# Highbanks Metro Park Winter Sledding Hills & Eagle Watch Walks > Place to go for families in the Columbus area (OH). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Open on its own schedule - Where: Highbanks Metro Park, 9466 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, OH 43035 - Ages: All ages (Two separate sledding hills: a gentle bunny slope for tots and a steep thrill hill for older kids) - Price: Free park admission, sledding hill access, and nature center entry - Organizer: Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks - Official page: https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/highbanks/ - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/highbanks-metro-park-winter-sledding-hills-and-eagle-watch-walks--listing-f2ece806dcdf457588984b80 ## About Highbanks Metro Park is widely celebrated as Central Ohio's top natural winter sledding destination. Named for its monumental 100-foot shale bluffs towering above the Olentangy State Scenic River, the park features two distinct sledding hills near the Big Meadows Picnic Area: a wide, gentle bunny slope with plenty of soft runoff room designed specifically for toddlers and young beginners, and an exhilarating steeper hill that delights older children and adventurous parents. When snow conditions are right, park rangers monitor the hills, and families gather around parkside fire pits. Visitors can also hike the 2.3-mile Overlook Trail through towering snow-covered oak woods to gaze across the river canyon, where nesting pairs of bald eagles are frequently spotted hunting in winter. The heated Nature Center welcomes chilly hikers with live turtles and native Ohio serpent exhibits. Family Experience & Accessibility: • Stroller Accessibility: Paved parking lots and nature center pathways are cleared promptly; trails to the bluff overlook are unpaved dirt and best tackled with baby carriers during winter snows. • Nursing & Rest Spots: Heated Nature Center with comfortable bench seating, educational discovery books, and heated indoor restrooms with baby changing counters. • Age Suitability: Perfect for toddlers (on the kiddie sled hill) through teens and adults. • Sensory Tips: Boisterous outdoor cheer and crunching snow on the sledding hills; blissful silence and panoramic river vistas along the wooded bluff hiking trails. ## Similar picks in Columbus - [Sharon Woods Metro Park Autumn Lake Loop & Edward S. Thomas Nature Preserve](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/sharon-woods-metro-park-autumn-lake-loop-and-edward-s-thomas-nature-pr--listing-c57a9d8f7262cc60ff6fc5b8) — Tue, Nov 24 · 9:00 AM · Sharon Woods Metro Park, Westerville · All ages · Free · checked Nov 5. Spanning 761 acres in northern Franklin County, Sharon Woods Metro Park is a cherished family retreat anchored by the 11-acre Schrock Lake. During Thanksgiving week, the 3.8-mile… - [Blendon Woods Metro Park Autumn Turkey Habitat Walk & Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/blendon-woods-metro-park-autumn-turkey-habitat-walk-and-nature-center--listing-da9632ea7e387fd3727dbb18) — Wed, Nov 25 · 10:00 AM · Blendon Woods Metro Park, Westerville · All ages · Free · checked Nov 7. Blendon Woods Metro Park is famously celebrated throughout Greater Columbus for its thriving flock of wild turkeys, making it an especially fitting and joyful family destination… - [Inniswood Metro Gardens Winter Evergreen Trail & Children's Garden](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/inniswood-metro-gardens-winter-evergreen-trail-and-children-s-garden--listing-ec36272465ddd8adef6e63ee) — Open on its own schedule · Inniswood Metro Gardens, Westerville · All ages · Free · checked Nov 5. Nestled in Westerville, Inniswood Metro Gardens is a 123-acre botanical haven that takes on a serene, sculptural beauty during the winter season. The gardens feature an… - [Alum Creek State Park Winter Lake Hikes & Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/columbus/activities/alum-creek-state-park-winter-lake-hikes-and-nature-center--listing-f20066aeb99e3b8e44da4d0c) — Open on its own schedule · Alum Creek State Park, Delaware · All ages · Free · checked Nov 5. 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When there is snow on the ground, the City of Dublin opens the sledding hill at Scioto Park on Riverside Drive from 7:30 a.m. until dusk. 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