Spring in Columbus is a full-blown spectacle, but while everyone else is crowding the usual spots, you could be soaking in the season’s best blooms in these hidden gems. These parks and preserves are bursting with color, tranquility, and a touch of magic, and most people have no idea they exist! So grab your allergy meds and let’s go find some floral beauty.
Topiary Park
📍 480 E Town St, Columbus, OH 43215
This park isn’t just beautiful; it’s straight-up art. Literally. Topiary Park is a living recreation of Georges Seurat’s famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte made entirely of plants. Wild, right? You can even stand in the exact spot where Seurat would have set up his easel and see the scene come to life in larger-than-life, leafy form. The topiary sculptures are massive, with every detail painstakingly included — even the trumpeter shrub is holding a metallic trumpet. Nestled in downtown Columbus, this park is the perfect mix of city vibes and serene green space.
Glen Echo Park
📍 510 Cliffside Dr, Columbus, OH 43202
Walking into Glen Echo Park is like stepping through a portal into Narnia. The deep ravine, shaded trails, and towering trees make it feel worlds away from Columbus. The entrance is a showstopper (especially if you love stairs), but once you’re in, it’s nothing but peaceful nature and hidden artwork. The real highlight? A tunnel towards the end of the trail, covered in bird murals and vibrant graffiti. It’s like an outdoor art gallery tucked inside a fairytale forest. Come springtime, the overhanging trees explode in green, and the whole place feels downright magical.
Rush Run Nature Preserve
📍 370 Broad Meadows Blvd, Columbus, OH 43085
While everyone else flocks to Antrim Lake, the smart ones slip away to Rush Run Nature Preserve. This hidden slice of wilderness is Columbus’ answer to an untouched forest retreat. The trails are all-natural, winding through woods, wetlands, and alongside Rush Run Creek before it spills into the Olentangy River. It’s the kind of place where you forget you’re anywhere near a city. Come spring, the wetlands are teeming with life, and the quiet, secluded atmosphere makes it feel like your own secret nature sanctuary.
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
📍 1775 Darby Creek Dr, Galloway, OH 43119
Everyone talks about the bison (which, fair, because they’re awesome), but there’s way more to Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park than the free-roaming furry giants. This park features 13 miles of protected State and National Scenic Rivers, endless hiking trails, and quiet pockets of pure beauty. The Indian Ridge area is especially underrated — it’s usually crowd-free and has stunning spring blooms. If you want the full experience, hike through the woods until you hit the open prairie and watch the bison grazing like it’s a scene from Yellowstone.
Stage’s Pond State Nature Preserve
📍 4792 Hagerty Rd, Ashville, OH 43103
Looking for a serene escape with serious history? Stage’s Pond is a natural relic from the Ice Age, with wetlands and woodlands that feel untouched by time. The spring wildflowers here are next-level, with bursts of color popping up across marshes and open fields. If you’re into birdwatching, this place is a goldmine — migrating waterfowl stop here in the spring, and you might even catch a glimpse of the resident great blue herons. It’s a quiet, lesser-known spot, perfect for a nature-filled day away from the city bustle.
Genevieve Jones Nature Preserve (AKA Cook’s Creek Preserve)
📍 16405 US-23, South Bloomfield, OH 43103
This place is so ridiculously stunning that I have no idea how it’s not more famous. Once home to Cooks Creek Golf Club (RIP), this land has been reborn as a protected nature preserve, thanks to the Cook family and the Appalachia Ohio Alliance. The scenery? Rolling hills, wildflowers, towering trees, and the Scioto River winding through it all. Expect to see everything from bald eagles and blue herons to migrating bats and butterflies. Plus, the preservation efforts are actively helping to clean up the Scioto River. A win-win if I’ve ever seen one. If you haven’t been here yet, change that immediately. I cannot recommend it enough. Below are some film pictures my brother captured during one of the final weeks of Cook’s Creek’s operations as a golf course, and they don’t do the sheer beauty justice.
Find Your Secret Springtime Escape
Columbus is full of parks and preserves, but these hidden gems bring something extra — a sense of discovery, peace, and springtime magic. Whether you’re looking for a surreal topiary masterpiece, a deep ravine hike, or a quiet spot to watch the flowers bloom, these spots have you covered. Now go forth, explore, and bask in the beauty of spring before the summer heat comes in and ruins everything. 🌸🌿