Beautiful Trails, Nature Centers And Endless Adventure Awaits At These 10 Ohio Metro Parks

Sometimes, you just need some fresh air and some sunshine.

Exploring the state parks of Ohio is one of the best ways to embrace the beauty of Ohio. However, there are several little known metro parks that are just as beautiful to explore—many of which have some pretty cool features you won’t find in state parks. Explore castles, overlooks, tree tunnels and more within these 10 metro parks in Ohio that will bring out the adventurer in you.

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park/Facebook

Stretching across more than 7,000 acres, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is home to a herd of bison that roam free. Once spring arrives, the buffalo roam freely within two enclosed pastures. You can often view the herd from the Darby Creek Greenway Trail, the bison overlook deck and the Nature Center.

A Gaming/All Trails

With wide open spaces and beautiful views, you can hear yourself think here. The Prairie Trail is a 1.6-mile loop that's easy to hike. In the spring and summer months, a wide variety of wildflowers bloom, adding a sea of color to an already stunning landscape.

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Tim Evanson/Flickr

Part of the Cleveland Metro Parks, this particular park is home to the beloved Squire's Castle. North Chagrin Reservation also features a nature center and nature education building, numerous trails and picnic areas.

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Sugarcreek MetroPark/Facebook

This metro park in the Dayton area is home to some really, really old trees. Be sure to check out the 550-year-old Three Sisters and the Osage Orange Tunnel (pictured) , which is made up of trees that were purposefully planted in rows in the late 1800s to serve as a farm fence.

Jen Geolinitz/Flickr

The All Purpose Trail at Rocky River Reservation (pictured) features scenic views of the Rocky River and a total of 13.6 miles for cycling, walking, skating, etc. Along this trail you'll encounter others, such as the 1.3-mile Rockcliff Springs Fitness Trail, (which we also recommend.)

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Aryeh Alex/Flickr

Part of the Central Ohio Park System, Scioto Grove Metro Park is a 620-acre park along the Scioto River featuring stunning forests and scenic bluffs overlooking the river.

Lake Metroparks/Facebook

This stunning beachfront metropark features 600 acres, including 40-foot-high beach bluffs, 9,000 feet of shoreline and perfectly picturesque beaches. The park just opened a 50-ft. coastal observation tower that features 360-degree breathtaking views of the lake and bluffs.

Mill Creek MetroParks/Facebook

Youngstown's metro park features some beautiful scenery and landmarks. The 1.5-mile asphalt surface East Cohasset Hike/Bike Trail features a scenic route above Lake Cohasset. It's perfect for a leisurely day hike.

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Greg Stawicki/Flickr

Close to Toledo you’ll find what’s considered to be Ohio’s rarest ecosystem (and one of the world’s rarest ecosystems) where rare plants and animals, oak forests, sand dunes, savannas, tall-grass prairies and swamp forests all thrive in harmony—and it will truly make you feel like you’re not in Ohio anymore.

dankeck/Flickr

Part of the Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks System, this metro park features 5,300 acres, blackhand sandstone cliffs, ravines and creeks to explore.

Have you explored any of these parks before? What others would you add to this list? Let us know!