Delaware Wildlife Area 8 miles away from Delaware 4,670 acre Wildlife Area 1) Take Rt. 36/East Williams Street eastward 2) Take left onto Rt. 42/Lake Street 3) Slight left onto Horseshoe Rd./CR. 220 4) Left at Leonardsburg Rd. or continue on northward. You are no driving along the eastern side of the wildlife area and will encounter many pull offs; some being directly on Horseshoe Rd. and some requiring you to take a short drive down any roads you pass. Delaware Wildlife Area offers miles of trails for anybody looking to escape the stresses of daily life. It is composed of open grasslands that have been restored back to natural prairie, second growth woods, swamps and marshes, and stocked fishing ponds. It is a great place to spot many species of waterfowl as well as different woodland animals like Red Fox or Coyotes if you are lucky enough to observe these magnificent animals. The wildlife area also borders Delaware Reservoir and is adjacent to Delaware State Park. The wildlife area is open to hunting throughout the year when hunting seasons apply.
Delaware State Park 8 miles from Delaware 1) North on Rt. 23 for 8 miles 2) Right onto park road. From there feel free to explore the entire park to its fullest. Delaware state park offers 5 distinct trails ranging in length from 1/4 mile to 1.5 miles. All of the trails are of relative ease so everybody can enjoy hiking any of them. There are many acres of quiet forest for everybody to enjoy. The state park also has an 800 foot long public beach located on the shore of Delaware Reservoir. If hiking and swimming isn t your thing another attraction to be checked out at the park is their full 18 hole disc golf course. The state park has 211 campsites for those looking to get away for a night or two. Public hunting is available in select areas of the park during hunting season. Be sure to bring your binoculars as Bald Eagles are active daily!
The Olentangy Indian Caverns 8 miles away from Delaware Bring money for entrance Fees and souvenirs $9 entrance fee 1) Take Rt. 23 south to Rt. 315 2) Take a slight right onto Rt. 315 and drive to Home Rd. 3) Turn Right onto Home. Rd and drive for about 1.5 miles 4) Turn left into the entrance of the Olentangy Indian Caverns at 124 Home Rd. The Olentangy Indian Caverns is full of history. A large series of caves formed in the karst terrain has yielded these wonderful caverns. Over millions of years water flowing through has eroded away the limestone to form this magnificent and unique landmark. Descending down 105 feet below the ground visitors are able to see and experience an area that was once used as a meeting place and storage area for Native Americans in the area. Be sure to bring some money for admission into the caverns as well as any souvenirs you may wish to purchase. Remember, once you underground it stays a constant 54 degrees Fahrenheit year round, so dress accordingly.
Seymour Woods State Nature Preserve and Camp Lazarus 5 miles away from Delaware 1) Take Rt. 23 south to Winter Rd. 2) Turn right onto Winter Rd. and proceed for about half a mile. The entrance to the nature preserve will be on your right, there is a small pull off to park your car. If you wanted to drive to the waterfall or see the old sawmill continue south on Winter Rd. to Chapman Rd. Take a right, the mill will be on your left in about a quarter mile there will be a pull off on either side of the road. There will be a stream flowing into the Olentangy River. The waterfall is about 25 yard up the stream. This is Camp Lazarus property. Seymour Woods State Nature Preserve is a beautiful wooded area with many nice trails to hike. Directly adjacent to the preserve is Camp Lazarus Boy Scout Camp with many more acres of woods, ponds, ravines, and a very pretty waterfall for visitors to enjoy. Just down the road is the third oldest standing building in Ohio, an old limestone sawmill along the Olentangy River. However, the sawmill is meant to viewed from afar because it is under state protection and nobody is allowed to trespass on it to preserve it and keep viewers safe from potentially hazardous ruins.
Alum Creek State Park 10 miles away from Delaware 1) Take Rt. 36 east to county Rd. 10/Lackey Old State Rd. 2) Turn right onto Old State Rd. and follow heading southward to either the campgrounds which will be on you left hand side in about 3 miles or continue on to various other areas within the park. Remember, the park encompasses the lake, so any public pull off with state land signs is part of the park. Alum Creek State Park encompasses the entire Alum Creek Reservoir and offers many miles of trails for visitors to hike and enjoy. There is a public beach open to anybody who wishes to go swimming as well as very nice campground with over 300 campsites to choose from. For the more avid outdoorsman, the lake offers some very good fishing and is rated among the best Muskellunge fishing spots in the state. Public hunting is available near the northern end of the park during hunting season. Also, be sure to check out the state s largest tree, as well as the world s largest Eastern Cottonwood located at the corner of Africa Rd. and Cheshire Rd. on the north side or Cheshire Rd. and east side of Africa Rd.
Highbanks Metro Park 12 miles away from Delaware 1,159 acre Metro Park 1) Take Rt. 23 south for 12 miles 2) Turn right into park entrance. From there feel free to explore this large park. There is much to be seen, all of which cannot be enjoyed in just one or a few trips. Highbanks Metro Park is on the very southern end of Delaware County. About one third of the park lies in Delaware County and the rest is in Franklin County. Miles of trails, including some pet friendly trails and mountain bike trails offers hikers a variety of difficulty levels. Traversing over deep ravines and through thick woodland this park has much to offer to any visitors who may wish to make the drive out. Be sure to go to the observation lookout over the Olentangy River. Very beautiful sights over some shale bluffs are to be had as well as passing old Indian burial mounds as a reminder that people inhabited the land long before settlers did.
