Trail Review: Glacier Ridge Metro Park, Dublin, Ohio
Even before I started my regular walking routine, Glacier Ridge was a family favorite—not necessarily as a place to walk but as a place to play. My daughter was six when the park opened a full Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course, as well as with the coolest kids’ play area around—complete with a fun zipline. There really is something for everyone at this park—whether you’re there for a picnic with your family, a walk with your dog, or a hardcore workout.
But it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I actually considered walking at Glacier Ridge—because my previous visits had mostly just revolved around chasing an over-active kid around all of the fun obstacles. But once I started to explore the park more, I found that it offers a whole lot of different options. After all, this park is huge, covering more than a thousand acres—and that means that there’s a whole lot of land to explore.
The main walking trails at Glacier Ridge are paved, traveling through forests and fields. The Marsh Hawk trail circles around the parking lots, while the Ironweed trail goes out and back, occasionally crossing a road or two as you make your way from one end of the park to the other. Along the way, you may pass by playgrounds and picnic areas that you probably didn’t know existed, which make for relaxing places to take a break (especially if you’ve got kids with you). The trails are beautiful, no matter the time of year—though the sections that travel through fields can feel oppressively hot on sunny summer days.
If my friend and I bring our tween kids, we’ll sometimes stick to the Challenge Course trail—a half-mile paved trail that loops around the challenge course area. It’s a good way to keep an eye on older, more self-sufficient, kids as they tackle the challenges, but the short length makes it feel a little monotonous after a while—and there’s no shade here, so don’t forget the sunscreen and your water bottle.
Admittedly, when I think of Glacier Ridge, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t the walking trails. But I’ve found that the trails here are definitely an added bonus, on top of all of the other awesome amenities that the park has to offer.
Pros:
– All kinds of fun activities for the whole family: play areas, challenge course, disc golf, dog park, and more
– Miles of paved trails to explore
– Playgrounds/picnic areas lining trails
– Beautiful wooded areas
Cons:
– Field portions can get hot on sunny days (and there are a lot of them)
– Offers just one short, hot trail circling the challenge course area
– Only one restroom in the entire park
You can learn more about Glacier Ridge and its amenities on the Metro Parks site.
