Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Walk To The Eagle Nest
2023-12-10 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Take a 2-mile mostly off-trail hike to learn about bald eagles and visit their nest site. If we’re lucky, we might see an eagle or other wildlife so bring binoculars if you’d like. Wear clothes suitable for off-trail walking – conditions may be muddy, brushy, etc. No pets, please. Meets at Three Creeks Metro Park Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

For Adults: Guided Conifer Hike
2023-12-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist for a 1-mile hike learning about conifers and their cones. Trail is crushed limestone with some hills. This program counts as part of the winter hike series. Meet at nature center.
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. 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.

Light Up Your Night
2023-12-10 17:30 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Stroll on your own through an illuminated Inniswood. Stop at the Gardens Entrance to try an activity to add to the fun.

Rugged Rock Hike
2023-12-11 10:00 - 12:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take in views of sandstone outcroppings on a rugged 4-mile backcountry hike. Terrain at Clear Creek is steep and uneven. Be prepared for elevation gain. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring water. Meet at the Park Office: 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster.

Spectacular Snowflakes
2023-12-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Visit us to learn about these fantastical, frosty flurries! Learn through a short story about snowflakes, then create a chilly craft to take home!

Candlelight Yoga
2023-12-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Enjoy a relaxing slow yoga flow at Scioto Grove Metro Park. Perfect for beginners, and those who want a peaceful practice after a long day! Free and fun. Meet at The Grove indoor facility.

For Adults 50+: Cookie Decorating
2023-12-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join naturalist and baker extraordinaire, Shannon, as we sprinkle on the holiday magic with a cookie decorating class that will get you icing like a pro in no time. You’ll learn the basics of designing festive treats such as a snowman, pine tree and gingerbread man. It’s the perfect way to get your sweet tooth in the spirit of the season. Pre-baked sugar cookies and icing will be ready and waiting for you. Participants will have fun, get to share their decorated sugar cookie creations at the end, and of course, taste testing is part of the deal!
Meet at the Beech Maple Lodge

Star-Gazing Hike
2023-12-13 18:30 - 19:30 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Enjoy the stars on this slow-paced hike through the park at Glacier Ridge Metro Park. Meet at the Dog Park Parking Lot and hike with a staff member to the solar field to stargaze

Winter Hike - Campfire & Hot Cocoa
2023-12-15 17:00 - 19:00, 2023-12-22 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.

Winter Hike Series: Hot Cocoa & Twinkling Lights
2023-12-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Warm up inside the holiday-decorated Nature Center with hot cocoa and enjoy fun activities for kids including a holiday themed scavenger hunt. Then, hike on your own along the 1/4 mile twinkling lights trail around the Nature Center. Don’t forget to pick up your winter hike cards or get your card stamped inside the Nature Center. The Nature Center will be open late until 7pm.
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. 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.

Christmas Bird Count
2023-12-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us as we walk 2+ miles counting all the birds as part of the nation’s longest running community science bird project. Binoculars provided or bring your own.

Audubon Christmas Bird Count
2023-12-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Join the longest running citizen science project and help search for birds for the 124th annual National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count.
No experience necessary. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair of ours. Meet at the Schrock Lake Restrooms. This program last approximately 2 hours.

Leave it to Beavers
2023-12-16 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
We’ll give you some fun facts to chew on, a cool craft to make, and you’ll leave with a new appreciation for beavers!

Hike Behind the Lake
2023-12-16 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike behind Thoreau lake through the waterfowl refuge.

A Victorian Christmas Evening
2023-12-16 16:30 - 18:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 4:30-6:00pm. All ages.
Make decorations and enjoy other seasonal 1880s activities on a special lamplit evening.

Coffee & Birds
2023-12-17 09:00 - 11:00, 2023-12-24 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.

Christmas Bird Count For Beginners
2023-12-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about our oldest civic science project, then head out to count some birds!

Winter Hike
2023-12-17 16:30 - 17:30 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Enjoy a guided, seasonal stroll as the sun sets over the gardens. The walk will conclude as the gardens are being illuminated with Inniswood’s light display.

Microscopic Hike
2023-12-20 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a half-mile hike looking closely at the tiny world beneath our feet and collecting a few items to bring back and look at under microscopes. Hand lenses will be provided.

Cocoa & the Grinch
2023-12-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Walk under the twinkling lights and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. Take a family photo taken with “The… The… The… Grinch!” Meet us at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Winter Solstice Hike
2023-12-21 10:00 - 12:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Celebrate the shortest day of the year on a 3-mile backcountry hike to the gorge. Warm up with hot chocolate afterwards. Terrain at Clear Creek is steep and uneven. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring water. Meet at the Park Office: 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster.

For Adults 50+: The Gardens in Winter
2023-12-21 15:30 - 17:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Meander along the nature trails on a 1.5-mile walk. The trails are considered easy. Stay after the program to enjoy the winter lights.
Meet at the Gardens Entrance

Winter Solstice Lantern Stroll
2023-12-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Celebrate the longest night of the year and stop by anytime between 5-7pm to enjoy a 1-mile self-guided lantern-lit stroll through the winter woods. Our friends from Public Lands will also be on hand passing out hot cocoa to sip while you stroll along the trail!
Bring your own lantern or borrow one of ours. Meet at the Schrock Lake Restroom area.

Evening S'mores
2023-12-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy a toasty s’more by the Scioto Audubon Climbing Wall! Free and fun, all equipment provided.

Christmas for the Critters
2023-12-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Drop by anytime between 1-4pm and create 3 treats that are sure to please your neighborhood wildlife neighbors. Meet at Spring Hollow Lodge.
Please note: The lodge is not accessible via the main park entrance. Please use this address to locate the lodge: 1069 W. Main St., Westerville, OH 43081

Hike the Whole Park
2023-12-23 08:00 - 11:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Enjoy seeing every aspect of Walnut Woods Metro Park on this approx. 5.5-mile hike around the Buckeye Area to the Tall Pines section of the park! The trail will be paved (gravel in some short sections) with mostly flat terrain. Meet at the Buckeye Area, near the dog park. 6716 Lithopolis Rd. Groveport, OH.

Nature Ornaments
2023-12-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Come to the Nature Center and create ornaments made with materials that you can find outside.

Sunset with the Bison
2023-12-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a walk as the sun sets to see our majestic bison herd.
