Trail Review: Blacklick Woods Metro Park, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
I know I say it a lot, but it’s true: we are so lucky to live in a city that has a massive network of metro parks. There are currently 20 and counting, all with different amenities—from archery to disc golf to rock climbing to a full ninja warrior obstacle course. And, of course, they all have trails to explore.
This week, we’re venturing out to Blacklick Woods Metro Park in Reynoldsburg, Ohio—one that we’ve visited numerous times, though not usually with a long walk in mind. Though the park has a number of playgrounds and shelters for playing and picnicking—which can be great if you’re bringing your kids along for a walk—most of the trails here were designed more for short nature hikes than for long fitness walks. Most are gravel and less than a mile long, passing through forests and swamps. If you’re lucky, you may even see one of the resident owls on your hike.
If you’re here for a longer walk, you can choose the paved multipurpose trail—an out-and-back trail with a loop at one end. The path circles through forests and fields, though it isn’t an especially memorable trail—and there are large sections without shade, which can be pretty unpleasant on a hot summer day.
If the multipurpose trail isn’t long enough, and you feel like extending your walk (or if you’re so caught up in your conversation with a friend that you take a wrong turn, like I once did), you can also wander off onto the Blacklick Creek Greenway, a 16-mile trail that connects a number of different parks in the area.
The highlight of the park, though, is the newly-opened canopy walk—a 1/8-mile boardwalk loop that rises 40 feet above the ground. While you won’t want to spend your entire walk looping around and around on the boardwalk (especially since it tends to be pretty crowded), the 99-step climb to the highest viewing platform will give you a good workout—it all makes for a cool change of pace from the same old trail walk. I definitely recommend wandering off the multipurpose trail to explore the boardwalk and brave the rope bridge. And after you finish your walk, you can relax on one of the benches and take in your surroundings.
If you’re looking for a variety of scenery and plenty of paved trail options for your next long walk day, Blacklick Woods wouldn’t be high on my list. But the different amenities—and the gorgeous new canopy walk—make it a fun choice if you’re in need of something different.
Pros:
– Plenty of picnic/playground areas if you want more than just a walk
– Scenic nature trails for spotting wildlife
– Paved multipurpose trail that’s around 4 miles long
– Blacklick Creek Greenway connects parks, if you’re looking for an extra-long walk
– Canopy walk makes for a fun change of pace—and a place to relax after your walk
Cons:
– Most trails are short and unpaved
– Multipurpose trail doesn’t provide a lot of shade
– Canopy walk isn’t long enough to make it a complete workout (unless you want to climb up and down the stairs with every 1/8 mile loop)
