Hours and Info
April 1-September 30: 6:30am-10pm
October 1-March 31: 6:30am-8pm
Phone: 614-620-1861
Nature Center: 614-895-6221
April-September: 9am-8pm
October-March: 9am-6pm
Reservations: reservations@metroparks.net
Photo: Patrick Kelly
Trails
Brookside
0.8 miles
Easy – Hike – Gravel
Passes through woods, crosses Ripple Rock Creek and connects with the Hickory Ridge and Ripple Rock trails.
Interactive Map: Brookside
Goldenrod
1.3 miles
Easy – Hike – Pets – Grass
Passes through meadows that are filled with wildflowers in spring.
Interactive Map: Goldenrod
Hickory Ridge
0.3 miles
Easy – Hike – Gravel
Wooded trail that connects the Brookside, Overlook and Ripple Rock trails.
Interactive Map: Hickory Ridge
Lake
0.3 miles
Easy – Hike – Paved
Leads to the Walden Waterfowl Refuge and Thoreau Lake.
Interactive Map: Lake
Overlook
0.6 miles
Easy – Hike – Gravel
Passes through woods, crosses Ripple Rock Creek and connects with the Hickory Ridge and Ripple Rock trails.
Interactive Map: Overlook
Ripple Rock
0.4 miles
Easy – Hike – Gravel
A steep trail, goes through woods and connects the Brookside, Hickory and Overlook trails.
Interactive Maps: Ripple Rock
Sugarbush
2 miles
Moderate to Difficult – Hike – Cross-Country Skiing – Grass
Passes through a wood that opens onto a meadow. Heavily populated with many different species of birds.
Interactive Maps: Sugarbush
Shelters
Reservable Shelters
Dogwood
This is an open air shelter with a charcoal grill, prep table, serving counter, four x 20’ and six x 8’ tables, two (2-plug) electrical outlets, lighting, drinking fountain, restrooms, and play area. The play area features a field, horseshoe pit with shoes, and swings (two regular, two baby swings). The Dogwood’s maximum capacity is 110 (80 undercover), and is ADA accessible. Parking capacity is 41 with three handicap parking spaces. All day and half day reservations available.
Shadblow
This is an open air shelter. It has three x20’ tables, one 16’ table, counter space, one double charcoal grill, prep table, two (2-plug) electrical outlets, lighting, drinking fountain, foot wash station, restrooms, wood burning fireplace (wood provided), and play area. The play area features a small field, horseshoe pit, and a children’s universal playset and swings (two regular, two baby swings). The Shadblow’s maximum capacity is 50 (40 undercover), and is ADA accessible. Parking capacity is 40 with three handicap parking spaces. All day and half day reservations available.
Sycamore
This is an open air shelter with one wall. It has a kitchenette with a large serving counter, electric chest cooler, and a sink with running water. It has one large double grill, six 2-plug electrical outlets, broom, fire extinguisher, four x 20’ tables, ten x 8’ tables, water fountain, restrooms, and play area. The play area features a field, three benches, two horseshoe pits with shoes, a sand volleyball court with net, and swings (two regular, two baby swings). The Sycamore’s maximum capacity is 130 (80 undercover), and is ADA accessible. Parking capacity is 65 with three handicap parking spaces. All day and half day reservations available.
Non-Reservable Shelters
Non-reservable shelters are located at first road on the right as you enter the park. Picnic tables, grills, restrooms, playground equipment, playfield and ranger station.
5 Shelters: Enclosed on three sides, Seating approximately 30 each, Grills
2 Open Shelters: Seating approximately 80, Grills
Activities
The 1.2-mile Sugarbush Trail is reserved for use as a cross-country ski trail when conditions are suitable.
Camp Sugarbush
Scout Troops can reserve this 45-acre Day Camp for day camping or overnight camping. Organized and sponsored youth and church groups can reserve it for day camping only. Call 614-508-8111 (M-F, 8am to 4pm)
18-hole par-63 disc golf course, 3734 ft. in length, with 9 holes less than 200 feet and 9 holes 200-300 feet, plus a disc golf practice putting game, Around 9. Free. Please bring your own discs. 614-620-1861
Note: there is also an Around 9 disc golf practice putting game, with discs, at the Hickory Grove picnic shelter, available for people who reserve the shelter. (Around 9 – Disk Golf Practice Putting Game Information)
A 0.4-acre skating pond, 18 to 24 inches deep.
A 10-acre area with a wooded hillside and ravine where kids can safely roam and enjoy unstructured play in nature by climbing trees, playing in the dirt and other fun adventures.
Our thanks to REI and to Michelle Zugaro for donations that allowed us to create some great play features for the Wild Child in all of us, including a zip line, teeter-totter, basket swing, cargo climbing net, a tether-ball game and various stepped logs over ravines and streams. Read Michelle and Maris Zugaro’s poignant story behind their donation
Directions: Turn right at ranger station then second left to parking lot. Entrance at far end of the lot.
Discover nature through displays and look through the nature center’s windows to see wildlife at the features and stream.
NATURE CENTER HOURS
April to September: 9am to 8pm
October to March: 9am to 6pm
PET TRAILS
Goldenrod Trail
1.3 Miles – Easy
Hike/Pets – Grass
Passes through meadows that are filled with wildflowers in spring.
Seven free shelters are available on a first-come first-served basis and include picnic tables, grills, play equipment and restrooms. Four reservable shelters are also available.