Hoover Reservoir 15 miles away from Delaware 1) Take Rt. 36 east to Sunbury, OH 2) Turn right onto South Old 3C Rd. Drive to Galena, OH 3) One in the town of Galena, you can drive to the back side of town (straight onto Walnut St. then right onto Front St.) and go to a very nice and long board walk that goes out over the water. Once you have checked out the boardwalk you have many options. You can either take Sunbury Rd. out of town on the east side of the reservoir, or South Old 3C Highway on the west side of the reservoir. Either direction will take you many different areas along the reservoir. Hoover Reservoir is another top destination for people look to explore or escape, especially those interested in birds! With many different species of waterfowl being present throughout the year depending on the season, visitors can also enjoy viewing resident Bald Eagles or Belted Kingfishers fishing in the water. The water isn t only open to the birds however, with a valid Ohio fishing license any visitor can spend their days here relaxing while waiting for the fish to bite.
O Shaughnessy Dam, Reservoir and Scioto River Pull Offs 14 miles away from Delaware 1) Take Rt. 42 south/west to Rt. 257/Riverside Dr. 2) Turn left onto 257/Riverside Dr. Within a minute the first public river access/pull off will be on your right hand side. Continuing on farther down the river you will run into many more pull offs. Some are just that, a pull off, and some are full picnic areas with benches and more. About 8 miles south on Rt. 257 you will hit Glick Rd. on your right hand side. Turn right here, you are now driving on top of O Shaughnessy Dam across O Shaughnessy Reservoir (if you feel like you are lost, look behind you, if you see the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium you are in the right place). On the other side of the bridge on your left hand side is a pull off area with a large parking lot and access to walk along the dam and down to the spill way. It is a very cool area and a great place to see the state threatened Queen Snake. The Reservoir and Dam offer many fishing opportunities, places to relax, and great picnicking. For those looking to do some walking and hiking continue on Glick Rd. to Dublin Rd. (about 1 / 4 miles away). At Dublin Rd. turn right and drive northward for about 3 miles until you reach O Shaughnessy Park and Preserve. Regardless where you go along the Scioto River and O Shaughnessy Reservoir (the river feeds and become the reservoir, after the dam it becomes the Scioto River again) you are bound to find a quiet and relaxing place away from other people.
Big Walnut Community Trail 12 miles away from Delaware 2/3 mile walking trail 1) Take Rt. 36 east to Sunbury, Ohio. 2) On Rt. 36 continue onto Cherry Street. 3) Take a left onto N. Vernon Street. The park is located at 168 N. Vernon St., Sunbury, Ohio. Big Walnut Trail is a park owned and managed by the Preservation Parks of Delaware County. It is a 2/3 mile walking trail that lies on top of an old rail bed converted to public use. The park has a picnic area as well as a trail house for visitors
Blues Creek Preserve 11 miles away from Delaware 139 acre Park and Preserve 1) Take Rt. 36 west to Burnt Pond Rd. 2) Turn right onto Burnt Pond Rd. 3) Take first left onto Fontanelle Rd., drive down for about 2 miles. Arrive at 9627 Fontanelle Rd., Ostrander, Ohio. Blues Creek offers many trail choices for visitors who wish to walk around and enjoy the quiet surroundings of farm country. With many acres of woods, streams, ponds, marsh, and natural prairie grasses, Blues Creek has something to offer anybody who wishes to come out and take a look.
Emily Traphagen Preserve 12 miles away from Delaware 72 acre Park and Preserve 1) Take Rt. 42 south/west to Rt. 257/Riverside Dr. 2) Turn left onto Rt. 257/Riverside Dr. and follow down for about 8 miles. 3) Turn left onto Seldom Seen Rd. In about 12 mile turn left into the park drive, 5094 Seldom Seen Road. Enjoy this quiet wooded getaway with a large pond with overlook and nice gravel trail to walk through the woods. There is also a large multi use shelter along with picnic benches if you choose to spend some time here. Keep your eyes wide open and stay alert for White tailed deer or maybe even Black Rat Snakes.
Gallant Woods Preserve and Gallant Farm Preserve 6 miles away from Delaware 250 acre combined Park and Preserve 1) Take Rt. 37 west/spring St. to Troy Rd. 2) Turn right onto Troy Rd. and follow up for about 4 miles 3) Turn left onto Buttermilk Hill Rd., drive over the train tracks and in about 1/4 mile you will reach the entrance to both Gallant Woods Preserve and Gallant Farm Preserve. Located on your left/the south side of the road is Gallant Woods and on your right/the north side of the road is Gallant farm; 2151 Buttermilk Hill Rd., Delaware, Oh. Come out and enjoy the Preservation Parks of Delaware County s largest park and preserve. Consisting of two separately named preserves, both Gallant Woods and Gallant Farm, this park offers many good hiking trails through woods and restored prairies for visitors to enjoy. Stay alert and you might be able to spot one of the resident coyotes or even a Ringneck Pheasant.
Hogback Ridge Preserve 9 miles away from Delaware 37 acre Park and Preserve 1) Take Rt. 36 east to Rt. 521/Kilbourne Rd. 2) Turn left onto Rt. 521/Kilbourne Rd. and continue on this road for about 7 miles 3) After passing through the town of Kilbourne (if you blink you might miss it) turn right onto Hogback Rd. Continue on Hogback for about 2 miles until reaching the park entrance on you left. Hogback Ridge is a very nice park with great woods to hike through. It has a very nice little nature center with a good bird observation center where visitors can sit and watch birds at the feeders. Binoculars are provided (I might be too cautious but the idea of putting something countless others have used to my eyes makes me squeamish, I would suggest bringing your own binoculars). The park is only 37 acres but you would never know it is so small because it backs up to Alum Creek State park making it feel much larger. If you wanted to you could easily go right down the road to the Osprey Observation area along Hogback Rd. The Osprey nesting towers are in Alum Creek and part of Alum Creek State Park.