I love to walk this trail when I have some time to wonder. The weather's been nice lately so I've been taking longer strolls. I appreciate how clean the park is and always see people enjoying themselves whether it's cycling, skating, running, or walking like me. read more

Great park with so many birds. Would love to see it more during day as I went in evening to enjoy beer and birds before sunset at Nocterra. I even saw a rainbow. read more

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Magnificent reclaimed wetland on an old Brownfield/giant municipal Auto Towing Lot. Ample wildlife has begun to appear since the park has opened. Substantial outdoor rope climbing & artificial rock climbing facilities available. Bootcamp style fitness circuit obstacle course with walls, tires monkey bars and other challenges. Magnificent view of the downtown area of Columbus. Pet friendly areas and paths. read more

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It's pretty here but I couldn't find a good spot to watch the sunset without trees getting in the way. Overall, such a beautiful park with pretty views! read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I still love this park!! City view! Paved trail. Obstacle course. Climbing wall. Outdoor enthusiasts delight read more

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This morning's been a great walk fresh air great views so much fun to explore. Have a great day everyone read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

One of our top parks to take our dog for a walk. Love the Audubon center, it's open, so much glass and love the bird sanctuary. The trail leads down the water to the dam at the beginning. There is a dog park, a climbing wall and plenty of pavilions to host events at. This park also leads right downtown through the river walk. read more

I used to love running by the river in the Audubon. Despite being in the city, you get to experience real nature, to the point that I once saw a hawk fly in and swoop up a baby rabbit. It's very peaceful. In the non woods part, they have a giant dog park and a climbing wall for children. read more

This place is absolutely beautiful and incredible. One of the best Parks and recreation spaces I've been too. It's more than a park to walk around in. It has spaces to sit at on a swing and get a great view of the city! They have outstanding parties here that people rent from the park district. They have rock climbing and a little Riverwalk with cute animals in there. Me and my wife checked out the center past the Riverwalk and went inside to check out the little art contest they had in there. Such an educational place too to enrich yourself into. I forgot to mention about the army style agility course as well! The clean restrooms and climbing the water tower! Amazing, freshly paved lot with forest patrolling the area. There's no spec of garbage anywhere here either! This is what a park should aspire to be! read more

Scioto Audubon is a nice nature oasis located near downtown, on the banks of the Scioto River. It has a neat range of options available, including activities for those who love nature, birds, challenges, and events! The nature center here is the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, which is both a really nice event space with a nice view of downtown, as well as a great resource: it offers a fun indoor playground, a library that's great for kids and adults, and there are critters to visit, such as turtles. It has a nearby parking lot available. If you are looking for challenging activities, Scioto Audubon is home to rock climbing (featuring 3 towers and 2 arches, plus small boulders) and a nearby obstacle course featuring things like a tire run, balance beams, monkey bars, and the like. There are some separate parking areas available down by these areas. Also in this activities area is the playground, which offers some fun activities for kids to climb, run, jump, and more, as well as the iconic water tower, which you can climb up partway and enjoy the view from two platforms. Despite the urban location, there is a lot of natural stuff to explore here too. The river provides a great place to watch for birds, and the trail that runs near it is forested, as well. There's a neat wetland area with a boardwalk that runs between the nature center and the activities area. The major trails here include the 10 mile paved Scioto Greenway that runs along the river, a 2.5 mile connector trail that lets you get around the park easily, and a 0.4 mile grass loop around the wetland. Other amenities include three non-reservable shelters with picnic tables and nearby grills. Other activities include boating, canoeing, and kayaking (there is a boat ramp available) and fishing from boats or dock. Weather permitting, there is a sledding hill too! A dog park, with its own parking area, is located down past the activities area. During normal times, they offer some great programs and events, particularly for bird watchers and kids, but right now it's cut down a lot and the nature center is currently closed. It's still well worth a visit because you can enjoy everything the outdoors areas have to offer! read more

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Great place to go bird. Watch, sit, talk. Play wall climbing workout. Flip tires. Whatever you want to do. It's a good place to go. They also have a high place you can go and see the skyline. Very nice place. Clean restrooms too read more

