Backpacking
Meet other local people interested in Backpacking: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Backpacking group.
112,022
members
41
groups
Largest Backpacking groups
Newest Backpacking groups
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out backpacking events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the backpacking events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find backpacking events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Backpacking Events Today
Join in-person Backpacking events happening right now
Dinner at Highbanks Distillery Westerville
We will have dinner after our drink at the speakeasy. If people want to attend both the speakeasy and dinner please rsvp for both events.
This is the menu for dinner:
https://www.highbankco.com/westerville
PO Box 21 Speakeasy
PO Box 21. Is a speakeasy in the basement of Highbanks Distillery in Westerville.
Check out the menu:
https://www.poboxtwentyone.com/home
2026 OSU Chadwick Arboretum
Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser - Columbus
Open to public:
Friday, 5/15/26: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 5/16/26: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Hosted by OSU
The 2026 Chadwick Arboretum
Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser
Location:
Lawn area south of the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
2201 Fred Taylor Dr,
Columbus, OH 43210
Spring Plant Sale
Spring into greenery at Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens! Join us for our annual Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser and dive into a lush world of botanical delights. With over 16,000 fresh, exotic, and time-tested edible and ornamental plants, there's something for every green thumb!
Experience the thrill of our tree and shrub auctions, where you can bid on unique specimens to enhance your garden sanctuary. Step into our Learning Lab, where engaging educational demonstrations on various garden topics will unfold throughout the three-day sale, enriching your knowledge and inspiring your green endeavors. Take part in an exciting, live auction offered each day, as well as a silent auction on Thursday and Friday. Explore vendor booths brimming with gardening essentials and delightful treasures. And while you shop 'til you drop, indulge in delectable treats from a delicious, local food truck. Proceeds from this event go directly to The Ohio State Chadwick Arboretum, student organizations, and local businesses alike.
Come one, come all! Let's cultivate a brighter, greener future together.
Credit/debit cards only.
PBR Columbus-Tiki Party
๐บ๐น **TIKI PARTY @ PBR COWBOY BAR + SMOKEHOUSE** ๐๐ด
**Friday, May 15th**
Grab your crew and get ready to trade boots for beach vibes (or rock both ๐). Weโre turning PBR into a tropical party for one night onlyโthink island energy, great music, and a packed dance floor.
๐ฅ **How to Join the Party**
When you arrive, just **say โPBR Meetupโ at the door** to get your wristband for exclusive drink specials all night!
๐น **Exclusive Drink Specials-7pm-9pm**
$3 Domestic Draft โ Miller Lite & Coors Light
$3 Well Liquor Cocktails
$4 Vizzy Seltzers
$5 Select Call Liquor โ Titoโs, Bacardi, Tanqueray, Cazadores Reposado & Jack Daniels
$5 Select Shots โ White Tea Shots & Fireball
๐ **What to Expect**
๐ด Tropical vibes + high-energy music
๐ Line dancing + dance floor all night
๐ค A fun, social crowd (perfect for groups or meeting new people)
๐ธ Plenty of moments youโll want on camera
Whether youโre coming for the drinks, the dancing, or just a fun night outโthis is your excuse to show up and go all in.
Throw on something tropical, bring your people, and weโll see you at the party ๐บ๐น
CHROMA @CCAD
FREE event
[https://www.ccad.edu/chroma](https://www.ccad.edu/chroma)
Friday, May 15, 3โ7 p.m.
CCAD campus, 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH
Join Columbus College of Art & Design for *2025* *Chroma: Best of CCAD*, our annual campuswide exhibition showcasing outstanding student work from across the collegeโs academic programs. This faculty-juried show features select work from CCAD students of all class years, and is a canโt-miss end-of-year campus celebration recognizing their tremendous achievements.
Itโll be a night of fun and entertainment, with interactive games, animation and film screenings, art symposiums, poetry and prose readings, and more (along with some of the best local food trucks). *Chroma* is free and open to all.
Many exhibitions including...
**Game Art & Design:**
**DSB, first floor, Welcome Center lobby and Room 115**
Backpacking Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Womenโs Night Out: Boots, Bites & Good Vibes
Whoโs up for a fun night out?
Get your boots on, grab your cowboy hat, and letโs have some fun!
Thinking about checking out PBR Cowboy Bar & Smokehouse for a lively evening to unwind, connect, and enjoy the night together.
โข Lively atmosphere with country vibes
โข Delicious food + drinks
โข Music, dancing, and lots of laughs
โข Great conversation and new connections
CMG Gives Back: Serve Brunch at FAITH MISSION GRANT KITCHEN!
Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! We have a great little community of Movie Group friends so rather than see a movie this time, weโll help โcreate a better worldโ by helping serve those in need. Here are complete details and our plan for this event:
FAITH MISSION โ GRANT KITCHEN: The Faith Mission kitchen and dining room serves residents 3 meals a day, every day of the year. For this event, our group will help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents in the dining room, wash dishes, and clean surfaces.
PLAN: We will be preparing / serving / cleaning for BRUNCH from 10:30am to 12:30pm and have space for a total of 7 volunteers. Please arrive at 10:20am and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants.
LOCATION: Faith Mission โ Grant Kitchen is located at 245 N. Grant Ave. Enter the kitchen at Dock 1 (in the back of the building), indicated in the attached map. On-site parking in the adjacent lot and street parking is available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details:
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing all of the volunteers on this day so a firm RSVP count is essential. Please only sign up if you are certain youโll be able to attend. If something unavoidable comes up, please try to update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With few exceptions, no shows or cancelations within 1
week of the event will not be eligible for future CMG Gives Back events. I appreciate your understanding as we try to ensure the agencies have the volunteers needed to provide the essential services they provide to the vulnerable population they serve. Our Partner Agency for this event is Lutheran Social Services! A huge THANK YOU to all of YOU for volunteering at this (and any of our previous) CMG Gives Back events!
Should be another good/fun/meaningful time together, Dan
๐ฅ Lincoln Street Salsa ๐ฅ Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!๐ฅ
**๐ฅ Join us THIS Friday and EVERY Friday!**
**๐ฅ At Columbusโ Hottest New Salsa Venue!**
**.**
Lincoln Street Salsa
THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday!
8 pm โ 1 am
**.**
**๐ฅ Gorgeously Renovated Studio!**
**๐ฅ Free Parking!**
**๐ฅ BYOB!**
**๐ฅ Easy Access from Highway!**
**.**
Lincoln Street Salsa
1717 Brice Rd
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43215
**.**
**ENTRANCE IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING**
**Behind Anthonyโs Pharmacy!**
**.**
**PLEASE SHARE and help get the word out!**
**.**
**๐ฃ Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!**
**.**
**๐ฃ** 8:00 pm โ 8:30 pm
**๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป**
**.**
**๐ฃ** 8:30 pm โ 9:30 pm
**๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ Class!**
**.**
**๐ฃ** 9:30 pm โ 1 am
**๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐!**
**.**
**โ
Questions?**
**Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/)**
Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146
**.**
**โ
No Experience Necessary!**
**โ
No Partner Required!**
**โ
Plenty of People to Dance With!**
**.**
**โ
$15 Cash / $16 Card**
**โ
College Students $5 Off with Valid ID!**
**โ
BYOB**
**โ
Age 18+**
**.**
**โ
Lincoln Street Salsa is the perfect place forโฆ**
**.**
**๐ Learning to Dance**
**๐** Social Dancing
**๐ Birthday Celebration**
**๐** Bachelorette Parties
**๐ Girlโs Night Out**
**๐ Date Night**
**๐** Getting Fit / Burning Calories
**๐ Meeting New People**
**๐** Having Fun, Fun, Fun!
**.**
โ
**Questions?**
Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/ "https://columbussalsadancing.com/")
Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146
.
Backpacking Events Near You
Connect with your local Backpacking community
Level One Tuesdays (Bachata & Salsa Dance Lessons)
Click Here For More Videos:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17bwkttXhV/
***********************************
Salsamante Dance Academy will be at Swerve Every Tuesday Night to share the Rhythm & Energy of Bachata & Salsa.
These are Beginner Level lessons to get you comfortable and understand the two dances. Spread the Good News to all.
Swerve Dance & Fitness Complex
640 Lakeview Plaza Blvd A, Worthington, OH 43085
Bachata 7pm-8pm
Salsa 8pm-9pm
$15 - One Lesson
$20 - Both Lessons
Three Creeks Metro Park
We'll get in around 4 miles at Three Creeks Metro Parks, primarily natural trails. 17-18 minute miles, no one left behind, and faster walkers are free to lead out.
Optional lunch after!
If you're joining for hiking all the metro parks, this is the sixth one!
Hike Blendon Woods Metro Park
Hi ladies. We will meet in front of the Nature Center and head to the two Observation decks. We will then hike Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook and Sugarbush trails to get approximately four miles total distance. We will walk approximately a 18 minute mile pace. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes.
Trails & Ales! Blendon Woods Metro Park / Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
**History**
The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) 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 parkโs 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 parkโs 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](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png).
**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](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). 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](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) 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.
























