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    Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

    4.9 (12 reviews)

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    a bald eagle!
    Diana V.

    What a peaceful hike with beautiful bird sounds. We even saw a lone bald eagle hanging in the trees! This was our first time so we stuck to the main trail which is a paved road that runs along the river. Tons of trees with lots of shade on this main trail. There were not many people there the morning we went, so it was extra peaceful. There was also plenty of parking.

    Jayme H.

    Oh, Blackhand Gorge, how I love you so! This is a great place to go escape for a few hours. There are plenty of trails to venture down and kayaking down the Licking River is so fun, there are tons of neat areas to jump out at and explore. The rock formations are mesmerizing and there's even waterfalls back in there if you look hard enough. If you're in central Ohio and don't want to make a day trip to Hocking Hills, stop by Blackhand Gorge, you won't be disappointed!

    Black top path
    Tabatha S.

    Something to do for everyone here. Many parts have wide black top paths that are wheelchair accessible. Trails are only slightly challenging, but appropriate for steady-footed children. My 6 & 8 year old had a wonderful time. Stunning views of the river are plentiful. There are lots of places that would be wonderful for a picnic on the rivers edge. There is kayak access to the licking river on both ends of the park. It's a beautiful trip you won't regret!

    Overlook from the trail
    Tiffany M.

    This is a really great find not far from columbus. It travels along Licking River. At one end people put boats in the river and float on tubes and such. The water is green though, my guess is that it is the fertilizer from the farms around it. People frequently swim there though. There is a well establish bike path too, it's about 4.5 miles long, shaded and the scenery is gorgeous. There gorge make a very diverse and dynamic ride. There are plenty of paths to take of into the woods as well. They are rustic though. The only paved trail is the bike trail. There's also a lot of opportunity for bolder scrambling and climbing if you are into that as well as. Just a gorgeous park! I plan to revisit in the fall, I can only imagine how photogenic it would be. Sunsets are great too. Most of the overlooks give you view of the sky where the sunset across the water from the river.

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    13 days ago

    Amazing spot to swim, fish, and explore. With the new trail biking is now better than before and would recommend on a good weather day!

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    2 years ago

    Love this place! Long trails with lots to see. The bike path is spacious and has amazing views.

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    Review Highlights - Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

    There is a well establish bike path too, it's about 4.

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    Infirmary Mound Park

    Infirmary Mound Park

    4.6
    (10 reviews)
    16.3 mi

    I think I was here long ago, for a Civil War reenactment? Came today for the Fairy Trail party…read more Didn't realize you had to pre-register, so we just walked past the carriage rides, face-painting, swag bags, and more. Kid K said that didn't bother her, as long as we could do the trail (which is open all summer.) But we couldn't find it. Signage and maps for that are awful. We found the start of the trail, but past that, multiple branches went all over. I will say the main park trail system is well-marked with blazes, and the park map does pretty well with them. But no sign of the fairies. I had hoped we'd at least be able to follow other people since there were so many there for the party, but folks were going to all the other parts of the park too. We passed a mini zip-line area and a forest playground, but the kid wasn't interested, and eventually got worn out and just wanted to leave. So, two stars for the fairy trail portion since it needs more organization. I'm sure if we'd actually found it we'd give it more. But four or five for the park as a whole, which has loads of amenities: shelters, parking, playgrounds, dog park, restrooms (fancy pit ones,) and the mound, which I also didn't see. A big lake and a couple smaller ponds, and wetlands. Oh, well. Maybe we'll try again some other time.

    Love this park! They have everything you could ask for- bathrooms, a natural play area for kids, a…read morelake for fishing or kayaking, a dog park, trails, etc. They do a great job keeping it nice.

    Photos
    Infirmary Mound Park
    Infirmary Mound Park
    Infirmary Mound Park

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    Sensory Trail Park

    Sensory Trail Park

    5.0
    (2 reviews)
    29.3 mi

    This is a very cool park! My children tend to gravitate toward parks and playgrounds where there…read moreare open-ended and tactile features available, and this park has that. There are boulders to climb, outdoor musical instruments to play, a treehouse to play pretend in (and is wheelchair accessible!), a merry-go-round, swings, a traditional playground structure with slides, and lots more. The playground area is lined with wood chips. There is also lots of space to run around, and lots of trees. Like the name of the park suggests, this is a very sensory-friendly park, and there are nature stations set up all around where you can use your senses to explore. There is also a short, paved trail that goes around the park, which is wide and smooth enough for strollers and wheelchairs. The trail goes by a creek, which is nice. As of right now, this is the only sensory-friendly park in the state of Ohio! It's definitely worth a visit.

    This is a really neat and wonderfully inclusive park. This features a short, paved path that is…read morewheelchair and walker accessible. Along the path are a variety of interactive stations that are also designed to be accessible. If you start near the entry sign, you'll find a Little Free Library, which, on our recent visit, was loaded with a lot of great kids options. Just ahead is a variety of benches and a little music garden, featuring musical instruments that can be played, and you can also interact with the Rough Bark Tactile Display to learn more about different tree barks. A little further down are the cutest animal looking instruments that can also be used. As you continue down the path, you find a swingset with a variety of swings that include both traditional and accessible options. There's a nice little shaded bench area with information about the creek, Fetter's Run, that can be seen from the location. As you proceed along, a very exciting find is the Treehouse, which is built within the forest trees as opposed to up in one, which allows a wheelchair ramp to make it accessible. This overlooks the creek and has things to explore, like neat nature art and a second floor (not accessible) with a fire pole. At the end of the path is a shelter house with picnic tables and nearby grills. Most, if not all, of the signage included Braille translations, as well. There is a large parking lot here, but I do note that this is located behind a school, so I'm not sure how that would affect parking for a visit during a school day.

    Photos
    Second level of tree house
    Second level of tree house
    Tree house from path
    Tree house from path
    Shelter house

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    Shelter house

    Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve - hiking - Updated August 2026

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