Prairie Oaks Loop from Darby Bend Lakes Entrance

The Big Darby Creek is just one of four National Scenic Rivers in Ohio. Exploring and fly fishing for smallmouth bass, rock bass, or panfish is just one way for you to experience the river near the Prairie Oaks Metro Park. Located within a thirty-minute drive from downtown Columbus, the Prairie Oaks Metro Park offers hiking trails and a pedestrian bridge along the banks of the Big Darby. Wading...

Parking at the Whispering Oaks Picnic Area on the west side of the park, start on the Darby Greenway Trail and follow it north across the river until you reach the beginning of the Lake View Trail. This 0.9 mile trail takes you along the largest of the Darby Bend Lakes, and even takes you past a remnant Adena Mound at the north end of the trail. To explore the additional lakes, continue along t...

This trail begins at a dog park and meanders alongside farm fields and creeks. Stay to the right at the first fork to begin the Mudsock Trail. The second fork in the trail results in a loop that meets up with itself and continues on. Depending on the amount of plant growth/season, there is a trail that cuts from one side of the loop to the other. This trail crosses Roberts Road and there are cr...

Starting your hike from the Cedar Ridge Picnic Area, head north along the Darby Creek Greenway, a well-maintained gravel path that is a multi-use trail alongside cyclists and trail runners. The trail switches between a number of different settings during the 4.7 mile one-way trek, including forest, oak savannah, and prairie. About 1.5 miles in, the trail passes the Columbus Metro Parks' Bison p...

A great evening getaway while in Columbus, Hayden Run Falls is easy to access. The path to the falls is a well-maintained boardwalk above the floodplain of the Scioto River, just a little over a 0.1 mile in length. The boardwalk takes you right up to the very foot of the 35 foot tall waterfall, and on most days the spray from the falls coats the deck (and you if you get too close!)There is also...

Indian Run Falls is a family friendly destination for the metro lifestyle. Sitting just outside downtown Dublin, the falls are easily accessible from the nearby parking lot, with the roar of the fall audible as soon as you get out of your car. For those seeking a hike, there is a 1/2 mile trail that leads to SR 745 near the Scioto River following the top of the cliffs that Indian Run carves.Be ...