Trail Review: Highbanks Metro Park, Lewis Center, Ohio
During a regular week, I tend to end up walking in a lot of different places. Depending on the weather and my mood, I may end up at the mall, on the treadmill, or on one of a number of different trails. But there’s a pretty good chance that, at some point during the week, I’ll end up at Highbanks Metro Park—because it offers a whole lot of different walking options in one location.
Here in Central Ohio, we’re incredibly lucky to have an extensive Metro Parks system—with trails and nature centers and play areas to explore. Highbanks covers more than 1200 acres along the Olentangy River—and, throughout those 1200 acres, there are miles and miles of scenic trails to explore. Personally, I love the variety that this park offers. I love that I can tackle The Hill on the paved multi-use trail for a nearly 5-mile out-and-back walk if I’m up for a challenge. Or I can take some easy loops around the 1-mile Big Meadows Path—which is perfect if I need an easier walk or if it might rain and I don’t want to wander too far from my car. If I want to go off the beaten (paved) path, I can wander around the dirt and gravel trails that travel through wooded areas and along the river. I might even see deer or some wild turkeys along the way. And though the paved trails tend to be out in the open—without a lot of shade—there are plenty of shaded dirt trails if I want to take cover on a sweltering summer day.
Highbanks is a favorite stop for everyone from moms with toddlers to packs of birders to school-age kids on field trips. There’s a whole lot to explore here—which means that my walking buddy Kristin and I can meet up at Highbanks for a walk while our girls can spend the time climbing on the playgrounds or running around the natural play area together. Of course, this also means that Highbanks can get pretty busy—so, on a nice day, I might end up dodging runners and dog walkers and moms pushing strollers and whole classes of rowdy kids on my daily walk. But the beautiful scenery—along with the variety of trails and terrain—makes it worth braving the occasional crowds.
Pros:
– Lots of variety: long or short, hilly or flat, paved or dirt
– Scenic trails
– Picnic shelters and play areas
– Plenty of restrooms near picnic areas
– Wildlife
– Woods and water to explore
Cons:
– Paved trails aren’t very shady
– Can get crowded on nice days
