephemerals
2025-03-14 10:30 - 11:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s see what spring ephemeral wildflowers are beginning to bloom along the Cobshell trail. Meet at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Campfire Cooking
2025-03-13 17:30 - 18:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us for a meal around the campfire at Quarry Trails! All materials and equipment will be provided, free and fun! Meet at the lower sled hill parking lot. Use address 2600 Dublin Rd.

Adults: Bird Friendly Forest Hike
2025-03-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Highbanks River Bluff, 8400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, OH, 43235, United States
Aren’t all forests “bird friendly”? Not really…Take a 1-mile hike with a Highbanks naturalist to learn about the interconnectedness between forest health and bird populations, and what you can do to help! Please be aware that the River Bluff Area trail is unimproved and can be very muddy depending on weather conditions – come dressed appropriately! Limited supply of binoculars provided.
Meeting location notes: River Bluff area is not located at the main area Highbanks. River Bluff entrance is located off 315 on the opposite side of the river as Highbanks main park. River Bluff Area physical address: 8400 Olentangy River Road, Columbus OH 43235 Please call Highbanks nature center 614-846-9962 for questions prior to the day of the program. Day of program, please call Highbanks Ranger cell phone at 614-906-3149. IMPORTANT: River Bluff area does NOT have restrooms or water fountains. Please bring a water bottle. Apply insect repellent before coming to the program.

Preschoolers: Salamanders
2025-03-12 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-03-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn about these amazing amphibians through a story, activity and a craft.

For Adults 50+: Lake Hike
2025-03-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Enjoy a hike around the lake at Prairie Oaks Metro Park! We will meet at the Lake 3 parking lot at Darby Bend Lakes. Our hike will be approx. 2-miles. Use address 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard OH.

Preschool: Possum & Peeper
2025-03-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Have fun with Opossum as he searches for the loudest frog in the forest! Story, craft and activities.

Run with a Ranger
2025-03-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Kingfisher shelter and come on a 1.5 mile run with a Ranger!
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Drive and follow the roadway to the lake area parking lot.

Spring Into Yoga!
2025-03-10 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us at The Grove facility at Scioto Grove Metro Park for yoga designed to get you stretched and ready for spring! This program will be held outside on the facilities deck if the weather is nice, or inside the facility if the weather isn’t cooperating, but the meeting location will stay the same regardless!

Spring Forward Hike
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-03-09 08:00 - 09:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Enjoy a guided hike to look for signs of Spring in the the woods and meadows of the park. Not suitable for strollers. We may hike off-trail so please dress accordingly.

Life in Our Watershed: Vernal Pools
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s take a 1.5-mile hike out to a vernal pool to search for what’s living inside. Trail will be muddy and wet. Ages 18+. Wet Prairie Access- 1378 Darby Creek Dr.

Growing Dahlias
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn how to start and maintain your dahlia tubers with members of the Greater Columbus Dahlia Society.

Eagle Hikes
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Join us Sundays in March to check on the progress of the Bald Eagles at their nest at 100AcreWoods. HIke 1.5 mi. on flat, primitive trail. Prepare for mud. Meet at 5225 Cambria Way.

Spring Fungi
2025-03-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Want to learn more about fungi at Blacklick Woods? Join a naturalist for a hike looking for what’s growing in spring.

Cowboy Campfire Coffee!
2025-03-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Howdy Y’all! Come out to the Lower Sled Hill at Quarry Trails Metro Park to learn how to make Cowboy style Campfire Coffee! All ingredients and equipment will be supplied, feel free to bring your own reusable mug or cup and fill it up with some warm and toasty fire brewed coffee.
Use the 2600 Dublin Rd. Park entrance.

Amphibian Hike
2025-03-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Rocky Fork, 7180 East Walnut St., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Hike 1.5mi off-trail to look for amphibians in the vernal pools. Wear waterproof boots.

Woodcock Watch
2025-03-08 18:30 - 19:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Observe one of the timeless rituals of Spring – the woodcock sky dance! Meet by the large shelter next to the Natural Play area – it’s a short walk to their “stage”. Same program Thursday and Saturday.

For Adults: Woodcock Walk
2025-03-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.5-mile hike to search the fields for the elaborate, aerial courtship display of the American Woodcock.

Pokémon Go! Hike
2025-03-08 14:00 - 15:30 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Enjoy Pokémon Go! at Homestead Metro Park! Bring your own device to access Pokémon Go! and hike around the park with park staff to find different Pokémon! Meet at the Homestead Barn Shelter. 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, Ohio 43206
