For the 2020/2021 series, the hikes are not guided or scheduled. Simply visit the parks and hike any trail on your own schedule, pace, and distance. After hikes at 7 parks, you’ll get a reward!
Pick up your Ticket to Travel booklet at a featured park beginning December 1 or download the travel guide from the website. After the hike, ask a staff member to stamp the travel ticket. After seven hikes, visitors can return their completed travel ticket to receive a unique 2020/2021 Winter Hike patch. Friends of Metro Parks will also have hiking sticks and medallions available.
Virginia Gordon, Coyote Run Trail Highbanks Metro Park
Columbus Metro Parks Winter Hike Series
Take a hike – on your own schedule – at these parks during each month, and get your booklet stamped! See more details here.
December
- Blacklick Woods
- Chestnut Ridge
- Highbanks
- Homestead
- Inniswood Metro Garden
- Scioto Grove
January
- Clear Creek
- Prairie Oaks
- Rocky Fork
- Scioto Audubon
- Sharon Woods
- Walnut Woods
February
- Battelle Darby Creek
- Blendon Woods
- Glacier Ridge
- Pickerington Ponds
- Slate Run
- Three Creeks
While you’re hiking, snap a #cbusparkie at the selfie station and send it to mediagroup@metroparks.net and tag them on Instagram. You can find the selfie station now through January at Inniswood Metro Gardens. The selfie station will move to other parks during the three-month long hike series. Follow on Instagram for the next several locations.
Looking for more metro park fun? At this time, programs will be limited and only advertised through the following online formats:
Battelle Darby Creek Facebook page
Blacklick Woods Facebook page
Blendon Woods Facebook page
Clear Creek Facebook page
Glacier Ridge Facebook page
Highbanks Facebook page
Homestead Facebook page
Inniswood Facebook page
Sharon Woods Facebook page
Three Creeks Facebook page
Outdoor Adventure Facebook page.
Contact info for Columbus Metro Parks
metroparks.net
winterhikes@metroparks.net
InfoLine: 614.508.8000
info@metroparks.net
Reservations: 614.508.8111
facebook.com/Columbus.Metro.Parks
instagram.com/cbusmetroparks
twitter.com/CbusMetroParks
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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?