A nature and recreational refuge centrally located near Downtown Columbus. The Grange Audubon Center is a small but well-maintained facility with its own parking located along the main Scioto Mile trail itself. Entry is free and tickets are timed to limit capacity, but you shouldn't have trouble making it inside to take a peek inside the library and collections as it tends not to be too busy. There are various activities throughout the day with tips for both beginner and experienced bird-watchers alike. If you're in need of a restroom break during your adventure down the Scioto Mile - then this is also an excellent place to do so! Across the highway lies the outdoor activities plaza, complete with rock-climbing, obstacle course, and bocce court (for those who like to sweat), and picnic tables (for those who like to watch and eat). You'll find plenty of space to sprawl with a furry friend or little human in tow. read more

Another great metro park in Columbus. My husband and I visited here during the fall season, and it was gorgeous. We used the shared bike service for the first time, and we rode around the beautiful Columbus downtown area. It was so convenient to use the bike through Lyft app. read more

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This is a fun park - it has a climbing wall, dog park, challenge course - you name it there's tons of stuff to do. It's close to downtown with bike paths that lead into downtown Columbus. You can put in to go kayaking or canoeing on the river. Has a really great nature center that's a partner with the Audubon society. They do classes and have seminars there. read more

-need your own equipment if you want to do the tall walls! -A few short walls for those of us who are not real climbers -For climbers of all experience levels -Path to get there from Scioto mile currently under construction but there is a safe detour read more

Awesome park. I remember what this area used to be like, and it is stunning now. Many areas to explore. The river, nature center, etc., etc. We were there for the playground- and the water tower, because Baby K is obsessed with Paw Patrol and lookout towers. We went up, a long ways, and had a great view. There are benches on each level, and you can see all around. Very cool. The playground is of a modern, open design. Lots to climb on. Only a couple of slides, and the one was too high for toddlers. But there were lots of other kids having fun. There's a weird music/light game machine. Most people couldn't figure it out, and having a toddler in tow I had little attention to give, but it looks complicated. Oh, and the climbing area. Wow! Nothing for little kids, but bigger ones can go up, and there were lots of adults there. Ah, in my younger days... Seriously, very impressive. So, as a park, 5 stars, the playground maybe 3. But I'm sure we'll be back. read more

The turf dog park is amazing. My dog loves coming here, there's plenty of parking and it's cleaner than every grass park. Plenty of space in both the small and big dog area, and both areas have grassy bits behind the turf. They even had a ice pool for the dogs during hot summer days, and every dog owner I've met here has been really friendly. read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is such a beautiful park! They have a nice walking path, beautiful scenery, unique play equipment and rock climbing! I highly recommend checking it out. read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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10 years ago this area was a post industrial eyesore with derelict buildings and an impound lot full of broken down cars. Fast forward to today and Scioto Audubon Metro Park is 120 acres of reclaimed urban land with great views of our downtown skyline and plenty of things to do. This park is bounded by freeway on three sides so you've got a sense of noise and motion around you at all times so it's not a typical laid back suburban style park. This is an active park with a dog activities area, jogging trails, volleyball, climbing walls and obstacle courses so you can get your exercise. It's a place to get your blood moving. While it's not a huge park it does boast a lot of different things for almost everyone to enjoy. Like I said, it's not a quiet park but it does have some nature trails, ponds, grassland and a deck at the Audubon Nature Center if you just want to sit and watch the day go by. My favorite part here is the ancient water tower that they've re-purposed into an observation deck. I'm glad to see that someone had the imagination to keep this structure as a focal point instead of simply taking it down. Kudos to them for their forethought. Scioto Audubon Metro Park - If you haven't been there yet, you need to check it out. read more

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A very beautiful park in Columbus. Right next to German Village! There is plenty of parking. A really cool rock wall. A super cool confidence course area, and a fun looking kids play area. They even have something for your dogs with a small and large dog park. The rangers who work here are the friendliest! There's a few pretty sections here where you can see the marshes. But, be careful where you walk... there is goose poop all over the trails and grass areas. read more

