Get out and enjoy the fresh air in our beautiful metro parks this winter. Experts say the best way to stick to a fitness program is to schedule your workouts, like you would an appointment. Fill in your calendar to get in shape this winter with the Annual Winter Hike Series with Columbus Metro Parks. Join them for guided hikes at a different Metro Park each week on either Saturday at 10 a.m. or Sunday at 2 p.m. for hikes that vary in distance from 1 – 7 miles (can also do self-guided hikes). These hikes are family-friendly and include hot beverages and a snack afterwards.
Make your hikes greener! Bring a reusable mug or bowl for the after-hike food/drink or buy a bowl from Friends of Metro Parks. Donate personal hygiene items or $5 to Mid Ohio Foodbank, and receive a collector’s mug. Car pool with friends if you are coming with a group!
(Note: a commenter mentioned that the mug wasn’t available this year, but it’s in all of the event listings, so I’m going to leave it in for now. Hopefully it was just a error for that walk day).
Virginia Gordon, Coyote Run Trail Highbanks Metro Park
Winter Hike Series Schedule
(see pdf)
- Saturday, January 4: Blacklick Woods 10 a.m. – 2 or 4 miles
- Saturday, January 11: Sharon Woods 10 a.m. – 2 or 4 miles (leashed pet friendly)
- Sunday, January 12: Prairie Oaks (Darby Bend Lakes) 2 p.m. – 1, 3 or 5 miles (leashed pet friendly)
- Saturday, January 18: Scioto Audubon 10 a.m. – 1 or 2 miles (leashed pet friendly)
- Saturday, January 25: Clear Creek 10 a.m. – 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 miles
- Sunday, January 26: Inniswood 2 p.m. – 2 miles
- Saturday, February 1: Blendon Woods 10 a.m. – 2, 4, or 6 miles
- Sunday, February 2: Scioto Grove 2 p.m. – 1 or 2 miles (leashed pet friendly)
- Saturday, February 8: Highbanks 10 a.m. – 2.5 or 5 miles
- Sunday, February 9: Glacier Ridge 2 p.m. – 2 miles (leashed pet friendly)
- Saturday, February 15: Three Creeks 10 a.m. – 1, 3, or 5.6 miles (leashed pet friendly)
- Sunday, February 16: Slate Run 2 p.m. – 2.5 or 5 miles
- Saturday, February 22: Battelle Darby Creek 10 a.m. – 2, 4, or 6 miles (leashed pet friendly)
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I’m sorry that was your experience. I messaged the Metro Parks on Facebook and they said they are still offering the mugs for the donations. Perhaps you can send them a message and let them know your experience? Maybe they’ll let you pick up a mug if you aren’t able to go on another hike.
Nope. I brought personal hygiene items to Slate Run Winter Hike for Mid-Ohio donation.
They did not offer the free mug as advertised for doing this.
Thanks for letting me know. At some point it seems to have changed to personal hygiene item or $5 Mid Ohio Foodbank donation for a mug, but I’ve sent an inquiry to verify.
Forget about the free mug for food donation. They were not offered at the Winter Hike at Slate Run Metro Park this weekend.
That’s a good question, but I’m not sure. Since pets are allowed at most parks, I wouldn’t think that they would have a problem with a leashed, well-behaved dog on the hike, but if you want to be sure, you could call and ask: (614) 508-8111
Edited to add: I called the main line and was told that different parks have different pet-friendly trails, so it would depend on each specific hike. One easy way to get an answer for each hike you are interested in is to contact them via Facebook or comment on the hike event page on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Columbus.Metro.Parks/
Are these hikes pet friendly?