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The 10 Best Things To Do At Scioto Grove Metro Park

Nestled along the Scioto River, Scioto Grove Metro Park is a 630-acre park with mature forest and scenic bluffs overlooking the water.

The park has over 7 miles of trails, picnic and shelter areas, tables, a kids’ play area, overlooks, an archery range, rustic camping sites, and even an impressive rope bridge.

The park is a fantastic destination for kayakers and canoeists, with a designated area where you can put your watercraft into the river. There are paved and unpaved trails at the park, but one of the most beautiful walks you can take in the spring is the REI River Trail.

The backpacking trail is great for those who are just getting into backpacking. In addition to the scenic views along the trail, there are also rustic campsites where you can spend the night, getting a great first taste of what it’s like to backpack overnight.

REI Trail


One of the first things you should do when you arrive at the park is to head straight to the REI trail. This 1.8-mile loop trail is a generally easy hike, offering beautiful scenic views of the Scioto River and a great opportunity to watch out for birds and other wildlife. It’s a hard-packed trail that’s easy to traverse, but it can get a little muddy if it’s been raining recently, so plan your footwear accordingly. Pets are allowed on the trail and you can see an interactive trail map right here.

Disc Golf


You’ll need to bring your own frisbees, but the park is home to an 18-hole disc golf course. You’ll find the course south of Grove Lodge, near the archery course.

Picnicking


In addition to shelter houses and picnic tables, there are also so many lovely spots in the park where you can throw down a blanket and enjoy an old-fashioned picnic. Just be sure to clean up any trash and leave the park in as beautiful of a condition as you found it.

Rope Bridge


You can find this amazing rope bridge on the REI trail, but I thought it deserved its own special mention. The bridge is larger than it looks in pictures, spanning a tributary that flows into the Scioto River. It’s a very popular destination within the park, so if you’re hoping to have that Instagrammable moment alone on the bridge, be sure to visit during non-peak hours.

Camping

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There are basic campsites throughout the park that you can reserve for overnight stays. This gives visitors a great opportunity to try their hand at overnight backpacking. You’ll need to bring all of your own water and supplies to the campsites, which are fairly basic.

Archery


The course at Scioto Grove Metro Park is a 3D archery course. It has 12 foam animal targets for you to test your archery skills and there is also a traditional archery range. All kinds of bows can be used, but broadhead arrows are not allowed.

Fishing


In addition to fishing in the Scioto River, visitors to the park can also cast a line into the fishing pond. Metro Parks ponds and lakes do not require fishing licenses since fishing is catch and release and catches cannot be taken away from the park. To fish in the river, anyone above the age of 15 must have a valid Ohio fishing license from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

Drone flying field

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Drones are more affordable than ever but they can be a little intimidating to take to the skies for the first time. If you’re looking for wide open spaces to take your first flight, the drone field at Scioto Grove Metro Park offers the perfect opportunity. The airspace over the park is Class G — Uncontrolled, but don’t forget that even as a recreational flyer, you’ll need to register your aircraft and complete The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST).

Kayaking & Canoeing

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There are two different areas at the park where you can launch on the Scioto River. There aren’t any rental services provided by the parks, so you’ll need to bring your own canoe or kayak. The launch areas are located at 4994 Jackson Pike, Grove City OH 43123 and 282 Hibbs Road, Lockbourne OH 43137. The south launch is currently closed, but you can check Facebook for updates.

Observation Tower

observation fire tower scioto grove metro park
Photo by Dan Kaderly, courtesy of Metro Parks.

New to the park in 2023 is the Observation Tower. Visitors to Scioto Grove Metro Park will be able to climb 90 to 100 feet up the Keystone Fire Lookout Tower for an epic view of the area. The lookout tower comes to the park from eastern Jackson County and was donated to Scioto Grove by a private landowner. The view from the top is pretty incredible.

One bonus thing you can do at Scioto Grove Metro Park is get married! The park is a beautiful spot for a wedding, and I should know because it’s where my husband and I had our big day. The park is magical, offering sweeping sunsets and it also happens to be incredibly convenient with close proximity to hotels and restaurants.

Scioto Grove Metro Park is located at 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH 43123. The park is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, please visit the Metro Parks website here.