We love exploring the Dayton Metroparks: hiking, fishing, wildlife.

It’s great that we have so many options that are mostly free or frugal family friendly natural outings.

There are only a couple of these parks we have not visited, but we’ve only lived in Ohio for 6.5 years. There are a few we visited and surprisingly didn’t get any pictures! I think we were all busy oohing and aahing over flowers, rocks, leaves, or wildlife.

The Dayton Metropark 19 facilities are:

1. Aullwood Garden MetroPark, Englewood
2. Carriage Hill MetroPark, Huber Heights
3. Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark, Dayton
4. Deeds Point MetroPark, Dayton
5. Eastwood MetroPark, Riverside
6. Englewood MetroPark, Englewood
7. Germantown MetroPark, Germantown
8. Hills & Dales MetroPark, Kettering
9. Huffman MetroPark, Fairborn
10. Island MetroPark, Dayton
11. Possum Creek MetroPark, Dayton
12. RiverScape MetroPark, Dayton
13. 2nd Street Market, Dayton
14. Sugarcreek MetroPark, Sugarcreek Township
15. Sunrise MetroPark, Dayton
16. Taylorsville MetroPark, Vandalia
17. Twin Creek MetroPark, Germantown
18. Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, Dayton
19. Wesleyan MetroPark, Dayton

The Metropark 8 conservation areas include:

• Dull Woods Conservation Area
• Medlar Conservation Area
• Needmore Conservation Area
• Pigeye Conservation Area
• Sandridge Prairie Conservation Area
• Shiloh Woods Conservation Area
• Twin Valley Conservation Area
• Woodman Fen Conservation Area

I know my kids have seen some of these areas and I’m planning to explore the conservation areas with them soon.

Some of our Favorite Metroparks:

Cox Arboretum

We’ve been to Cox Arboretum many, many times. It’s nearby and so lovely in every season.

I even made it up the treehouse tower once! I’m terrified of heights.

We love the gardens, prairies, and walking paths into the woods.

Tori and I really enjoyed attending some of the Eco Talks at Cox Arboretum this past year.

Taylorsville

We love the easy three mile hike along the river with pretty wildflower and rock formations at Taylorsville Park.

The first time we went, we got a little lost on our way back to the parking lot. We missed the sign with the right arrow and direction and then it started pouring down rain, so now the park is nicknamed That Park We Missed the Turn.

Germantown

We’ve been to the Germantown park several times over the years. It’s just so pretty. It might be our absolute favorite with so many different views and ecosystems.

We love the prairie, high view, and Bob Siebenthaler Natural Area.

We love the big trees and creek.

There are several places to park for different trailheads and some cool fishing spots!

Twin Creek

Twin Creek park is nice and very similar and close to Germantown.

We enjoyed seeing the Hopewell Mound.

Huffman

We really love the Huffman park and there are two main parts – the dam walkway and around the pond. We’ve been a few times and it’s always lovely.

Possum Creek

We’ve only been to the Possum Creek park once and it was such a lovely day!

It’s really interesting it used to be the former Argonne Forest amusement park and there are placards explaining the ruins. 

Sugarcreek

Alex and I hiked in Sugarcreek Park and saw the fun Osage Orange tunnel and Three Sisters!

We love hiking and exploring nature, and I’m so pleased we still go often as a family now that my kids are teens and growing up and getting so busy.

I want us all to remain active as we grow older – it’s good for our health!

Linking up at these blogs.