The Columbus City Parks are blessed with a variety of natural treasures including a 35-foot waterfall, 100-year-old prairie, caves, quality woodlands and five waterways. Below is a description of a few of these gems.

Hayden Falls: This park includes a unique gorge habitat that only occurs along the western shore of the Scioto River. This ecosystem is home to not only a beautiful 35-foot waterfall but also rare and endangered plants. Located on the west side of the Scioto River along Hayden Run Road. The walk to the waterfall is currently a bit difficult at spots. However, there are plans to construct a boardwalk to aid in accessibility as well as protect the ecosystem.

Hoover Prairie: Home to rare and endangered plants, this is a beautiful place to take a walk along the nature trail. The Hoover Prairie dates back over one-hundred years. Within the last 30 years, it has been just eeking out an existence in pockets of sunlight as trees have started to take over. Over the last few years, we have been restoring the prairie.  The prairie is responding well.  Come visit the prairie in July and August when it is in bloom. Enter the southeast side of the reservoir on Central College road and follow the Nature Trail signs to the parking lot in the back.

Big Run: Probably the largest park in Southwest Columbus with beautiful mature woods exists in Big Run Park. This Conservation Park offers a variety of habitat from the mature woods to wetlands to meadows. Take a hike through the woods on the trail starting at the playground or just south of the shelterhouse. Located on Clime Road just east of Georgesville Road.

O'Shaughnessy Nature Preserve: This part of O'Shaugnessy Reservoir offers great birding, a good place to fish and a really awesome and diverse woods. Please stay on the trail when in the woods because there are several rare and endangered plants that call this place home. Located on the west side of O'Shaughnessy Reservoir just north of Shawnee Hill along Dublin Road. Look for the "Area S" sign on left.

Hoover Nature Preserve: Over 925 acres exist in the Hoover Nature Preserve. This is area includes all City property along Hoover Reservoir and Little Walnut Creek north of the Sunbury Road Bridge. It is known for it's spectacular shorebirds that migrate through in the Fall. It also has breathtaking views along the paths at Areas L, M and N on the north end of Hoover near Galena. Coming in the near future, a long boardwalk to make this wonderful area more accessable. Stroll along crushed stone trails around newly created wetlands at Hoover Meadows for excellent exercise or to just relax. Hoover Meadows is locate on Sunbury Road, just north of Galena Pointe Road.Go to the observation building at Mud Hen Marsh and get a glimps at the active beaver lodge, beautiful waterfowl or a heron catching dinner. Mud Hen Marsh is located along Big Walnut Road at the corner of Sunbury Road.

The Creeks: This park is over 1,500 acres located along Alum Creek to south of where Alum, Big Walnut and Blacklick Creeks come together. It includes a variety of ecosystems such as woods, stream corridors, meadows and ponds. There is plenty of opportunity for wildlife watching along the Alum and Blacklick Creek Multi-use Trails. Fishing is available at Heron Pond and the pond in the Three Creeks Area of the Park. In the near future, there will be a 100-acre wetland prairie developed at the Smith Farm Area. This should provide beauty as well as excellent birding opportunities!

The Park is jointly managed by The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department and Metroparks. Metroparks offers nature programs to the public at The Creeks. For information about these programs, Click Here.

Casto: This wonderful natural area is tucked away behind the K-mart on Route 3 just north of 161. It has beautiful, mature woods that border Alum Creek. Trails wind through these woods that offer gorgeous wildflowers in the spring, refreshing strolls in the summer, colorful leaves in the fall and peaceful walks in the winter.

Portman Park: Blacklick Creek gently flows through this park located on Motts Place Road just south of Refugee Road. Some of the largest, majestic trees found along streams make this a very scenic park. It also offers some choice birding with kingfishers along the creek and pileated woodpeckers in the woods.

Many rare and endangered species call these places home.  Click Here to find out more about these special park residents.