GOhio! Adventures Around Columbus

Early-bird coffee and conversation at Grandview Grind!

Prairie Oaks Metro Park sits along the Franklin and Madison County border, west of Columbus near areas like Hilliard and West Jefferson. The land was part of the broader push in the late 1990s and early 2000s to expand the Metro Parks system into the northwest and western quadrants of the county. Metro Parks began acquiring parcels for what would become Prairie Oaks during the millennium era, as part of a wave of new parks aimed at protecting natural features around Big Darby Creek. Much of the property had been altered by past uses, including farming and quarrying, which left behind pits that later became the Darby Bend Lakes. The park's creation reflected growing interest in preserving remnants of the Darby Plains ecosystem, one of Ohio's original prairie regions that had largely disappeared after European settlement.

The park officially opened to the public in 2000, making it one of the newer additions to the Metro Parks lineup at the time. As the 12th park in the system, it joined others acquired around the turn of the century, like Glacier Ridge. Initial access focused on basic trails and the scenic Big Darby Creek, a State and National Scenic River that winds through the property. Restoration efforts kicked off soon after opening, with crews using seeds native to the Darby Plains to replant nearly 500 acres of tallgrass prairie and grasslands. These plantings aimed to revive the open oak savannas that once characterized the area before widespread agriculture in the 1800s.

Over the first decade, Prairie Oaks grew in popularity for its mix of restored habitats and recreational features. The former quarry in the eastern section transformed into the Darby Bend Lakes area, where four connected lakes now offer boating, fishing, and a dedicated dog swim spot. Trails expanded to showcase the prairie blooms, especially in summer and fall when asters and goldenrods light up the fields. Partnerships with groups like The Nature Conservancy highlighted the park's role in protecting the Darby Creek watershed, often called one of the "Last Great Places" for its water quality and biodiversity. Visitors from around central Ohio started discovering it as a quieter alternative to busier spots closer in.

Restoration work continued into the 2010s, including wet prairie projects on about 190 acres to enhance hydrology and native plant diversity. The park's size reached over 2,200 acres, incorporating more floodplain along Big Darby Creek for flood storage and wildlife habitat. Amenities like parking at Sycamore Plains and Darby Bend Lakes improved access, drawing hikers, kayakers, and birders. Events and programs began emphasizing the prairie theme, from guided walks on blooming seasons to educational talks about pre-settlement landscapes. These efforts helped solidify Prairie Oaks as a showcase for ecological recovery in the Metro Parks system.

Today, Prairie Oaks stands out for blending restored prairie with creek-side adventure, just a short drive from the west side. Its history mirrors the Metro Parks' shift toward large-scale habitat restoration in the 21st century. The park continues to evolve with ongoing stewardship, protecting what remains of the Darby Plains while offering locals a place to experience tallgrass vistas and oak openings. Whether paddling the lakes or walking the trails, it's a reminder of how much the region has changed since settlement — and how intentional work can bring some of it back.

Map of the Park

Here is a map of Prairie Oaks.

Summary

For this event, we will hike the Coneflower, Alder, and Sycamore Plains Trails, and, depending on conditions, the Osage Opening and Tall Grass Trails, or Lake View, Mound, Darby Creek Greenway, and River Rock Trails around the lakes. Either way, we'll go around 4.5 to 5 miles.

For the most part, this won't be a terribly strenuous hike; Prairie Oaks tends to be flat. However, some of the hike won't be shaded, so be prepared for the possibility of some sun. Parts of the trails may also be muddy or wet, so I recommend hiking shoes and a change of socks.

Where We'll Meet

• Enter the Park at the main entrance at 3225 NE Plain City-Georgesville Rd. If you put "Prairie Oaks Metro Parks" into your Google Maps, it should default to this main address (but double-check to be sure).
• After you enter the Park, the first parking lot on your right is the Park Office. Keep driving past this lot.
• Enter the second parking lot you come to (which is also on your right). There's a picnic area, playground, and latrine here. There's no water fountain, though, so I recommend you bring water of your own, at least for after the hike.
• I've included a screen shot in the Photos, below, where I've circled in blue the main Park entrance as well as the picnic area we're meeting at.

After the Hike

After we're done surveying the prairie grasses, we'll head over to Crooked Can Brewing for drinks and food. The brewery has an entire food court, and they have a large free parking lot next to the Early Television Museum.

