Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Run with a Ranger
2025-03-10 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Adventure 101: Backcountry Water
2025-03-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Our “Adventure 101” educational series includes everything from guest speakers to interactive outdoor skill lessons! Participants are encouraged to take notes and ask questions.
From purification to filtration, we will go over everything regarding safe water practices and staying hydrated and healthy in the backcountry! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Backyard Birds Hike
2025-03-15 13:00 - 14:00 | 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+

Minecraft
2025-03-15 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Join us for a Minecraft scavenger hunt through the woods. Look for natural objects that are also found in the game. Activities will be available in the nature center after the hike. Ages 6+.

I Spy Photo Scavenger Hunt
2025-03-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Stop by the Nature Center to pick up a scavenger hunt and then search the trails for a list of items to photograph. Once you’ve captured them all, return to the Nature Center to earn a small prize!

Bike-It!
2025-03-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join us for a bike ride around Glacier Ridge Metro Park! Feel free to join if you have your own bike, and registration is only required if you need to borrow a bike/helmet. Bikes are sized for adults only. Meet at the Glacier Ridge Maintenance Area, park at the Red Maintenance barn (first parking lot on the left when entering the park) . Trails will be pavement.
Register to borrow a bike and helmet.

Leapin’ Leprechauns
2025-03-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
The leprechauns are visiting early for the holiday! Can you find all the hidden Leprechauns hidden along the path? Meet at the Barn Shelter to begin your hunt and enjoy a fun craft!
This program is geared for ages 2-11. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Waterfowl Watch
2025-03-16 14:00 - 15:00 | Pickerington Ponds, 7680 Wright Road, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
We’ll have a spotting scope to look for and identify migrating ducks and any other birds we see. The spring waterfowl migration comes and goes quite quickly most years so get out and enjoy it while you can. Meets at Pickerington Ponds Wood Duck area, 4150 Bowen Rd, Canal Winchester.

Signs of Spring
2025-03-16 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.25-mile hike through the Walter Tucker Nature Preserve and search for early signs of spring.

Eagle Hikes
2025-03-16 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.

Drop In: Leprechaun (and more) Trail for Families
2025-03-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Hike on your own along a short trail (1/4-mile) around the nature center looking for hidden leprechauns, shamrocks and other St. Patrick’s day items on a scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunts will be posted at the beginning of the trail and paper copies are available in the nature center. Stop inside nature center after your hike for a small prize and more activties. If the nature center parking lot is full, try playing on the playgrounds in Big Meadows and Oak Coves for a little bit before joining us. All ages.
Meeting location notes- Nature Center
Highbanks Nature Center is the first right after entering the park. ***Limited parking in the nature center parking lot on busy days. Additional parking available in the Oak Coves Picnic Area. The Oak Coves picnic area, 10-min walk from the nature center. Follow the paved trail through Oak coves toward the nature center.

Build a Leprechaun Trap
2025-03-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Learn a little about how park staff trap animals like salamanders and fish in the park, then build your own leprechaun trap to take home. Ages 5+. Meet at the Nature Center.

For Adults 50+: Amazing Amphibians
2025-03-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a half-mile hike to learn about vernal pools and the amphibians that call them home.

Shamrock Shoot
2025-03-17 17:00 - 18:30 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with some fun and free archery at Blacklick Woods Golf Course! The program will take place inside the Pro Shop. All equipment provided. Ages 8+
