Battelle+Darby+Creek+Metro+Park+Birding+Drive

=Ohio Birding Drives= Ohio Birding Drives are routes for birding trips which can be accomplished in one day, stopping to walk and bird at various eBird hotspots. For each birding drive, a Google map is provided with the route and suggested stops at eBird hotspots. You may save the link to the Google map on your smartphone or tablet, or print a copy on paper to take with you. Links are provided with information about each eBird hotspot. Follow those links for more information about birding each location.
 * =Birding in Ohio=

=Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Birding Drive= Click on the hotspot names below to view the page about that hotspot in a new tab or window. You can click on the thumbnail maps below to view a larger version in a new window or tab.

This Birding Drive explores eBird hotspots in Franklin and Pickaway Counties. When you submit checklists here you help to add to the data about birds in this region of Ohio.

About Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
Galloway, Ohio 43119

Battelle Darby Creek is the largest Metro Park with more than 7,000 acres of prairies, fields and forests, and more than 20 miles of riparian forest along the Big and Little Darby Creeks. The Darby creeks are noted nationally for their tremendous diversity and abundance of both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals.

Designated state and national scenic rivers, the creeks are home to around 100 species of fish, five of which are endangered in Ohio. Forty-four species of freshwater mussels live in these waters, eight of which are on the Ohio endangered list.

Metro Parks has restored about 500 acres of wetlands, 500 acres of wet prairies and more than 500 acres of lush flowering prairies using only seeds native to the Darby Plains. The entrance road to the Indian Ridge Picnic Area is a great place to enjoy the splendor of such beauties as purple coneflower, royal catchfly, prairie dock, big bluestem and other wildflowers and grasses.

The park features more than 18 miles of trails and several scenic areas for picnicking. From Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park webpage

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park--Kuhlwein Road Wetlands
From the intersection of I-270 with US-40, take US-40 west for 4.2 miles. Turn left onto Murnan Road and go .8 mile. Turn right onto Kuhlwein Road and go1.3 miles. Watch for the parking area for the Kuhlwein Road Wetlands on the right just before you reach Darby Creek Drive.

The Kuhlwein Road Wetlands are located on both the north and south sides of Kuhlwein Road. There are separate eBird hotspots for each of these areas.

Parking is available on Kuhlwein Road near the intersection with Darby Creek Drive. You can walk the Darby Creek Trail either north or south for views of the wetlands. A spotting scope is helpful to view distant birds.

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park--Wet Prairie Teal and Harrier Trails
From the Kuhlwein Road Wetland, turn right out of the parking area onto Kuhlwein Road going southwest. Turn left onto Darby Creek Drive and go .9 mile. Turn left into the parking area for the Wet Prairie, Teal, and Harrier trails.

3 miles - moderate – hike – grass Three connected trails through prairies and wetlands. From Battelle Darby Creek Trails webpage

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park--Cedar Ridge Hawthorn Trail
From the Wet Prairie, Teal, and Harrier trail parking area, turn left onto Darby Creek Drive and go .8 mile. Turn right into the Cedar Ridge parking area.

0.8 miles - easy –hike – gravel Loop trail in the Cedar Ridge Picnic Area From Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park Trails webpage

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park--Indian Ridge Area
From the Cedar Ridge Picnic Area, turn right onto Darby Creek Drive and go 1 mile. Turn right and go 1.1 miles to the Indian Ridge Picnic Area.

The Indian Ridge Picnic Area has four enclosed shelters and one open shelter, grills, picnic tables, play fields, playground, drinking fountain, restrooms, and horseshoe pits. The picnic area has access to the Turkey Foot Trail and a prairie area.

@Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park--Osprey Lake
From the Indian Ridge Picnic Area, turn right onto Darby Creek Drive and drive 1.1 miles. Continue onto Lukens Road and go 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Norton Road and go .9 miles. Continue onto OH-665 and then onto Harrisburg Georgesville Road. Arrive at the parking area for Osprey Lake on the left in .2 mile.

The parking area for Osprey Lake is on Harrisburg Georgesville Road at the intersection with Opossum Run Road. There is a trail around Osprey Lake.

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park--Pleasant Valley Quarry Area
From Osprey Lake, drive south on Harrisburg Georgesville Road for 2.7 miles. Continue onto High Street for .3 mile. Continue onto Harrisburg Road, turn left onto Darby Creek Road, then turn left onto US-62 east. In .4 mile turn right into the access road to the Pleasant Valley Quarry Area. Go .5 mile to the parking area.

While most of Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is in Franklin County, the pond in the Pleasant Valley Quarry Area is in Pickaway County.

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