Highbanks Metro Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Highbanks Metro Park is a 1,200-acre park located in the state of Ohio that offers visitors a variety of recreational and educational opportunities.


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Summary

Here are some good reasons to visit:

1. Natural Beauty: Highbanks Metro Park features scenic river views, towering hemlocks, and steep shale bluffs that provide a breathtaking backdrop for outdoor activities.

2. Hiking Trails: The park has over 10 miles of hiking trails, including the popular Dripping Rock Trail and Overlook Trail, which lead visitors through forests, fields, and wetlands.

3. Wildlife Watching: Visitors can spot a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds, throughout the park.

4. Education Center: The Highbanks Metro Park Nature Center provides educational opportunities for visitors of all ages, with interactive exhibits, live animals, and a variety of programs and events.

5. Picnicking and Playgrounds: The park has several picnic areas and playgrounds for families to enjoy.

Interesting facts about Highbanks Metro Park include:

- The park gets its name from the high shale banks along the Olentangy River.

- The park is home to the largest natural area in the Franklin County Metro Parks system.

- The park has been designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society due to its diverse bird population.

The best time of year to visit Highbanks Metro Park is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, the park is open year-round and offers different activities and experiences throughout the seasons.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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