2025-2026 Metro Parks Winter Hikes Series
No matter how far, no matter when, Metro Parks Winter Hikes have a trail for you to enjoy! Hike under the Twinkling Lights in December and in January and February enjoy hot drinks and treats. Each month will feature different parks where you can take a walk, get your hike card stamped and maybe join a group for a walk. Bundle up, choose your route, grab a friend and go for a hike this winter in your Metro Parks.
- Visit the parks highlighted and hike any trail during the designated month.
- Have a staff member stamp your Winter Hikes card.
- Hike seven parks to earn a Metro Parks Winter Hikes patch.
- Join us at the celebration on February 22, 2026 to receive your new Winter Hikes patch.
- Visit Friends of Metro Parks to find out how to earn hike medallions and additional swag by hiking all 19 parks!
Winter Hikes Kick-Off
December 1, 2025 from 5-7pm at Blacklick Woods Metro Park
Join us at the Blacklick Woods Nature Center for hot chocolate and take a walk through the park under 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. The lights go on at dark and shut off at 8pm. Walk at any time. Or come out to Chestnut Ridge for special evening lantern walks and hot chocolate on Friday December 5, 2025 and Saturday December 6, 2025, from 5–6:30pm.
January
Start the New Year with Metro Parks
Gather your friends and family for a hike on any trail, anytime at Clear Creek, Prairie Oaks, Rocky Fork, Scioto Audubon, Scioto Grove, Sharon Woods, Slate Run, Walnut Woods, and Blendon Woods
Enjoy refreshments at parks during the times listed.
Saturday January 3, 10am-1pm at Prairie Oaks
Sunday January 4, 10am-1pm at Walnut Woods
Saturday January 10, 10am- 1pm at Sharon Woods
Sunday January 11, 10am-1pm at Slate Run
Saturday January 17, 10am-1pm at Scioto Audubon
Sunday January 18, 10am-1pm at Rocky Fork
Saturday January 24, 10am-1pm at Clear Creek
Sunday January 25, 10am-1pm at Scioto Grove
Saturday January 31, 10am-1pm at Blendon Woods
February
Love from Metro Parks!
Choose a trail you love and take a hike anytime at Glacier Ridge, Pickerington Ponds, Quarry Trails and Three Creeks.
Enjoy hot drinks and a treat at parks during the times listed.
Sunday February 1, 10am-1pm at Pickerington Ponds
Saturday February 7, 10am-1pm at Glacier Ridge
Sunday February 8, 10am-1pm at Quarry Trails
Saturday February 14, 10am-1pm at Three Creeks
Winter Hikes Celebration!
Sunday February 22, 2026, 11am-3pm at Blacklick Woods Golf Course
Hike along the paths of our Audubon Sanctuary Golf Course, collect your Winter Hikes patch or Friends of Metro Parks hiking stick OR medallion, enjoy hot chocolate and warm up by the fire.
Join us on OuterSpatial!
This season, we’re excited to make the Metro Parks Winter Hike Series easier and greener than ever! Instead of using a traditional paper hike card, you can now choose to participate through the OuterSpatial App right from your smartphone.
Here’s how it works:
- Download the OuterSpatial app. It’s free and available for both iOS and Android devices.
- Search for “Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks” and scroll down to find the challenges.
- Join the Winter Hikes Challenge.
- Check in each time you complete a hike at a Metro Park. The app automatically tracks your progress, so there’s no need to carry a paper card.
- Redeem your prize at the Winter Hike Celebration on February 22!
Don’t worry – if you prefer to use a paper card, those will still be available (at the top of this page, or at the parks). But this season we invite you to ditch the paper and join us on OuterSpatial to explore, connect, and track your hikes digitally.