Get out and enjoy the fresh air in our beautiful metro parks this winter. Get healthy and enjoy the beautiful scenery around our metro parks with the Annual Winter Hike Series with Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks.
For the 2021/2022 series, the hikes are not guided or scheduled. Visit the parks and hike any trail on your own schedule, pace, and distance. Each month will feature six different parks where you can take a stroll, get your hike card stamped and join a group for a walk if you wish.
Pick up your Winter Hike card at a featured park beginning December 1 or download the travel guide from the website. After you hike, ask a staff member to stamp the card.
After the series, join the celebration on February 27, 2022 to receive your new Winter Hike patch. Visit Friends of Metro Parks to find out how to earn hike medallions and additional swag.
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.
While you can hike any time and any trail to have your card stamped, there will be select dates where they will be offering refreshments during the day.
Winter Hike Kick-off
December 1, 5-7pm at Blacklick Woods Metro Park.
Join us at the Nature Center for hot chocolate and take a walk along the boardwalk under the twinkling lights. We will also be accepting donations of canned food for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
December: Twinkling Lights
Walk under the twinkling lights at Battelle Darby Creek, Blacklick Woods, Highbanks, Homestead and Inniswood during the month of December. Enjoy hot chocolate every Sunday from 5-7pm at these parks. Consider dropping off canned food donations for Mid-Ohio Foodbank as well.
December 17-18: Chestnut Ridge Lantern Walk with hot chocolate.
January: New Year, New Traditions
Gather your friends and family for a hike on any trail at Blendon Woods, Sharon Woods, Scioto Audubon, Clear Creek, Prairie Oaks and Three Creeks. Enjoy refreshments at parks during the times listed.
Saturday, January 8, 10am-2pm Blendon Woods
Sunday, January 9, 10am- 2pm Sharon Woods
Saturday, January 15, 10am-2pm Scioto Audubon
Saturday, January 22, 10am-2pm Clear Creek
Sunday, January 23, 10am-2pm Prairie Oaks
Saturday, January 29, 10am-2pm Three Creeks
February: Warm Your Heart
Each Saturday from 10am-noon stop by a campfire at Glacier Ridge, Pickerington Ponds, Rocky Fork, Scioto Grove, Slate Run and Walnut Woods and warm up before or after your hike. As you hike the trails, search for Metro Parks wooden ornaments to take home as our gift to our visitors.
Winter Hike Celebration!
Sunday, February 27, 11am-3pm at Blacklick Woods Golf Course
Hike along the paths of our Audubon Sanctuary Golf Course, collect your Winter Hike patch or Friends of Metro Parks hiking stick and medallion, enjoy hot chocolate, warm up by the fire and borrow our skates to glide around the ice rink!
Looking for more metro park fun?
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
- Subscribe to Columbus on the Cheap's email list
- Sledding Hills in Columbus
- Indoor and outdoor ice skating in Columbus
- Free Winter Fitness in Columbus
- 85+ Indoor Play Places and Activities
- Metro Parks Annual Winter Hike Series
- Indoor Farmers Markets in Columbus
- Free and Cheap Winter Fun
- Big List of Snow Day Activities for Kids
- Discounted and Free Museum Days around Columbus
- Kids Eat Free (or cheap) in Columbus)
- Fun and Tasty Adventure Trails in Ohio
- 50+ Best Free and Cheap Dates in Columbus
- Huge List of Columbus Happy Hours
Val Cannell says
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.
Leonard Mase says
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.
Val Cannell says
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.
Leonard Mase says
Forget about the free mug for food donation. They were not offered at the Winter Hike at Slate Run Metro Park this weekend.
admin says
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/
Kara says
Are these hikes pet friendly?