At Compass Homes, we are proud to call Central Ohio home. It came as no surprise to any of us, when Columbus recently ranked #2 on the Best Places to Live in Ohio, and #59 nationally, in large part because of places like Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Located in Galloway, Ohio, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is a hidden gem, even to some locals. It features more than 7,000 acres of forest, prairies, and wetlands, stretching along 13 miles of the Big and Little Darby creeks, both State and National Scenic Rivers. Besides the areas surrounding the creeks, there are also over 1,600 acres of restored wetlands and prairies.
In addition to its pure size (it’s the largest park in Central Ohio) and its combination of habitats, the most notable – and popular – thing about Battelle Darby Creek is that buffalo roam freely within two enclosed pastures. Visitors can often view the herd from the Darby Creek Greenway Trail, the bison overlook deck, and the Nature Center. It’s stunning, trust us.
Speaking of the Nature Center, it’s 14,000 square feet and has a living stream and interactive exhibits and Osprey Lake; a 14-acre pond for fishing with a dog swimming area. In addition, the park offers activities that can be enjoyed throughout the year, that include biking, canoeing/kayaking, cross country skiing, fishing, hunting, ice skating, natural play areas, pets, picnicking, and sledding.
And don’t forget hiking. Visitors can hike right down to the creek and splash around, hang up a hammock in the Hammock Grove, launch a canoe or kayak, or just spend time exploring the miles of trails. But the fun doesn’t stop in the winter months. Battelle Darby Creek is the perfect spot to head out even if the snow is flying. Curling alongside Big Darby Creek and out into fields and woods, there are a variety of trails you can take to satisfy your winter hiking itch regardless of the weather!
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Photo Credits
Eagle: Craig Biegler (Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Facebook)
Red-Tailed Hawk: Craig Biegler (Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Facebook)
Milkweed Bugs: Eric Reiner (Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Facebook)
Buffalo: Eric Reiner (Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Facebook)
Snow Goose: Unknown (Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Facebook)