Need a little calm in your life? Visit a labyrinth for walking meditation and personal reflection. Labyrinths are a single patterned path, often circular, leading to the labyrinth’s center or heart. While a labyrinth looks like a maze, there are no dead ends and no wrong turns. It’s a single purposeful path, and there is no getting lost in a labyrinth. The ancient symbol of a labyrinth relates to wholeness, and is a great place for walking mediation and reflection.
Finding calm and peace is important right now, and there are several labyrinths that are still open in Columbus (while others are closed); see our list below. If you visit a labyrinth, please follow recommended safety precautions and proper distancing. If there is someone already in the labyrinth, please wait until they have exited, as there is only one way in and one way out.
How to use a labyrinth
There aren’t any specific rules to using a labyrinth – you can wander with a blank mind, or you can reflect upon a specific question or problem hoping for clarity. The suggested process for reflection and walking mediation recommends the following;
- Before entering, consider a question, prayer, or image to keep in your mind as you enter the labyrinth and start walking
- Start walking and follow the path, allowing your mind to focus on the specific thought or to let it all go (if that’s your aim)
- When you reach the center, sit or stand with your eyes closed.
- Turn around and head back out the way you came
World Labyrinth Day is always celebrated on the first Saturday in May.
Join thousands of people worldwide by ‘Walking as One at 1’ in the afternoon.
You can walk a labyrinth anytime. Seek one out for the purpose of contemplation, or take a few minutes to wander whenever you come upon one. Find labyrinths in Columbus and Central Ohio in our list below. These labyrinths are open daily during public hours, except where indicated. If you are bringing a group, please contact the facility before you plan your trip. Additionally, some labyrinths are located in or around churches. Please respect times of worship and return after services or church events to enjoy.
There are occasional community labyrinth walks throughout the year. Be sure to check out calendar following the list to see any upcoming walks.
Labyrinths in Columbus and Central Ohio
Note: due to closures, some labyrinths are not available for use. We have indicated the ones that we know are either open or closed in bold below. If we have not marked them, please contact the location via the link to ask permission to use the labyrinth – most unmarked are churches, which are currently closed. They may still allow people to use the outdoor labyrinths (but again, please verify).
St. Albans Episcopal Church, 333 S. Drexel Ave. Bexley, Ohio 43209.
Located in front of the church.
Shepherd’s Corner, 987 N. Waggoner Road, Blacklick, Ohio 43004.
This is private property as an ecological ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, so please call for availability, or plan to attend one of the public events listed on the website. Typically the labyrinth is open April-November, Wednesday though Friday (again, call 614-866-4302). There are community labyrinth walks on a regular basis, as well as Maple Syrup tours, a plant sale, 5K, and Shepherd’s Fest.
Shepherd’s Corner Ecology Center will open to the public Fridays only. Beginning on June 5th, they are open to visitors from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. This is subject to change. Suggested donation is $2 per person. If you plan on visiting, please contact them at (614) 866-4302 or email scecologycenter@gmail.com.
Ohio State University Chadwick Arboretum, 2001 Fyffe Court, Columbus, Ohio 43210. OPEN; the arboretum gardens are open – please maintain proper distance from others, and if someone is already in the labyrinth, you should wait until they exit. Due to the path, it would be difficult to maintain your path and allow proper distancing.
The Lois B. Small and Gladys B. Hamilton Labyrinth Garden is situated in the Lane Avenue Gardens. The labyrinth is encircled by a beautiful white garden (in season) to minimize distraction and enhance mediation. You can walk the labyrinth anytime, and they typically hold a Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk during December.
First Community Church, 3777 Dublin Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43221
The outdoor labyrinth at North Campus is open to the public, and there is an indoor labyrinth built into the floor of the new sanctuary.
Columbus Montessori Education Center, 979 James Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43227 (The school is closed; please contact them to inquire about the labyrinth)
As part of our commitment to the community, our outdoor learning spaces are open to the community when the school day ends.
Ohio Wesleyan University, 59 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, Ohio 43015 (Campus is closed; please wait until it reopens to visit)
Located on campus between Merrick Hall and the Delaware Run. Open 24 hours.
Denison University Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, The Open House, 204 N. Mulberry St., Granville, Ohio 43023 (Campus is closed; please wait until it reopens to visit)
Free and open to the public from dawn to dusk
Gardens at Gantz Farm, 2255 Home Road, Grove City, Ohio 43123 (Gardens are open; please wait your turn to walk the labyrinth)
Gantz Park is open from dawn until dusk
All Saints Episcopal Church, 5101 Johnstown Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054
We have not verified if this grass and stone labyrinth is still maintained.
Inniswood Metro Garden, 940 Hempstead Rd, Westerville, Ohio 43081 Metropark is open; please maintain proper distance and wait your turn to visit the labyrinth
Open during park hours, 7am until dusk. The rectangular labyrinth is located in the Sisters’ Garden
Tree of Life Labyrinth™, Ariel Foundation Park in Mount Vernon, 10 Pittsburgh Ave Mt Vernon, OH 43050
This labyrinth is located between the Schnormeier Events Center and the lake (crossroads, S. Nortan St/Neil Ave) and is open during regular park hours. The 1000-foot winding walkway celebrates virtues of faith, hope, charity, love and peace. “Walking the orderly path and pausing to reflect while sitting on benches along the labyrinth unifies the body, mind and spirit allowing the walker to leave the path feeling at peace.”
Tree of Life Labyrinth™, Ariel Foundation Park located at the top of photo
We recommend you explore the park while you are there. You can explore ruins of the Pittsburg Plate Glass manufacturing plant, climb the Rastin Observation Tower, visit the Wildflower/pollinator garden, walk the spiral paths up to the earthen terrace peaks, and enjoy the lakes and wooded paths.
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