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    Blendon Woods Metro Park

    4.5 (57 reviews)
    Open 6:30 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Blendon Woods Metro Park Photos

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    Time for a walk in the woods!  One of the better parks in Columbus.
    Laura F.

    How lucky is Columbus to have this park! In a city that is flat, flat, flat... we have managed to preserve some woodland areas that have some tiny hills and a whole lot of trees. Plus there are flocks of wild turkeys that roam about. This is a beautiful example of natural wildlife preservation. This park has a ton of hiking trails. Some short, some longer. All well marked and maintained. Each area has ample parking, restrooms, shelters, and playgrounds for the kiddos. There is even a disc golf course and during the winter a small skate rink (weather premitting). It also has tons of rentable shelter areas which are off the beaten path (gated unless rented), making them perfect for special event parties like graduation or birthdays. However what I do NOT like: Warning... angry rant: The only negative is it really isnt dog friendly. Not at all. No dog park. Okay, I get that (sort of) however, what makes me actually annoyed every time I visit here is.... All but one trail is "anti dog" which I have a HUGE issue with, for as a woman who likes to hike alone.... I want to bring a dog for protection and company. Because I cant, I find I dont use this park that much. I asked why no dogs. I was told "there are so many bird watchers, they get mad. It disturbs the birds". That is the dumbest reason to ban dogs from 95% of the park -when the dog owners tax dollars is guaranteed a larger percentage than the revenue of birdwatchers. There is just more of us dog owners. Thisnlark needs to show dogs more love. Not even suggesting the entire park to be open to dogs-- but come on, add one or two decent hiking trails. The one designated for the dogs is soooooooo muddy, its like the forgotten unwanted path that has been deemed "for dogs". For that it loses a star.

    Monarch butterfly
    Chari J.

    This is our "go-to" park, to get a healthy dose of nature. It's always so beautiful here. When you first drive in, it's like coming into an enchanted forest with a canopy of trees, hanging overhead. Simply beautiful, and in the fall, the colors are STU. The nature center is very cool and informative. There is a board for you to write down which species of animal you saw/encountered and where. If you're lucky, you'll see wild turkeys running about as well. I strongly recommend you check it out. There's also a cool disc golf course.

    Benches along the trails.
    Tania M.

    Great park with trails, nature center, trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, water and bathrooms. Very clean. Trails are well marked and beautiful! Benches and trash containers are throughout the park. There are poop bags for dogs, but no really great area for dogs. That was the big disappointment- the very limited area where dogs can go. All trails except for one are prohibited to dogs. The one trail where the dogs are allowed is a giant mud pit. It's terrible. It was especially awful because we went after rain, but it's clear that any day wouldn't be optimal for that trail.

    Jared S.

    Parking: This location has several parking lots at trail heads. All lots seemed to be nice and had plenty of spots. 3 stars. Amenities: I went into the nature center and they had a full restroom inside, but I did not see any snacks for sale, maybe I missed it though? Restroom worked well, wasn't super clean. The park also has shelter houses for group gatherings 3 stars. Hike: It was nice to be outside, some areas of this park almost look like Tennessee. It has hills, wooded areas, lakes, eagles, fields. Lots of variety. Only downfall is dogs are only allowed in few areas. 3 stars. Conclusion: This park is great for being in the city. Feels good to get outside and explore, but they need to make it more dog friendly.

    Rope swing in natural play area
    Marissa C.

    Blendon Woods Metro Park is a fantastic park. There is a lot to see and do here. Wild turkeys are also a very common sight in the park. There are over five miles of trails, which let you check out different areas. There are fantastic areas of exposed bedrock along the ravine area, through which trails wind, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the forest.  Interestingly, the ravine's set up resulted in each side growing its own type of forest - one is beech and maple, while the opposite side is oak and hickory.  There is a nice overlook down into the ravine and the creek from the Overlook Trail.  A short paved trail by the nature center will take you down to the two bird blinds through which you can view the Walden Waterfowl Refuge. There is also interesting signage about the giant snapping turtles inside. On certain occasions, they will permit hiking around the lake, which we've been fortunate to catch a few times - it's very neat! There are several playgrounds here, as well as a natural play area, which has so much to explore and get muddy! It also goes way back into the woods, even farther then it initially appears. There's a large climbing area and a tire swing, and then you can choose which path to continue on, with a little zipline for ages 5+ on one side, log balance beam to cross the stream on the other end, balance beams between trees, a teeter totter made from logs, logs shaped like vehicles and chairs, and a tetherball. If you climb up the hill past the zipline area, there are rope swings hanging from the trees, a trail, and plenty of space to build little forts. Other amenities include: an ice skating pond and sledding when the weather is right, several shelterhouses, and a disc golf course. In the fall, they open up the back service road for a short driving fall colors tour, which is very eye-catching, full of yellows, reds, and oranges. A nature center is also present, which has several educational displays, and it has a nice back porch area with picnic tables. When the weather is nice, critters like turtles and frogs have outdoor homes in the back, and they also have been setting up a butterfly tent for the past few years, where you can watch the life cycle of the butterfly play out. The naturalists are really friendly and offer some great programs too!

    Jen T.

    Blendon Woods is a favorite park - there's lots of different options for trails to walk on, including dog friendly one. It's a larger park so there's lots of different options as well for shelter houses/eating areas/natural play areas. There's really some thing for everybody there. It's great for birdwatching and spotting other wildlife. One time we were there we saw five or six turkeys crossing the road. At the nature center they have a lot of activities that can be done even when the center is closed.

    Joe J.

