The Dawes Arboretum in Summer

Summary

Just a few days removed from the estival solstice, let's take a long summer stroll through our very own Dawes Arboretum.

Here is a map of the Arboretum (in PDF form).

What the Arboretum Is

Dawes is a nonprofit arboretum that includes nearly 2,000 acres of plant collections, gardens, and natural areas. The site includes approximately 12 miles of hiking trails, and even has roadways enough for a four-mile driving tour.

How To Get In

It costs $10 to get into the Arboretum. You can buy tickets online or at the Arboretum itself; the price is the same either way.

If you're a member of the Columbus Zoo, you get $3 off the admission fee.

The Columbus Library also has a limited number of Culture Passes that will allow you to get into the Arboretum for free. I've never tried to get one of these before, though, so I can't really help you with this.

Where We'll Meet

We'll start at the Visitor Center. It has restrooms and water fountains. Except for a couple of port-a-potties next to a nearby parking lot, these are the only restrooms and water fountains at the Arboretum. You can also buy snacks here (but not coffee!).

My cell service here has always been fine.

Where We'll Go

For this meetup, we will hike/walk the following areas of the Arboretum, which include the most popular areas of the park:

• Arboretum East
• Sundial
• Japanese Garden
• Holly Hill
• Dawes Lake / Dawes Island
• Observation Tower
• Conifer Glen
• Magnolia Collection
• Beard-Green Cemetery
• Woodland Garden
• Bald-Cypress Swamp

After we meet at the Visitor Center, we'll hike Arboretum East. Then we'll stop back at the Visitor Center before doing the rest of the walk.

How Far We're Going

Be prepared for a long walk of around 6-8 miles. Dawes is at most moderately strenuous in a few places, and there is a long, gradual incline once we reach the Hedge Letters at the southernmost end of the park. But really, it will be the length of the walk more than the grades of any inclines that provides for the bulk of the challenge.

Do I Need Hiking Shoes?

Arboretum East consists of hiking trails like you find at Highbanks Metro Park, although the trails are less gravelly and more just-dirt than you find at Highbanks.

The rest of the Arboretum is a mix of paved, dirt, gravel, and grass trails. My plan is to wearing hiking shoes for the East part, and then put my street shoes back on when we make our mid-tour stop at the Visitor Center. Unless the trails are particularly wet, though, you'll likely be fine even on the East part in street shoes.

Afterward

After, for those are who are interested, we will head to Crossroads Pub & Grub for drinks or food. Here is their menu. If you're coming to this event from Columbus, you'll likely drive past this place on your way both to and from the Arboretum.

The actual address of Crossroads is 6811 National Rd SE, 43030. Their food is reasonably priced and pretty good.