Metro Parks Annual Winter Hike Series and Celebration

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 2024/2025 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 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 https://www.metroparks.net/winter-hikes/. After you hike, ask a staff member to stamp the card.  

After the series, join the celebration on February 23, 2025 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! 

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 from 5-7pm at Highbanks Metro Park.

Enjoy hot chocolate, and take a walk through the twinkling lights.

December: Twinkling Lights 

Walk under the twinkling lights at Battelle Darby Creek, Blacklick Woods, Highbanks, Homestead and Inniswood during the month of December. 

December 6-7: Lantern Walk with hot chocolate at Chestnut Ridge from 5-6:30 pm

January: Start the New Year with Metro Parks

Gather your friends and family for a hike on any trail at Clear Creek, Prairie Oaks, Rocky Fork, Scioto Audubon, Scioto Grove, Sharon Woods, Slate Run and Walnut Woods.

Hike anytime, or enjoy refreshments at parks during the times listed.

• Saturday, January 4, 10am-1pm at Prairie Oaks
• Sunday. January 5, 10am-1pm at Walnut Woods
• Saturday, January 11, 10am- 1pm at Sharon Woods
• Sunday, January 12, 10am-1pm at Slate Run
• Saturday, January 18, 10am-1pm at Scioto Audubon
• Sunday, January 19, 10am-1pm at Rocky Fork
• Saturday, January 25, 10am-1pm  at Clear Creek
• Sunday, January 26, 10am-1pm at Scioto Grove

February: Love from Metro Parks!

Gather your friends and family for a hike on any trail at Blendon Woods, Glacier Ridge, Pickerington Ponds, Quarry Trails, and Three Creeks.

Hike anytime, or enjoy refreshments at parks during the times listed.

• Saturday February 1, 10am-1pm at Blendon Woods
• Sunday, February 2, 10am-1pm at Pickerington Ponds
• Saturday February 8, 10am-1pm at Glacier Ridge
• Sunday, February 9, 10am-1pm at Quarry Trails
• Saturday February 15, 10am-1pm at Three Creeks

Winter Hike Celebration!  

Sunday, February 23, 2025 11am-3pm at Blacklick Woods Golf Course

Head to the Audubon Sanctuary Golf Course to collect your Winter Hike patch or Friends of Metro Parks hiking stick and medallion. Enjoy hot chocolate, warm up by the fire, and hike along the trails.

Cheryl Blair, Blendon Woods winter hike

Looking for more metro park fun?

Find upcoming fun at the parks on the Facebook pages!

Quarry Trails Facebook page
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
614.508.8000
info@metroparks.net
Reservations: 614.508.8111

facebook.com/Columbus.Metro.Parks
instagram.com/cbusmetroparks
twitter.com/CbusMetroParks