Connecting People with Nature

Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks

The Mission of Columbus Metro Parks is to conserve open spaces, while providing places and opportunities for people to discover and experience nature.

Incorporated in 1945, Metro Parks features 14 outstanding natural area parks and protects more than 22,500 acres of land and water in seven Central Ohio counties.

Blacklick Woods
With miles of hiking trails, Blacklick Woods Metropark is a fabulous place to ecplore beech-maple forests, wetlands, and riparian forest corridors alogn Blacklick Creek.We have reviewed the following trails on neoNaturalist.com: Beech Trail and the Maple Loop Trail. Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Blacklick Woods

Pickerington Ponds
Hiking, Biking, bird watching, picnicing, or recharging your spirit can all be wonderful outdoor activities at this central Ohio metropark. Designated and Important Bird Area by Audubon, nearly 300 species of birds can be found here. Numerous wetlands and ponds attract seasonal waterfowl, as well as a diversity of wetland plant and animal species. Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Pickerington Ponds

Battelle Darby Creek
This 6500-acre park is the alrgest of the Columbus Metroparks system. Situated along two nationally significant streams and protect hundreds of important plant and animal species. Hiking, fishing, sledding, and nature observation are just a few of the healthy outdoor educational, recreational activities you can enjoy here.Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Battelle Darby Creek

Blendon Woods
Located in Northeast Franklin County, this park is a peaceful place to hike or ski past rock-outcroppings, waterfowl habitat, forests and streams. Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Blendon Woods

Chestnut Ridge
Located outside of Columbus, in Fairfield County, Ohio, this park contains the ridge taht is known as the beginnings of the Appalachian foothills. Dry oak forests, wetalnds and sandstone rock outcroppings will greet the nature-loving visitor in this spectacular park. Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Chestnut Ridge

Clear Creek
In Hocking County, outside of Columbus, Ohio, this park contains an amazing array of plant and animal species. The difficult terrain is covered with diverse forests, including oak-hickory woods and hemlock ravines. If you want to explore some of the best that nature has to offer in Central Ohio, hike the 15 miles of trails in Clear Creek Metropark Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Clear Creek

Glacier Ridge
This park, located in Union County, contains a large restored wetlands complex, many managed meadow areas, as well as forest habitat. Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Glacier Ridge

Prairie Oaks
A splendid place to hike, bike, ski, or picknic, this park contains well-developed prairie and grassland habitats that can teach the park user much about these interesting ecological communities. Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Prairie Oaks

Sharon Woods
In northern Franklin County, this park is a great place to explore nature, including forests and field habitats, well-maintained trails, and an area of old-growth forest as well.Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Sharon Woods

Slate Run
This park, which includes a historical farmstead, is located outside of Columbus Ohio in Pickaway County. One of the highlights of this park is a large wetlands complex with observation decks which allow park visitors to observe wetland features up close and learn more about the importance of such natural features.Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Slate Run

Three Creeks
This 1,000 acre park in Franklin County connects to a number of central Ohio greenways, and provides access to trails along Alum Creek, Big Walnut Creek, and Blacklick Creek. This park also operated a tram along its trails, providing a wonderful opportunity for people who ordinarily would not enjoy the trails to experience nature for themselves. Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Three Creeks

Highbanks
Located in Northern Franklin COunty, Highbanks contains a diversity of natural habitats, from dry uplands to deep cut ravines along beautiful streams, to floodplain forests along the scenic Scioto River. NeoNaturalist.com has reviewed the following trails in this park: Big Meadows Path, Coyote Run Trail, Dripping Rock Trail, Overlook Trail, and the Scenic River Trail. Columbus & Franklin County Metroparks page on Highbanks

For more information about the Columbus and Franklin County Metroparks, see their web site at metroparks.net.

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