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This 120 acre metro park spans the whole of the Whitter peninsula, a semi-circular out cropping that once held industrial buildings that date back to the beer days of the now known Brewery District to its east. A great wetlands preserve that features bogs and dusty trials that curve through them. To the west beside the Scioto is the greenway, the multi-use trail making a great scenic pathway to enter from downtown. This is probably the most urban of Columbus' metro parks and has to my eye a unique geography. It seems suck between the river, route 23, and the skying downtown buildings cut off by I71. These features seem perfectly made to contain a green space, a kind of out-thereness in the immediate in-there of inner I270 neighborhoods. Like a lost world in the urban jungle. A wilderness cut between cosmopolitan and the crafty German-American Victorian styles down Whitter. It is not all swamp, though the swamp is enough to render a high rating with its flora and fauna habituating in the brush and grasses, flowers and sticks. In the center is a well maintain activity area that has a children playground and a rock wall ready for climbing. Dead center is an old water tower with viewing decks. Red and industrial it gives homage to the spots past and showcases the southern view of the city. (the southern view is not the best but does give a sense of the scale relative to the park.) Boat and canoe drops are found near the river past a tree line that gives the trail a darker scene. Entrance is made via Whitter or the greenway. There is ample parking. For the summer months when the flowers bloom and the grass turns green Scioto Audubon is a fantastic escape for downtown and south Columbus residents. read more

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Scioto Audubon Metro Park is among the newest of those in Columbus. It has a great view of the Scioto River. There's a nature center and a few observation areas. It's located conveniently from the downtown neighborhood. There's also activities like a climbing wall. If you've been to any of the other metro parks, you know they're usually in a more rural area. It's different here. The park is located just south of downtown in the Brewery District area. It's convenient to many nearby bars and restaurants. The park is located on Whittier Street. It sits on the former site of the impound lot. The parking lot is located near the end of the road. The nature center is the big building next to it. If you want to learn more they have educational activities. The observation deck next to the river is one of the best places to take a picture. On the northern side of the park are more activity areas. There's a massive climbing wall. It looks like a mountain. The bike trail is connected here so it's possible to get to other parks. I can think of several fun things to do at Scioto Audubon Metro Park. If you want great pictures go anywhere along the river. The climbing wall is a great workout. read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - River - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This is probably my favorite park in the area! It is centrally located and has such a great variety of spaces to spend the day. The bike path runs right behind the park, so we often ride around the varied paths running around the area. There is a great obstacle course to work out on, as well as several sand volleyball courts, a rock climbing wall and a dog park! The water tower is a great spot to run steps or just get a beautiful picture of the city! read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This is a very solid park. Rock walls, a soft based playground, and a nice bike trail that winds its way downtown. Here at the park there is a pretty substantial obstacle course, volleyball courts, an observation tower, and tons of parking. It's usually less busy than the parking lot appears, due to all the hikers and bikers. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Master of Metro Parks....the Scioto Audobon Park dominates the competition. This park is so unique - plentiful in reasons to love it. Let me count the ways: 1. Obstacle Course 2. New Age Playground Equipment 3. Rock Climbing Structure 4. Grange Audobon Center 5. Electronic Game 6. Water Tower 7. Wetlands 8. Scioto Greenway Trail 9. Bird Watching Area 10. Fishing 11. Designated Dog Park 12. Grill Areas 13. River Lookout Points 14. Nature Trails Admittedly, Columbus has some fabulous parks....but I have to argue that this is one of the best. There is just so much at this location. Some of the lookout points have free scopes to view the landscape. The playground equipment is so unique.....I cannot even describe it....you have to see for yourself. My favorite part had to be......DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....the obstacle course. You may be aware that I love love love bike trails but the obstacle course is f-in cool!!! read more

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This is a nice little park tucked away in a secluded area of German Village. I mainly have experience with the dog park, but there's also a cool climbing wall, playground and walking trails. I even played in a kickball tournament in the grassy field a couple of years ago. As for the dog park, it's my favorite of the ones I've been to in Columbus so far. They have separate small and big dog areas, though a lot of people bring their "tougher" small dogs into the big dog area. There are even nice picnic tables and a dual person/doggie water fountain in the area dividing the two. The way it's set up makes it pretty difficult for a dog to escape, because the dog would have to get through three gates. Each area has agility equipment for the dogs, though there aren't usually a lot of people/dogs using them. I kind of feel like the owners here pay better attention to their dogs, so I haven't really seen too many behavior issues or fights. read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Dog park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Great park! Loved the trails and all the areas to explore. Will definitely be going back.

