Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Yoga in the Park
2023-05-11 18:00 - 18:45 (America/New_York) | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Join us for 45 min of relaxing outdoor yoga. All levels of experience welcome! Bring a yoga mat, towel, and a block if you have one. Meet behind the ranger station. Signs will direct you to the nature center if weather is uncooperative.

Late Nights at the Climbing Wall
2023-05-12 18:00 - 23:30 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy Late Nights at the Climbing Wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park! On the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, the climbing wall lights will stay on until midnight for open climb. Please bring your own gear.

Adults: Off-trail Wetland Sunset Hike
2023-05-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Take a 3-mile guided off-trail hike at the wetland to explore this part of the park that is usually closed to visitors. Please bring binoculars if you own them. Trail conditions are crushed gravel and unimproved with moderate hills. Expect off-trail conditions to include mud, possible standing water (puddle-like) and uneven conditions in the wetland. Off-trail conditions near a wetland are unpredictable in the spring. Long pants, hiking boots, walking stick and tick repellant are encouraged. Please bring a flashlight for the return hike.
Meeting Location notes: Oak Coves Picnic Area After entering the park, Oak Coves Picnic area is first ROAD on the LEFT. Turn LEFT into the Oak Coves picnic area. Continue on the road to 3rd PARKING LOT. Naturalist will meet group near big playground.

Big Day Bird Hike
2023-05-13 08:00 - 10:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a 2-mile hike to look for warblers, orioles, tanagers, and other colorful birds. Learn how to use eBird to keep a list of what birds you see and hear. No experience required. Limited supply of binoculars available to borrow. Trail is unimproved with moderate hills. Ages 18+
Meet at Indian Ridge Area.

Fast Paced 3 Mile Hike
2023-05-13 14:00 - 15:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out for a Free and Fun Fast Paced 3 mile hike at Prairie Oaks Metro Park! Meet at Prairie View Picnic Area at the Main Entrance, 3225 Plain City – Georgesville Rd., West Jefferson, OH

Mother's Day Craft and Plant
2023-05-14 12:00 - 14:00 | Innis House, 940 S Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Stop by the Gardens to make a gift for a special person in your life.

Try it! Climbing
2023-05-16 11:00 - 13:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Whether you’re new to climbing, or have tried it before, join us at Try it! Rock Climbing for a fun and free program! All equipment and instruction provided. Tennis shoes are recommended. Meet at the Scioto Audubon Climbing wall.

Metro Parks Hiking Club
2023-05-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Join other like minded adults on a fast paced hike through the park. Choose to hike 2 or 4 miles.

Campfire Corral
2023-05-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join us for an evening around the campfire filled with sticky, fun campfire desserts and good conversation between staff and visitors alike! Meet at the Ranger Station 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, Ohio 43119.

Pawpaws: From Seed to Fruit
2023-05-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join Valerie Libbey with the North American Pawpaw Growers Association for an in-depth session focusing on germinating seeds, hand pollinating flowers, and other resources (where to get trees!) This program begins at 6pm and lasts approximately 2 hours, with an optional hike at the end.
Meeting Location: Spring Hollow Lodge, 1069 W. Main St. Westerville. Please note: Spring Hollow is NOT accessible from the main park entrance on Cleveland Ave.

Adults: Bird Walk @ River Bluff
2023-05-20 09:00 - 10:30 | Highbanks River Bluff, 8400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, OH, 43235, United States
Join a naturalist for a mile hike around riverbluff to listen and look for birds. Terrain will be moderate, but probably muddy. This hike will go on rain or shine, so dress for conditions, and prepare for mud. Tick repellant encouraged. Hike will be approx 1.5 hours. Bring binoculars. River Bluff Area does NOT have restrooms, trash cans or water fountains. Please plan accordingly.
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

Mud & Madness
2023-05-20 10:00 - 14:00, 2023-05-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Navigate several muddy obstacles on a 1.5-mile adventure. Obstacles are a little challenging and a lotta mud but a whole lot more FUN than RUN. Perfect for mud-loving children, adults & families. We will help you hose down afterwards so don’t forget to bring towels! Please refrain from bringing your strollers and pets to this event. Carpooling is encouraged! Please register in advance here: https://tinyurl.com/mr3n67mc

Spring Creeking
2023-05-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike about .5 mil to the creek to look for critters under the rocks. Wear shoes that can get wet.

