Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Preschool: Sounds of Spring
2025-03-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-05 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn about the animals making sounds in the gardens this spring. Then join in on a short hike and make a musical craft.

Skunk Cabbage Hike
2025-03-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Search for Ohio’s earliest wildflower and visit a vernal pool on a guided 3-mile hike. Meet at the Barnebey-Hambleton Picnic Area, 620 Clear Creek Road SW in Lancaster (39.600092, -82.631611).

Glow Archery
2025-03-05 16:00 - 17:30 | 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.

Intro to Rucking
2025-03-06 17:00 - 18:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Rucking is a form of fitness that combines strength training with cardio! Join us for our Staff Led Rucking Club. Weight will be provided, participants are required to bring their own bag to carry weight in (typically some form of back pack).
Participants are encouraged to bring their own form of wearable weights (rucking vests, backpacks filled with gear/water jugs, etc.) Meet at the lakes area parking lot, 2319 Quarry Trails Dr.

Woodcock Watch
2025-03-06 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-03-08 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”. Same program Thursday and Saturday.

For Adults: Woodpecker Walk
2025-03-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.5-mile hike in search of woodpeckers among the trees. Discover the adaptations that make these birds so unique.

Metro Parks Hiking Club: Fitness Hikes
2025-03-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike 2 or 4 mi. on grave and natural surface trails. Moderate pace. Stairs and hills.

Timberdoodle Time
2025-03-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.5-mile hike to search the fields for the elaborate, aerial courtship display of the American Woodcock.

Sunset and S'mores
2025-03-07 18:00 - 19:00 | 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.

Pokémon Go! Hike
2025-03-08 14:00 - 15:30 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Enjoy Pokémon Go! at Homestead Metro Park! Bring your own device to access Pokémon Go! and hike around the park with park staff to find different Pokémon! Meet at the Homestead Barn Shelter. 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, Ohio 43206

For Adults: Woodcock Walk
2025-03-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States

Spring Forward Hike
2025-03-09 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Enjoy a guided hike to look for signs of Spring in the the woods and meadows of the park. Not suitable for strollers. We may hike off-trail so please dress accordingly.

Amphibian Hike
2025-03-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Rocky Fork, 7180 East Walnut St., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Hike 1.5mi off-trail to look for amphibians in the vernal pools. Wear waterproof boots.

Cowboy Campfire Coffee!
2025-03-09 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.
Use the 2600 Dublin Rd. Park entrance.

Spring Fungi
2025-03-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Want to learn more about fungi at Blacklick Woods? Join a naturalist for a hike looking for what’s growing in spring.

Eagle Hikes
2025-03-09 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.

Growing Dahlias
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn how to start and maintain your dahlia tubers with members of the Greater Columbus Dahlia Society.

Life in Our Watershed: Vernal Pools
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s take a 1.5-mile hike out to a vernal pool to search for what’s living inside. Trail will be muddy and wet. Ages 18+. Wet Prairie Access- 1378 Darby Creek Dr.

Spring Into Yoga!
2025-03-10 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us at The Grove facility at Scioto Grove Metro Park for yoga designed to get you stretched and ready for spring! This program will be held outside on the facilities deck if the weather is nice, or inside the facility if the weather isn’t cooperating, but the meeting location will stay the same regardless!

Run with a Ranger
2025-03-10 18:00 - 19:00 | 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