I walked over this morning to check out the only Metro Park that I don't have to drive to (I always feel a little strange driving to a park to walk). Though there is quite a bit of road noise from the freeway, there are plenty of trees shading the walkway and the riverfront provides opportunities for birdwatching. The Nature Center wasn't open yet (early Saturday morning), so I just walked around and then continued up the riverfront Greenway path. If you continue on under the freeway, you will reach Bicentennial Park and the Scioto Mile. I definitely plan on coming back to check out the center and maybe do some reading on their lovely porch when it is warm enough. I also noticed some reviews that mentioned being able to climb up the water tower, so I'll be checking that out as well. As noted by a few others, I did see dog droppings on and along some of the paths. read more

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My very favorite park in Columbus!!! There's something fun for everyone here... plenty of activities to keep you busy for an entire afternoon: an obstacle course to climb around on and swing around on, a water tower to climb, a rock climbing wall (and a mini one for kids!), a playground, a Neo game console (like the one they have in the Columbus Commons), and a bike path that leads to the Scioto Mile! I don't know why but I really love playing the NEOS? Neo? game right next to the playground. There's a bunch of different game modes but you basically run around furiously and laugh and slap the flashing lights... you can play 1 or 2-player with different difficulty levels. Okay ANYWAY onto the nature part... I LOVE the bike trail! I like to get a COGO bike ($6/bike/24 hour period, 30-min max. per checkout) and ride it down to the Scioto Mile. Since you can only have a bike out for 30 min, it's just about the right amount of time to go around the Scioto Mile/COSI/Bicentennial Park, and check the bike in in front of COSI... Enjoy another awesome view of beautiful downtown Columbus, and then get a new bike and ride it back to the park! You honestly can't beat the view from the park! It''s nice and convenient that this park is so close to downtown/German Village, tucked right beside I-71. The restrooms are always super clean! I also know there's also some recycling dumpsters here. read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

As it should be done, I am separating the Grange Audbon Nature Center from the park as they are two distinct entities. This is by far the loudest, most un-natural park in the metro park system and I've been to every Columbus Metro Park. The problem is 71 runs down one side of it, 70 across another, and a train yard across a third side. So when you're hiking the trails you're greeted by a loud cluster of urban noises which are anti the nature experience. Plus, being a very urban park you get a lot of homeless camps and homeless people in the area who can be quite threatening. In fact there is a big camp just north on the Scioto Bike Trail right after the retaining wall but before the train tracks up on the hill to the left. Be careful if you go over there. The other big thing I don't like, besides the bike trail, there isn't really any shaded hiking trails. They are all out in the open so if you're trying to take a quick lunchtime hike without getting too sweaty don't plan on it if it's a sunny day. It's also not a very pretty park as everything around the park looks run down or industrialized. It does have several good things going on for it. The observation deck by the river has a free telescope and you can almost always spot turtles, birds, and some type of huge fish that likes to swim in the shallow waters playing in the mud. There is also a boardwalk over a pond where you can see giant green frogs, fish, ducks, and sometimes even a turtle or two. And of course there is the rock wall and dog park if that is your thing. read more

This is my go-to spot to walk my dog. He gets some energy out at the dog park and then we go exploring! Even in the winter time this place is beautiful. read more

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Oh, wow, a real outdoor climbing wall with artificial rock soo good you can't tell its fake till you kick it and it makes a slight noise. As an avid climber, this alone makes me want to move to Columbus. My one complaint: there's an interactive game on the playground near by that is constantly making very loud sounds (think Simon Says). Can we just replace all those beeps with something a little more naturalistic? It really spoils the mood. read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This park is the newest in the Franklin County Metro Park system, tucked behind the Brewery District along the Scioto River. The location is also home to the police impound lot...interesting site for a park. So here's the deal it is a brownfield under remediation yet still manages to have alot going for it in the nature world. A bike path runs along the river that starts at the base of the parking lot and ends all the way up at the delaware franklin county line. This is a great spot to look at the river and hunt for urban wildlife and if you are feeling up to it hit the bike path. Just don't go alone or at night, you might meet a few undesirables....i guess they are still working on that. read more

