> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hiking-ohio.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Glacier Ridge Metro Park: Trails, Map & Guide - URL: https://hiking-ohio.com/glacier-ridge-metro-park/ - Published: 2025-10-07T19:29:57.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-31T13:16:07.000Z - Description: Glacier Ridge Metro Park: 3.2-mi easy loop, 100 ft gain, 1.5 hrs. Dog-friendly prairie & wetland trails in Union County near Columbus, OH. Full trail guide. - Author: Lori Jordan - Tags: wildlife, Easy, Loop Trail, Year Round, dog-friendly, Scenic View Trail FactsGlacier Ridge Metro Park 3.2 miDistance EasyDifficulty 100 ftElevation 1.5 hrsDuration LoopType Year RoundDog-friendlyScenic viewWildlife The Glacier Ridge Metreo Park was officially opened on September 22, 2002, becoming the 14th park in the Metro Parks system. The development of Glacier Ridge Metro Park was a collaborative effort between the Metro Parks and the City of Dublin. The park was designed to include nature trails, a bridle trail, picnic areas, and restored wetlands. Glacier Ridge Metro Park, located in Plain City, Ohio, is a 1,031-acre park managed by Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. The park is named after the glacial end moraine, or terminal moraine, that formed the ridge-like accumulation of glacial debris when the glaciers retreated approximately 12,000 to 17,000 years ago. Before its establishment in 2002, much of the park's land was used for farming. Glacier Ridge Metro Park has grown into a popular spot for outdoor fun and learning about the environment. Highlights include the Honda Wetland Education Center, featuring a 200-acre restored wetland, and the Wind and Solar Learning Center, which focuses on renewable energy. The park also boasts various trails, an 18-hole disc golf course, a 5-mile bridle path, and a 3-acre challenge course. --- ## HISTORY Before its establishment as a metro park, much of the land that now comprises Glacier Ridge Metro Park was utilized for agricultural purposes. In 1995, Metro Parks began planning for a new park in the northwest quadrant of Franklin County. An advisory group was formed in 2000, consisting of community volunteers and representatives from the City of Dublin, Union County's Soil and Water Conservation District, and Metro Parks. This group developed a conceptual master plan for the park, which included nature trails, a bridle trail, picnic areas, and restored wetlands. ​ The park officially opened on September 22, 2002, becoming the 14th park in the Metro Parks system. At that time, only the northern section of the park was open to the public, featuring a 3-mile bridle trail, a picnic shelter, a nature trail, and a 2.5-mile paved multiuse trail. Subsequent developments expanded the park's amenities, including the addition of the Honda Wetland Education Center, the Wind and Solar Learning Center, and various recreational facilities. ​ --- ![Bare tree trunks in a leaf-covered winter woods at Glacier Ridge](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554084119-IMG_4259.webp) ![Fallen log caught among tree trunks in a brown leaf forest](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554083410-IMG_4261.webp) ![Wooden birdhouse on a post among bare winter trees](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554074158-IMG_4289.webp) ![Fall hillside with orange and brown foliage at Glacier Ridge Metro Park](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554085486-IMG_4301.webp) ![Bare tree branches against a blue sky with remaining autumn leaves](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554083752-IMG_4304.webp) ![Dried seed clusters hanging on bare winter branches](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554076841-IMG_4308.webp) ![Children playground with gray towers and yellow slides at the park](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554084159-IMG_4322.webp) ![Red barn-style restroom building with white trim and stone base](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554079161-IMG_4350.webp) ![Open-air picnic pavilion with red posts on a green lawn](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554079173-IMG_4352.webp) ## **Location** - **Address**: 9801 Hyland Croy Road, Plain City, OH 43064​ - **Hours**: Open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (April 1–September 30); 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (October 1–March 31)​ - **Phone**: 614-216-8859​ --- ## **Hiking Trails, Etc**. ## ![Glacier Ridge Metro Park trail map showing loops and wetlands](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758391780885-Screenshot 2025-09-20 140915.png) Glacier Ridge Metro Park has many trail options. #### Ironweed **2.8 miles** **Easy – Hike, Bike, Pets – Paved – ADA** Goes through woods and fields and leads to Honda Wetland Education Center. #### Marsh Hawk **3.7 miles** **Easy – Hike, Bike, Pets – Paved – ADA** Goes through woods and fields. #### Bluestem **0.6 miles** **Easy – Hike, Bike, Pets – Paved** Encircles the 3-acre challenge course. #### Cardinal **0.3 miles** **Easy – Hike, Pets – Grass** Mowed trail through the meadows and a reforested area. #### Red Oak **0.8 miles** **Easy – Hike – Natural** Passes through an old forest. #### Savannah **5.2 miles** **Horse riding – Grass and dirt** Loops through woods and fields (cross-country skiing when conditions permit) ![Red Oak Trail sign for 0.8 miles with no pets and no bicycles rules](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554143263-GOPR3752.webp) ![Leaf-covered dirt trail through a bare winter forest](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554145650-IMG_4260.webp) ![Paved multi-use trail curving through woods with fall color](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554145863-IMG_4263.webp) ![Multi-use trail rules sign requiring pets on leash and no motors](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554143059-IMG_4349.webp) --- ## **Obstacle Course** The 3-acre obstacle course features 12 challenging stations surrounded by a half-mile paved trail. Visitors can crawl through tunnels, climb poles and ropes and go over logs and more. ![Wooden swing frame over a gravel pad beside autumn prairie grass](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554246511-IMG_4337.webp) ![Challenge Course rules poster with a map of course stations](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554235513-IMG_4324.webp) ![Wooden frame with hanging gymnastic rings at the challenge course](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554240004-IMG_4329.webp) ![Green Challenge Course Glacier Ridge park sign](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554236341-IMG_4330.webp) ![Wooden A-frame balance obstacles on a gravel course pad](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554247041-IMG_4331.webp) ![Cargo-net climbing triangle structure at the challenge course](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554243903-IMG_4332.webp) ![Circle of wooden posts with hanging rings in the prairie course area](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554244938-IMG_4334.webp) ![Rope and log balance challenge structure among tall dry grass](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554245011-IMG_4335.webp) ![Wooden swing set frame with hanging seats on a gravel pad](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554244072-IMG_4336.webp) ![Narrow dirt path through tall dry prairie grass in autumn](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554311956-IMG_4326.webp) ![Wooden swing frames overlooking a wetland with autumn reeds](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554316855-IMG_4338.webp) ![Log balance beam structure across gravel near the wetland](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554315659-IMG_4339.webp) ![Gravel path with stump stepping stones leading toward a picnic shelter](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554318641-IMG_4340.webp) ![Split-rail wooden fence and gate along a gravel trail](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554320182-IMG_4341.webp) ![Three black tunnels under a grassy berm on a gravel play path](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554321214-IMG_4342.webp) ![Close view of three black crawl tunnels cut through an earth berm](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554319200-IMG_4343.webp) ![Fallen log balance obstacles along a gravel path in prairie grass](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758554320579-IMG_4344.webp) ## **Honda Wetland Education Area** Within the 1,000-acre Glacier Ridge Metro Park lies the Honda Wetland Education Area with over 200 acres of restored wetland habitat. This site lies 2 miles south of the main park entrance and is connected by a greenway trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. Honda of America contributed funds to the development of the Wetlands Education Area and Union County Soil and Water Conservation District helped Metro Parks with habitat restoration projects. The education area opened in 2005 and is a wonderful birding spot in central Ohio. Wetlands provide many vital functions including habitat, recreation, biological production, flood control, sediment traps, and groundwater recharge. Both plants and animals who make wetlands their home have adapted to environments that can be both aquatic and terrestrial. As a result, some species migrate to other areas, while others have physical or biological adaptations that allow them to live in wetlands. Shallow water combined with the high levels of nutrients creates a biologically productive habitat that forms the basis for the diverse, complex food web that is known as a wetland ecosystem. ![Tall wooden observation tower with spiral stairs against a blue sky](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758392300419-Screenshot 2025-09-20 141740.png) ## **Conclusion** Except for the fact that a metro park includes the word "ridge" in it and has no ridges, it is a great metro park to visit. The obstacle course is a nice addition. I wanted to try several obstacles, but it was before I had my knee replaced. The trails are easy though and very enjoyable. ![Website contact form screenshot with owl artwork banner](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2025/09/1758393753488-Screenshot 2025-04-04 173754.png)