    Great way to start your morning. Lots of well maintained and natural trails. Beautiful foliage and clean restrooms. A nice break from the city!

    Mark K.

    I've been here many times over the years, so many that I take it for granted and apparently haven't reviewed it. There's a great nature center, trails, wetlands, shelters, and more. Well worth a visit for all of that. A nice getaway in a pretty built-up area. Our most recent visit was just to the playgrounds. Baby K wanted to slide, and I knew there was something here. Turns out there are several somethings. Take the first right after you enter, and you will find several shelters and playgrounds. The first one we saw was a pretty standard one, and was overrun with kids a family picnic. There were swings, a play area with several slides, etc. Pretty much what you'd see anywhere, and fairly small. A bit farther back is another one, bigger and better. And, when we visited, fairly quiet, so K got to run around as much as she wanted. More slides, places to climb, etc. Back in the woods a bit is an outdoor play area, for bigger kids, with a climbing net, tire swing, etc. Come take advantage of our great metroparks, and if you have a kid, come check out the playgrounds. Then head to the nature center for some educational fun, and walk around till they need a nap.

    Ya Y.

    Another beautiful metro park in Columbus! My husband and I visited here for the first time in early October. The park was much bigger than we expected. They had multiple trails to walk. The park also had an observation station. It was just so relaxing to walk around and enjoy the nature scene!

    Drew B.

    This is one of my favorite Metro Parks in the Columbus area! Completely wooded with lots of wildlife and if you combine the trails you can take a pretty good hike. They also have a great natural play area for younger kids which is amazing!

    Park
    Steve A.

    Blendon Woods Metro Park is a beautiful place for a hike. It's in a pretty nice area of the city. The park is far enough from the bustle it's pretty quiet. It has lots of hiking trails and places to picnic. The park is also pet friendly so you can bring them too. If you go with kids they have plenty to keep them entertained. It has a pretty good playground. There's a nature center with books and specimen exhibits. Be sure to visit the turkeys area. Most times in the middle of the day an employee will be there to educate about the wildlife. They are helpful in answering questions. Another cool thing is how pet friendly it is. There's a dog friendly hiking trail. I always see something interesting at Blendon Woods. It has many trails and a cool nature center. There's also the turkeys and waterfowl.

    Wild turkeys

    Great park, good place to walk and see nature. Clean restrooms and plenty of places to have a picnic

    Trail
    Josh S.

    We just moved to the area this year, this was our first visit here, it won't be our last either. Although it's winter it was really nice! Can't wait to come in the spring time:)

    Children's play area is just beside the picnic tables which makes things nice.

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    A wonderful and stunning hike with raw untouched surroundings. Not a gentle loop but a very scenic one. A great get away to explore.

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    Ask the Community - Blendon Woods Metro Park

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    Review Highlights - Blendon Woods Metro Park

    There are several playgrounds here, as well as a natural play area, which has so much to explore and get muddy!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Taylor Farm Park - Kids climb up the various rope levels to get to the slide.

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    This is a really pretty area. We had so much fun exploring the boardwalks through the wetlands - we…read morespotted tiny turtles, frogs and tadpoles, egrets and herons, ducks, and so much more! You can get a nice walk in with the looping combo of paved trail and boardwalk/bridges. There are a few shelters and trees around to help with the sun a bit. On the far end is a playground, with a very nice large shelterhouse with picnic tables. The playground is a lot of wood, metal, and climbing nets, and has sections for ages 2-5 and 5-12. By far the biggest draw appeared to be the very tall, fast slide, accessible via climbing net. There are benches available, and play shades available in one section. A nice sized parking lot is available too.

    Looks new. It's like the parks and rec teamed up with NIN and said let's create a Goth Industrial…read moreplayground. No color. Just steel and rope. Huge space to roam, hike, see natural habitats and also let the kiddos climb, slide and swing, etc. -- I did not see restrooms. But didn't get to see all the trails. The paths are mostly gravel and natural elements with a touch of modern engineering here and there. Covered shelter picnic area available. (See pics) Cannot see park from the parking lot. So littles with necessary diaper changes and meltdowns may pose a difficult space to take a break in the car. Parking is a trek from the actual playground. Plan accordingly.

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    5.0(2 reviews)
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    Westerville is known for having great parks and playgrounds, but the Johnston-McVay Park is a gem…read moreamong Westerville's network of parks. It is a relatively new park (about 5 years old) and has a somewhat non-traditional playground. The playground at Johnston-McVay is actually divided into two sections: * the upper section (closest to the parking lot) features the HAWK, a large wooden climing structure and some "roller slides". This area offers a lot of opportuity for climbing and creative play. * the lower section (closer to the road) has both traditional swings as well as a very unique swing that aloows up to 5 or 6 kids to swing togehter at the same time. My granddaughter and four or five newly found friends were swinging and singing a pirate ditty - pretending that the swing was a pirate ship. One of the nicest features of the park is that there are plenty of benches (some traditional - some large blocks of stone) for parents and grandparents to sit. The park also offers a nice mix of sunny and shady areas.

    What a fantastic local park! Way to outdo yourself Westerville!…read more Just opened down the street near McVay Elementary its a beautiful addition to the neighborhood. Modern Nature inspired playground equipment: swings, climbing structures, and most recognizable - Hawk/Nest. The trail around the park has placards that mark a "story path" sponsored by Westerville Library. From the looks of it, it will be a rotating story every few months. Natural play area includes creek access and some large stones for crossing the creek. Park does have a restroom. Great fun for a variety of ages of children. Be sure to stop by!

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    Blendon Woods Metro Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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