Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Holiday Hike
2023-12-27 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Enjoy a hike through Scioto Grove Metro Park this holiday season! Hike will be approx. 2-miles, meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area.

Pie Iron Cooking
2023-12-27 14:00 - 15:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Pie irons? Pudgy pies? Toastie irons? Regardless of what you grew up calling them, or are brand new to using them, join us to make recipes and learn tips and tricks. Meet at the campfire in Arrowhead Picnic Area at Scioto Grove Metro Park.

Day Off School: Cocoa and Cardinals
2023-12-28 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-12-28 13:00 - 14:00 | OH
Cozy up in the Innis house with hot cocoa and learn about our feathered friends at the feeders.

Preschoolers: New Year's Open House Party
2023-12-29 10:00 - 14:00 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Drop by this indoor program anytime between 10am-2pm to help us ring in the upcoming New Year with games, crafts and other fun activities. We’ll even practice counting down to 2024, and watch the ball drop and celebrate with a dance party at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm. Meet at Spring Hollow Lodge (1069 W. Main St.).
Please note: The Lodge is not accessible via the main park entrance off Cleveland Ave. Use the address listed above to navigate to the program.

Winter Hike - Campfire & Hot Cocoa
2023-12-29 17:00 - 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 campfire and hot cocoa.

Christmas Bird Count
2023-12-30 09:00 - 11:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a 2-mile hike and join the naturalist to help count birds for the annual Christmas Bird Count.

Frigid Fungi
2023-12-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Did you know some fungi grow in winter? Go on a 1.5-mile hike with a naturalist to look for and learn about winter fungi and try a sample of an edible mushroom.

Smoked, Salted, Pickled, and Preserved
2023-12-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 1-3pm. All ages.
Learn how fruits, vegetables, and meats were preserved before the days of artificial refrigeration. The smokehouse. will be operating.

Coffee & Birds
2023-12-31 09:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Drop by to enjoy a warm cup and beautiful birds at our viewing windows.

Dawn of 2024 Hike
2024-01-01 07:30 - 09:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike around the lake at dawn to welcome the new year.

New Years Bird Hike
2024-01-01 10:00 - 11:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Start off the new year with a fresh bird list! Join a naturalist for a 1.5-mile hike as we search the forest and feeders for winter birds.

New Year Hike
2024-01-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Happy New Year! Come out to Scioto Grove to join us on our first staff led hike of 2024. Ring in the new year with an approx. 2 mile hike through the park! Meet at the arrowhead picnic shelter.

First Day Hike
2024-01-01 10:00 - 14:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Start the New Year off by hitting the trails and check Clear Creek off on your Metro Parks Winter Hike card. Choose from a guided 4.5-mile or 7.5-mile hike. Both hikes will start together. The 7.5-mile hike will involve some off-trail hiking. Terrain at Clear Creek is steep and uneven. Dress for the weather, bring water and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Meet at the Creekside Meadows Parking Lot: 23833 Clear Creek Road, Rockbridge.

New Year, New Trail
2024-01-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Do you think you’ve walked every trail in our park? Meet us to hike out along our old racetrack on a 3-mile hike. Meet at 7980 Kuhlwein Rd. Galloway, Ohio 43119

Sunset and S'mores
2024-01-05 15:30 - 17:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Enjoy watching the sunset while eating a toasty s’more around a warm campfire at Quarry Trails Metro Park! Meet at the Basin Parking Lot, all equipment provided.
Quarry Trails Metro Park has several separate park entrances. The address is 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. This is a newly opened entrance. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

Sunset Hike
2024-01-05 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 2-mile hike and watch the sunset over Blacklick Woods.

Fitness Series: Trail Running
2024-01-06 09:00 - 10:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for the first program in our Fitness Series! This program will be centered around Trail Running! Join us for a staff led program including trail running through Scioto Grove Metro Park. This program will cover trail running basics as well as a run/jog on the trails. Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Shelter.

Happy Tails-n-Trails
2024-01-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Bring your canine companion for a 2-mile hike followed by a doggie treat. Meet at the Apple Ridge Bulletin Board.

New Year's Healthy Hike
2024-01-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Enjoy some fresh air and garden sights on a brisk walk

Woodpecker Walk
2024-01-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
We’ll learn about and look for woodpeckers and other birds on an easy, less than a mile walk. Bring binoculars if you’d like and we’ll have some to share. Meets at the Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Winter Bird Walk
2024-01-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike to the blinds to look for ducks, then continue on to look for other winter birds. 1.5 mi. Paved and grass surface trail. Binoculars available to borrow.

Prairie Oaks Winter Hike
2024-01-06 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 Bend Lakes area.
Learn more about winter hikes by clicking here.

Zero Gas Emission Hike!
2024-01-07 09:00 - 10:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us in celebrating “National Pass Gas” day! We are interpreting that phrase in a different meaning by encouraging participants to bring/use equipment that does not use gas, like roller blades, bikes, skateboards, scooters or just yourself! The group will be going at differing paces, and we will go as far as we can within the hour! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Shelter.

Bird Feeding Basics
2024-01-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Drop by to learn how to attract birds to your yard and feeders

January 100 Bird Series
2024-01-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Working on a January 100? Come take a guided 2.5 mile hike at the wetland to see what winter birds we can find. All experience levels welcome. Limited supply of binoculars available to borrow. Ages 18+. Trail is unimproved and may be muddy in areas. Meet at:
January 7:
1378 Darby Creek Dr.
Galloway, OH, 43119

January 18:

1775 Darby Creek Drive
Galloway, OH, 43119

Walnut Woods Winter Hike
2024-01-07 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.
Learn more about winter hikes by clicking here.

For Adults 50+: Hike the Sweetgum
2024-01-07 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 2-mile brisk winter walk. The trail is considered easy.
Meet at the Tall Pines Area at 6833 Richardson Rd., Groveport.

Raptor Talk and Walk
2024-01-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist for a short presentation inside the Nature Center focusing on Ohio’s raptors, then hike to search for some of these aerial hunters at Highbanks. Raptors include predatory birds such as hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls. Hike will be approximately 2 miles on crushed limestone and paved trails with some hills. Bring binoculars if you have them available. Limited pairs of binoculars available. Age 13+
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.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.

Fitness Series: Fitness in the Parks
2024-01-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us in our Fitness Series! Kick off the new year by finding new ways to exercise in our lovely Metro Parks! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Shelter for further instruction
