Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Eagle Hike
2024-03-09 08:00 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Take a .75 mi hike on natural surface trail to see if we can spot the eagles at their nest. Prepare for mud!

For Adults 50+: Timberdoodles and S’Mores
2024-03-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Search for the male American woodcock as he performs his aerial courtship dance and then make your own sweet treat over an open fire.
Meet in the Buckeye Area picnic shelter at 6716 Lithopolis Rd., Groveport

For Adults: Woodcock Walk
2024-03-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1-mile walk and search for timberdoodles performing their aerial courtship display.

Glow Archery
2024-03-07 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
What’s better then archery? GLOW ARCHERY! Come out to the Blacklick Golf Course Pro Shop to enjoy some free and fun, indoor glow-in-the-dark archery! Ages 8+. All equipment provided.

Preschool in the Gardens: Awesome Opossums
2024-03-06 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-03-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Come celebrate our opossum friends and learn why we love to see them in the gardens.

Woodcock Watch
2024-03-05 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”.

Fitness Series: Intro to Rucking
2024-03-05 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Join us for our fitness series and learn the basics of rucking! Rucking involves hiking with weights. Meet at the climbing wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park.

Toddler Hike
2024-03-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Enjoy a hike at Walnut Woods on this slow-paced, stroller friendly Toddler Hike! The trail will be paved, and we will hike as far as we can within the hour. Meet at the Tall Pines Area at Walnut Woods Metro Park. 6833 Richardson Rd. Groveport.

Night Hike
2024-03-03 18:30 - 19:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s take a 2-mile interpretive hike through the forests and prairies under the starlight. Meet at the Indian Ridge Bulletin Board, 2705 Darby Creek Dr.

Amphibian Search
2024-03-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Rocky Fork, 7180 East Walnut St., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Hike 1.5 mi on and off trail to look for early spring amphibians.

Spring Scavenger Hunt
2024-03-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
The gardens are beginning to wake up! Stop by the Innis House anytime from 1-3pm to grab a scavenger hunt, explore the gardens for signs of spring, and earn a small prize.

Maple Time
2024-03-03 11:00 - 14:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program on going from 11am – 2pm.
Take a short hike through the sugarbush to learn about tapping trees and collecting sap, then go to the Farmhouse to watch sap boiling and sample a sweet maple treat.
Hikes leave at 11:15 am and 1pm from the Farmhouse. If needed, additional hikes will be available.
Sap flow is dependent on weather conditions, all other activities will take place.

Scavenger Hunt
2024-03-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Find all of our missing spring scavenger hunt items hiding around the Arrowhead Picnic area and win a prize! Meet at Arrowhead picnic shelter to get your activity sheet and instructions.

Beginning Birding Hike
2024-03-03 09:30 - 11:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join the naturalist to learn about birding. Visit the bird feeders to learn backyard birds, then go on a 1-mile hike. Bring binoculars if you have them available. Metro Parks has a limited number of binoculars to use. Trail will be crushed limestone, expect some hills. Meet inside the nature center for start of program.
Meeting Location Notes: Highbanks Nature Center is the first right after entering the park. There is limited parking in the Nature Center lot on busy days. Additional parking is available in the Oak Coves Picnic Area, a 10 minute walk from the Nature Center. Follow the paved trail through Oak Coves toward the Nature Center.

Skunk Cabbage Hike
2024-03-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Join us for a guided 2-mile hike to see Ohio’s earliest spring wildflower. Terrain at Clear Creek is steep and uneven. Meet at the Barnebey Hambleton Area, 620 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster.

For Adults: Metro Parks Hiking Club
2024-03-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Join like minded individuals as we hike 2 miles along the Spring Creek Trail with limited stops. Meet at the Apple Ridge Bulletin Board.

Timberdoodle Trek
2024-03-01 18:30 - 19:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a short hike to look for American Woodcocks doing their amazing mating display. Trails may be a mixture of crushed gravel and unimproved. Meet at the Nature Center. Ages 8+.

Leapin' Lantern Stroll
2024-02-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Drop by between 6:30-7:30 pm to celebrate Leap Day with a self-guided lantern-lit stroll through the Nature Preserve. Borrow one of our lanterns or bring your own. Meet near the Schrock Lake Restrooms.

LEAP Year
2024-02-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Jump over to the Nature Center and learn about some of our animals that love to show off their hops.

For Adults: Nature Preserve Stroll
2024-02-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a walk with a naturalist through the Walter Tucker State Nature Preserve looking for plants and animals from our earliest spring wildflower to Barred Owls.

For Adults: Invasive Species Hike
2024-02-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about the non-native plants and animals plaguing OH, and what you can do to help.

Paddling 101
2024-02-26 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Want to learn about paddling? This in-class session will cover many aspects of paddling, from the basics of equipment recognition to water safety! Led by an ACA (American Canoe Association) Certified Kayaking Instructor!
Held at The Grove Lodge at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Coyotes Among Us
2024-02-25 14:00 - 15:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn about the amazing, adaptable coyote on a 1 to 2-mile mile hike. Some walking may be done off trail if conditions allow. Bring binoculars if you’d like. No pets, please. Meets at Three Creeks Heron Pond Area bulletin board, 3400 Williams Road

Are the Eagles Back Yet?
2024-02-25 14:00 - 15:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Hike about 1.5 mi on the unimproved trail at 100 Acre Wood to see if the Bald Eagles have returned to their nest. Prepare for mud! Meet at 5220 Cambria Way.

Inniswood Quilt Show
2024-02-25 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-02-24 11:00 - 16:00 | Innis House, 940 S Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
View quilts made by the Columbus Metropolitan Quilters. Members will be available to answer questions on Saturdays and Sundays. The exhibit features quilts, wall hangings, and quilted items with a “flora and fauna” theme.

Winter Hike Celebration!
2024-02-25 11:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join us at Blacklick Woods Golf Course to celebrate the end of winter hikes! Collect your patches here, and visit Friends of Metro Parks. There will be games, food trucks, and other activities.

Full Moon Hike
2024-02-24 18:00 - 20:00 | 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.

Maple Time
2024-02-24 11:00 - 14:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Take a short hike through the sugarbush to learn about tapping trees and collecting sap, then go to the Farmhouse to watch sap boiling and sample a sweet maple treat.
Sap flow is dependent on weather conditions, all other activities will take place.