The actual address of the brewery is 5354 Center St, Hilliard, OH 43026. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

The rugged hills just north of Chillicothe that now form Great Seal State Park were once home to the Shawnee people in the mid-to-late 1700s. Several Shawnee villages, each called Chillicothe ("principal town") sat in the Scioto River Valley directly below these hills. This area lay along the Appalachian escarpment, separating glaciated flatlands to the west from unglaciated ridges to the east. The Shawnee maintained a strong presence here until European-American settlement pushed them out in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Nearby, the renowned Shawnee leader Tecumseh was born in a village along the Scioto.

European-American settlers began arriving in the 1790s, with Nathaniel Massie founding Chillicothe in 1796. Early leaders like Thomas Worthington, Edward Tiffin, and William Creighton gathered at Worthington's Adena estate overlooking Mount Logan and these hills. After an all-night meeting, they witnessed a sunrise over the landscape, inspiring the design for the Great Seal. This vista captured the rising sun, cultivated fields, sheaf of wheat, and bundle of 17 arrows symbolizing agriculture and Ohio's place in the Union. Much of the land depicted in the seal became the park itself.

The Great Seal's design evolved over the years, with engravers adding elements like the Scioto River in the foreground. It was officially standardized in 1967 and slightly updated in 1996 to match the historic view more closely. The prominent hills shown rising behind the river and fields are the very ones preserved in the park. Trails lead to overlooks replicating that iconic sunrise scene. The park's name directly honors this connection to our state's emblem.

Great Seal State Park spans around 1,862 acres of challenging terrain with multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It features campgrounds, picnic areas, a disc golf course, and scenic vistas across the Scioto Valley. The park preserves both the natural wilderness and ties to Shawnee heritage. Steep ridges like Sugarloaf Mountain and Mount Logan offer rewarding climbs. Historical markers highlight the seal's origins and early statehood story.

Today, the park invites locals to explore the exact landscape that shaped our state's identity. From trail overlooks, you can see views nearly identical to those on the Great Seal. It connects modern recreation with Shawnee history and the vision of early leaders. Year-round activities draw visitors for hikes, rides, or simply enjoying the hills. Preserving this area ensures the enduring link between our natural beauty and historic symbolism remains accessible.

Map of the Park

Here is a map of Great Seal.

Summary

For this event, we will hike the Shawnee Ridge, Bald Hill, Rick's Revenge, Sand Hill, and Old Schrake Trails. This will be around four and a half miles.

Afterward, we'll head over to Fifty West Brewing in nearby downtown Chillicothe.

Where We'll Meet

We'll meet by the restrooms at the Ireland Shelter picnic area. This is in the back of the Park from the main entrance on Marietta Rd. The map pin I've posted here should be accurate. There are also water fountains here.

You shouldn't have any trouble with cell service here.

Strenuousness of This Hike

Great Seal is a seemingly-unknown gem of a park right here in central Ohio. It has fantastic, gorgeous hiking and one of my two favorite trails of all-time in Rick's Revenge.

That said, this is a difficult park for a new hiker. While we'll be avoiding the most difficult areas of the park, what's left can still be challenging.

I don't use hiking poles, but if you do, then you'll probably want to bring them here.

Drawbacks of This Hike

Well, you really won't experience this on this hike since I (should) know where I'm going, but as much as Great Seal is a fantastic park, it has possibly the worst signage and trail markings of any state park in Ohio -- and that's saying something.

Great Seal has entire trails with no blazes; multiple junctures with no maps, even when other maps indicate there should be waypoints there; the same blaze color (blue) used on essentially every trail; local maps marked with inaccurate trail names; and "trails" not indicated on any map.

If you think you might have any interest in ever hiking this park by yourself, you really should try to make this hike. I've hiked all over this park so you don't have to. Let me help you keep your blood pressure down by helping you negotiate some of the most unnecessarily confusing parts of this otherwise incredible park.

After the Hike

Afterward, we'll head over to Fifty West Brewing Company for drinks and food. The actual address of the brewery is 1 N Paint St, Chillicothe, OH 45601. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

The history of Blendon Woods Metro Park began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville.

Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people.

As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support.

The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts.

In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area.

Map of the Park

Here is a map of Blendon Woods.

Summary

For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks.

Where We'll Meet

We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center.

After the Hike

Afterward, we will head over to Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery at Easton for drinks and food. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

The brewery's actual address is 4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219; however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the Worth Garage across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.