By 1808Delaware
October has arrived in Delaware County, and with it comes one of the shortest and most colorful outdoor seasons of the year.
You don’t have to head for the Hocking Hills or spend hours driving toward southeastern Ohio to find a landscape filled with red maples, golden leaves and deep russet oaks. Instead, some of central Ohio’s best autumn scenery is much closer to home. Destination Delaware County recently highlighted four local parks as prime places to watch the season unfold, and each offers a distinctly different way to experience fall.
Highbanks Goes Big
Highbanks Metro Park is difficult to beat. The 1,204-acre park along U.S. 23 offers nine trails totaling about 14 miles. For fall color, two stand out. Dripping Rock Trail winds for 2.5 miles through heavily wooded terrain, placing hikers inside the changing canopy. The 2.3-mile Overlook Trail delivers the bigger payoff, leading through the nature preserve to an expansive view above the Olentangy River. Destination Delaware County Ohio
The overlook is particularly striking when the wooded river corridor turns from summer green to layers of yellow, orange and red.
There is another option for those who know where to look. Metro Parks has also pointed to a deck west of the Nature Center along Dripping Rock Trail as a quieter place to watch wildlife and enjoy the autumn scenery. Even the Big Meadows area can put on a strong show when surrounding maples reach full color. Metro Parks – Central Ohio Park System
Alum Creek Adds Water to the Picture
At Alum Creek State Park, the reservoir gives visitors something the woodland parks cannot: long views across open water framed by changing trees. On calm days, the shoreline color can be doubled in the surface of the lake. The park, located at 3615 S. Old State Road, has nearly 13 miles of hiking among five trails. The 4.1-mile Rocks to Roots Trail provides a moderately challenging outing, while the half-mile Storybook Trail offers a much easier walk for families with younger children. For photographers, the combination of trees, shoreline, sky and water makes Alum Creek one of the most varied choices on the list.
Hogback Ridge Keeps Things Intimate
Rather than a huge reservoir or distant overlook, this 45-acre Preservation Parks property near Sunbury pulls visitors into the woods with short trails, tall trees, a ravine and Slate Lick Creek that make the scenery feel close at hand. Destination Delaware County recommends the Pine Grove and Woodland Ridge trails, both less than half a mile long. Destination Delaware County Ohio
The drive in is part of the experience. Preservation Parks describes the approach along Hogback Road and into the park as passing through tall oaks, beeches and maples. A wooden stairway and bridge crossing the Slate Lick Creek ravine offers what the park district calls some of Hogback Ridge’s most beautiful views. Preservation Parks of Delaware County It is also one of the local park system’s traditional fall favorites. Preservation Parks naturalists have singled out both the tree-lined drive to Hogback Ridge and the park’s foliage as particularly rewarding during the season.
This is the stop for people who prefer their autumn scenery quiet, wooded and a little off the beaten path.
Delaware State Park Makes Fall Easy
Delaware State Park, at 5202 U.S. 23 North, has nearly seven miles of hiking spread among six trails, all described as easy. Among them are the 1.5-mile Big Foot Trail, Briar Patch Trail and 1.6-mile Lakeview Trail. That variety makes the park a particularly good option for families or anyone who wants plenty of scenery without committing to a long trek. Meadows, woods, wetlands and views around Delaware Lake provide changing perspectives as visitors move through the park.
And, as at Alum Creek, water adds another dimension to the season. Instead of seeing fall color only overhead, visitors can catch it stretching along the shoreline and reflected across the lake.
Four Parks and Four Different Views of Fall
Together, the four destinations show just how varied autumn can look within a single county. Highbanks delivers the dramatic vista. Alum Creek pairs foliage with broad water views. Hogback Ridge offers a close-up walk through mature woods and ravines. Delaware State Park provides an easygoing mix of trails, lake and woodland.
And there is no need to choose just one. With October moving quickly and Delaware County’s parks scattered from Lewis Center to Sunbury and north of the City of Delaware, the next few weeks offer a good excuse to see how differently fall paints each corner of the county.
Pick the Park That Fits Your Fall Day
Not every autumn outing calls for the same scenery. Here’s a quick guide to choosing among the four parks.
| If you’re looking for… | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sweeping views | Highbanks Metro Park | The overlook above the Olentangy River offers the most dramatic long-distance fall panorama. |
| Water reflections | Alum Creek State Park | The reservoir creates broad shoreline views and opportunities to see autumn color reflected across the water. |
| Easy walks | Delaware State Park | Its network of relatively easy trails makes it possible to enjoy plenty of fall scenery without a demanding hike. |
| Quiet woods | Hogback Ridge Park | Short wooded trails, mature trees, a ravine and Slate Lick Creek create a more secluded autumn experience. |
| Family outings | Delaware State Park | Easy trails, varied scenery and the lake make this one of the most flexible choices for groups with different ages and abilities. |
For photographers, Highbanks and Alum Creek probably offer the greatest variety. For a slower walk beneath the leaves, Hogback Ridge may be the hidden gem of the four. And for families simply looking for an easy afternoon outdoors, Delaware State Park is hard to beat.
