Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Ugly Sweaters and S'mores
2025-12-26 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us for s’mores in your best ugly sweater at Quarry Trails Metro Park! Meet at the lower Sled Hill fire pit.

Winter Hike - Campfire & Hot Cocoa
2025-12-26 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-12-27 17:30 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a half-mile hike along the Buttonbush Trail under the twinkling lights and stop by the Nature Center to enjoy a cup of cocoa around the campfire. The Canopy Walk and Nature Center will be open late to explore!

Cowboy Campfire Coffee!
2025-12-27 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

Winter Hike Series: Hot Cocoa & Twinkling Lights
2025-12-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Drop by the nature center between 5 and 7pm to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, campfire & smores, and enjoy hands on activities . Stroll the 1/4 mile trail around the nature on your own to complete a scavenger hunt. Winter hike cards will be available, as well as stamps. Nature center is open late tonight until 7pm. This is a very popular program and visitors should allow extra time for waking from parking lots. All ages.
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.
Information about Metro Parks winter hike series:
Winter Hikes

For Adults: Coffee, Calm and Coloring
2025-12-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Take a break! Enjoy a cup of coffee and some relaxing coloring. Detailed adult coloring pages and other supplies provided. Ages 16 and older.

Snowman Scavenger Hunt
2025-12-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Look for Snowmen on the trail at Scioto Grove Metro Park, and win a prize if you find them all! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area for activity sheet and direction.

Owl Prowl
2025-12-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1.25-mile guided hike as we learn about owls and search for them roosting in the trees.

Smoked, Salted, Pickled, and Preserved
2025-12-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program ongoing between 1-3pm.
Learn how fruits, vegetables, and meats were preserved before the days of artificial refrigeration. The smokehouse will be in operation.

Holly Jolly Archery
2025-12-28 14:00 - 15:30 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Enjoy the thrill and fun of archery this winter while being toasty warm inside at the Blacklick Woods Golf Course!! Festive targets and holiday cheer will brighten the coldest winter day! Archery will be indoors at the Golf Course Pro Shop! All equipment provided, fun and free! Ages 8+.

Toddler Adventure Club
2025-12-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Join us for a short hike on the Benua Loop trail! Maps and compasses will be provided for the program, we will hike as far as the group can go in the hour! Please note: this trail is not paved, and may not be accessible for some strollers. Meet at the Park Office (white farm house) at Clear Creek Metro Park. You may lose service when entering the park, the Park Office is about 10 minutes down the road after entering the main park entrance so please plan accordingly.

Hot Cocoa and Hike
2025-12-29 16:30 - 17:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for a cozy cup of hot cocoa and go for a hike at Scioto Grove Metro Park! If you would like to join the staff-led hike, please meet promptly at 4:30pm at the Arrowhead Picnic Area.

Winter Break STEM Challenge
2025-12-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us for a winter-themed STEM challenge. Create your own mini sled and see how far it can go on our indoor mini slope. Change your design to improve your results. Materials provided.

Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-31 08:00 - 12:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Help us count the birds of Glacier Ridge AND help the Audubon Society collect data for their annual Christmas Bird Count, the longest running citizen science project!
Not a skilled birder? No problem! Join the naturalist on a short trail to learn simple bird ID and about the common birds of Ohio. We will have opportunities to hike all around the park with birders to learn how to identify birds!
Binoculars will be provided. Please dress in layers and comfortable shoes.
This program is geared for ages 14 and up. Meet at the Maintenance Barn (the large red barn on the left by the main park entrance), rain or shine!

Tots on Trails
2025-12-31 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Share a slow-paced, half-mile hike with your toddler and discover nature together.

New Years Bird Hike
2026-01-01 09:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Kick-off the new year with a 1.25-mile guided hike as we search the forest and feeders for winter birds.

Homemade Bird Feeder
2026-01-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Park Office Lobby and make a homemade bird feeder to take home!
Use address 2600 Dublin Rd Columbus OH 43228 and follow the roadway towards the dog park. When the road forces you to turn left the parking lot will be on your left.

Metro Parks Hiking Club: Adult Fitness Hike
2026-01-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike 2 or 4 mi. on gravel and natural surface trails. Moderate pace. Stairs and hills.

Blacklick Walk & Talk
2026-01-03 09:00 - 10:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Meet on the first Saturday of every month for a moderate to fast-paced hike and to meet like-minded people. This is not an interpretive hike.

Prairie Oaks Winter Hike
2026-01-03 10:00 - 13:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Gather your friends and family for a hike on any trail at Prairie Oaks Metro Park. Refreshments and a treat will be served between 10am and 1pm in the Darby Bends Lakes area (2755 Amity Road, Hilliard, OH).
Learn more about winter hikes by clicking here.

Off Trail Wandering
2026-01-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
We’ll take a slow off-trail walk with frequent stops to observe and learn about rarely seen parts of the park. Total length will probably be 1 to 2 miles and weather conditions will determine where we can go. Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for off-trail walking. No pets, please. Meets at Three Creeks Metro Park Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Winter Fungi
2026-01-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Join the naturalist on a 2-mile hike looking for fungi that love cold weather. We will be going off-trail, so wear good hiking shoes and dress for the weather.

January 100 Bird Series- Battelle Darby Creek
2026-01-03 15:00 - 16:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Observing 100 species of birds in Ohio in January is a fun challenge, and reason to get outside in the winter months. Join a naturalist for a 1.5-mile hike as we try to see how many different birds we can observe. Binoculars available to borrow. Trail is a mixture of crushed gravel and paved. Ages 8+, meet at the Indian Ridge Bulletin Boards, 2705 Darby Creek Dr.

Full Moon Hike
2026-01-03 17:00 - 19:00 | 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.

Wolf Moon Hike
2026-01-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Celebrate the January full moon on this 2-mile hike.

Fast-Paced Full Moon Hike
2026-01-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Take a Fast-Paced hike through the nighttime forest under the full moon. Not suitable for slow walkers or strollers.

Duck Walk
2026-01-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Wander out to Thoreau Lake to look for winter birds and see what waterfowl are using the pond this week.

Walnut Woods Winter Hike
2026-01-04 10:00 - 13:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Gather your friends and family for a hike on any trail at Walnut Woods Metro Park. Refreshments and a treat will be served between 10am and 1pm in the Buckeye Area (6716 Lithopolis Road, Groveport, OH). Learn more about winter hikes by clicking here.

Drop In: Art Journaling (age 16+)
2026-01-04 12:00 - 14:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist in creating art journals through upcycling, crafting, and collaging! Supplied journals are provided but limited with recommendation of bringing your own. Drop in to the Nature Center between 12:00 – 2:00 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room. Program intended for ages 16+.
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.

For Adults 50+: Hike The Sweetgum
2026-01-04 13:30 - 15:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Meander through a forest of pines, oaks and sweetgums on a brisk 2-mile winter walk. The trail is considered easy. Stop by the Buckeye Area (6716 Lithopolis Rd.) by 1pm for refreshments before the hike.
Meet at the Tall Pines Area at 6833 Richardson Rd., Groveport.
