Fresh Air & Open Spaces in Pickaway County
Discover parks, trails, waterways, and places to reconnect with nature.
On any given summer day, children race toward the playground at Canal Park while cyclists set out along the Roundtown Trail. At Metzger Preserve, birdwatchers pause for a closer look as paddlers drift along the Scioto River. Sometimes the best part of the day is simply being outside.
In Pickaway County, fresh air comes with plenty of options. From riverside parks and paved trails to prairie preserves, state parks, and quiet country roads, there is always another place to stretch your legs, slow your pace, or discover something new.
Discover the Pickaway County Park District
Much of that outdoor experience begins with the Pickaway County Park District, whose growing system of parks, preserves, and trails has created new ways to enjoy nature throughout the county.
Since 2002, the Park District has helped preserve natural spaces while creating opportunities for recreation, conservation, and environmental education. Its parks include places to walk, paddle, picnic, birdwatch, explore with children, and spend time outdoors close to home.
Plan Your Outdoor Adventure
- Learn more about the Pickaway County Park District.
- Browse the Pickaway County Event Calendar.
- Download the Discover Pickaway app.
- Pick up a free 2026–2027 Pickaway County Visitor Guide.
Canal Park
Set along the Scioto River, Canal Park has become one of the Pickaway County Park District’s signature destinations.
Children often make a beeline for the nature-inspired playground, where the zip line has quickly become one of the park’s most popular features. Others come for the walking paths, fishing access, open green space, shelter house, and river access for canoeing or kayaking.
Metzger Preserve
Metzger Preserve offers a quieter side of Pickaway County, with prairie grasses, woodland trails, seasonal wildflowers, and access to Deer Creek.
It is a peaceful place for walking, birdwatching, photography, and paddling. Families can also enjoy the seasonal Storybook Trail, where pages from a children’s book create an outdoor reading adventure along the path.
Pickaway Trail & Roundtown Trail
Not every outdoor adventure requires hiking boots.
The Roundtown Trail provides a paved route between the Pickaway County YMCA and Ohio Christian University, making it a favorite for walking, running, biking, and rollerblading.
Nearby, the Pickaway Trail follows the historic Penn Central rail corridor while connecting Canal Park and Calamus Swamp. Together, these trails offer miles of accessible recreation while showing another side of Pickaway County’s landscape.
Esker’s Edge
Esker’s Edge is home to the Pickaway County Park District offices and serves as a hub for conservation, education, and outdoor recreation. Stop in during regular office hours to learn more about the district’s parks, programs, and future initiatives while planning your next outdoor adventure in Pickaway County.
More Ways to Get Outside
The Pickaway County Park District is a wonderful place to begin your outdoor adventure, but there is even more to discover across the county.
Spend the day at Deer Creek State Park, where hiking trails, boating, fishing, camping, swimming, golf, and a public beach make it one of central Ohio’s favorite outdoor destinations. For a quieter afternoon, A.W. Marion State Park offers wooded trails, peaceful lake views, fishing, and picnic areas surrounded by nature.
Community parks throughout Pickaway County also feature playgrounds, splash pads, pickleball courts, sports fields, and welcoming green spaces for families and visitors looking to spend time outside.
Take the Scenic Route
Some of the best discoveries happen when you leave a little room for the unexpected.
Turn onto a country road. Stop at a roadside farm market. Watch the sun settle over an open field. Pull over for a photo that catches your eye.
Outdoor adventures in Pickaway County are measured less by miles and more by moments.
Wherever the trail leads, we hope it inspires you to spend a little more time outdoors and discover another corner of Pickaway County.