For Adults: Wildflower Stroll
2023-05-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist for a relaxing evening stroll on the Scenic River Trail to observe and learn about our May blooming wildflowers. Meet in Big Meadows picnic area next to restrooms. Hike will be approximately 1 mile in total, along some paved surface as well as unimproved dirt trail. For ages 16+. Meet in the Big Meadows picnic area by the restrooms; orange Metro Parks program signs will guide towards the meeting location.
Meeting location notes: Big Meadows Picnic Area Big Meadows picnic area is at the back of the park. After you enter the park, take the main road down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, take the ROAD on the LEFT. Park in the lot with a playground. Meet near restrooms.

Try It! Kayaking
2023-05-26 10:00 - 15:00, 2023-05-27 10:00 - 15:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out to the new Quarry Trails Metro Park and try out a kayak! Solo, sit in kayaks will be available with a max weight of 275 lbs, and are open to ages 10+. A couple of tandem kayaks will be available for all ages with an adult present. Equipment and instruction provided. First come first served.
2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH has the closest parking lot to the water. This is a newly opened entrance, please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

For Adults: Off-Trail Hike to Hidden Wetlands
2023-05-26 10:00 - 23:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join the naturalist for an off-trail hike! Meet by the shelter house, located by the restrooms and flagpole.

Spring Fungi
2023-05-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Search the trails and learn about fungi and how to identify them on this 1.5-mile hike.

Late Night Climbing
2023-05-26 18:00 - 23:30 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States

Sunset Stroll on the Golf Course
2023-05-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Enjoy special access to walk the paths on the Golf Course. Select Evenings Only. Please check in & Check out with a staff member in the Pro Shop.

For Kids: Fishing Fun
2023-05-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Drop by between 10am-12pm to go fishing in Schrock Lake. Learn how to cast, bait a hook and then try to reel in a big one! Bring your own pole or borrow one of ours.

Adventure Hike
2023-05-27 10:00 - 14:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Experience the backcountry on a 7-mile adventure hike. Participants should be able to keep a moderate pace and have experience hiking over difficult terrain. Long pants are recommended. The hike will include a creek crossing (Clear Creek); bring a change of shoes. Meet at the Fern Parking Lot, 22937 Clear Creek Road in Rockbridge.

Canoe and Kayak the Lakes
2023-05-29 11:00 - 16:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Enjoy the lakes from a canoe or kayak on Memorial Day!
Canoes are open to all ages with a minimum of one adult per canoe. Solo, sit-in kayaks provided, open to ages 10+. Kayaks max. weight of 275lbs.
Life jackets are provided and worn while on the water. Visitors are welcome to bring their own Type III life jacket.
Equipment and instruction is provided. No pre-registration, first come/first serve. Free and fun!
Darby Bend Lakes portion of Prairie Oaks Metro Park. 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026

Open House Creeking
2023-05-29 12:00 - 16:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Explore the Big Darby Creek with the naturalists! Follow the signs from the ranger station at Cedar Ridge down to the creek and join us anytime between 12am – 4pm to look for some of the critters that call Darby Creek home. Visitors are welcome to get in the creek, or just observe some of the animals we have caught from the shore. Limited supply of nets and buckets provided. Dress to get wet!

Chalk and S'mores
2023-05-31 15:00 - 17:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy a tasty s’more while channeling your inner Bob Ross with chalk at Scioto Audubon Metro Park! Meet at the climbing wall. Free and fun! Chalk and s’more supplies provided.

For Adults: Fast-paced Full Moon Fitness Hike
2023-06-02 21:00 - 22:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Take a fast-paced 2.8 mile hike through the moonlit forests and fields of the park. Meet at the Apple Ridge Bulletin Board.

Creeking Open House
2023-06-03 14:00 - 16:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Follow the signs along the Ripple Rock trail to meet the Naturalists at the creek. Borrow our nets, jars and viewers to see what you can find! Wear shoes that can get wet.

Dog Hike
2023-06-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join the naturalist on a 1.5-mile summer hike along river and field with your canine friend. Treats and water breaks provided throughout. All ages.
Meeting location notes: Big Meadows Picnic Area is at the back of the park. After you enter the park, take the main road down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, take the ROAD on the LEFT. Park in the lot with a playground. Meet near restrooms.

National Trails Day: Hike & Campfire
2023-06-03 19:00 - 21:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Celebrate National Trails Day with an evening hike and roasting s’mores around a campfire. The hike is family friendly and 3-miles round trip.The campfire will take place at the halfway point of the hike. Bring a flashlight for the return hike. Meet at the Park Office, 185 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster.