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Great place to escape the big city only a stone's throw from downtown. Plenty of walking/running paths and a huge/modern nature center. Plenty of rangers on duty and one is usually always in sight. Love that the metro parks turned this area which was once an eyesore into a treasure. read more

Really nice Metro park! Grounds are well maintained. Lots of opportunities for nature & landscape photography. I visited with a group of photographers and took the Audubon Society tour. The tour was engaging, informative and outright fun. There are views of the river, gardens and the Columbus skyline. Many other fun things available at the park as well. read more

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Great city views, large enclosed fenced areas for different sized dogs, Nature Center, bike path adjacent connecting to the rest of the city. It has been a wonderful addition to the downtown area since it's opening. However, sufficient washrooms are nonexistent. read more

Scioto Audubon Metro Park - Parks Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We love walking around Scioto Audubon. I'm so thrilled that the city created a park where there used to be such an eyesore. We love walking up to the top of the nature center and take in the view. We took our pups to the dog park a few weeks back. It is really nice, and I love that they have a shaded place to sit. A lot of dog parks around here are missing that. My dogs loved it, but it was a crazy hot day, so we did not stay too long. We plan to go back to the dog park, and I cannot wait to try the climbing structure! If you haven't been, go. It's such a treat be so close to downtown, but in also in nature. read more

For a fantastic, comprehensive list of the amenities at Scioto Audubon, go read Tabitha F's review. She's spot on. My personal favorite reason to visit this metropark is the view of the city. It's breathtaking! Every time I visit this place, it feels like I'm going somewhere magical. It's so hard for me to fathom having such an amazing park so close to downtown's hustle and bustle. I've come here by myself for some alone time, and I've spent many dates here too--walking the trails, having breakfast and watching the skyline, climbing the water tower to see the sunrise. No matter the reason, I always find something new, and I always have a great time. And if you bring your bike (or borrow one from the nearby CoGo station), you HAVE TO hop on the bike trail that heads north into the city--talk about breaktaking scenery! read more

You know I hate to give five star ratings very often. I have to think long and hard about whether it is warranted or not. I'll grant you, I've only seen a fraction of the parks the city has to offer, but my, oh my, does Scioto Audubon stand out from the ones I have seen. From the unique LEED certified center they built, to the FREE climbing wall, this park has a lot to offer. The dog park is easily the best I've seen so far. There are TWO parks, one for smaller breed dogs and one for large breed dogs, and each has its own agility course. There are great, staggered entrances so you can keep interaction between dogs to a minimum if necessary, and prevent escapes easily. And the parks are huge! I do wish they weren't so damn far off the road into the park though. On top of all that, there are running and bike trails and all that jazz as well. My only complaint is its location. That just stems from jealousy. I wish we had anything even remotely as grand on the north side. And what a great reclamation of once polluted-land. I can remember this area before its turnaround, and it was nasty, smelly, and an eyesore. Well done, Metro Parks. read more

By far my favorite park in the city. Lets start with the basics. It is connected to the Scioto/ Olentangy bike trail. You can bike there and enjoy the rest of the city after. It has a great playground. My three year old loves it and climbs like a pro now because of it. Any unsafe or un-fun pieces have been removed. It has an indoor playground. Crap I just told you about it so it won't be as unknown anymore... but it's great for the dreary winter days when you need to leave the house. Free WiFi. Clean Facilities. Everything is Free. And details: Fantastic view of the city. Short walk or bike ride to the bicentennial fountains. Has a rock wall. Great chance of seeing wildlife. Good place to picnic, it has shaded tables. Misting stand. It's great for after exercising or it just entertains kids and that's good too. Electronic music light up game thing. Ample free parking (short walk to downtown). Library and bird viewing area inside. It has sand volleyball courts. I guess there is a dog park and nature trails too but I have yet to discover them. The playground just looks cool. It's very non traditional and unique. No kid can do anything that they are not strong enough to do unlike the traditional take the easy stairs up and let your parents hover under the drop offs. Downside: No swings. For me it's a great place to show my child an active lifestyle. There is as much there for me as there is for him. read more