If you’ve ever wondered what Central Ohio looked like before it was heavily populated, I highly recommend planning a visit to Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
This 7,000-acre park has forests, prairies, and wetlands to explore. The park stretches along the Big and Little Darby Creeks and there are beautiful views around every corner. One of the most incredible things about the park is the herd of bison that call the restored prairies home.
The last wild bison lived in Ohio over 200 years ago, but this adorable little herd has called the park home for nearly a decade. They were originally relocated to the park from The Wilds and they can be viewed in their outdoor enclosures year-round.
If you’re planning your trip to the park specifically to view the bison, you’ll get a good view from either the Darby Creek Greenway Trail or the overlook deck at the Nature Center. But if you venture out, you should leave some time for the other fun areas the park has to offer.
You can hike right down to the creek and splash around, hang up your hammock in the Hammock Grove, put your canoe or kayak in, or just spend time exploring the miles of trails.
If you’re hoping to catch some beautiful sunset views, head out to the restored Wetland Area. The trails here are a little more rugged, but the views are sweeping.
There are a few different entrances to the park, so depending on which areas you are hoping to explore, you may need to take a quick gander at the map before heading out.
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is the largest park in Central Ohio and if you really want to make the most of exploring, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time. The park is currently open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The park is located at 1775 Darby Creek Dr, Galloway, OH 43119.
