Ohio's Once-Thriving Quarry Is Now A Scenic Metro Park In Columbus With Fishing Spots And Unique Trails

Near the heart of Ohio's capital city of Columbus sits one of the most distinctive parks in the country: Quarry Trails Metro Park. This 182-acre park, located a little over 7 miles west of downtown Columbus and just inside the Interstate 270 beltway, feels as if a part of Appalachia has been transplanted into the heart of Central Ohio. As part of Columbus' Metro Parks system, Quarry Trails stands as a model of transforming industrial land into a vibrant recreational destination.

The land now occupied by Quarry Trails was formerly the Marble Cliff Quarry, which, at one point, was one of the largest limestone quarries in America. The limestone mined from the site was essential to the construction of much of Central Ohio and was even used to build the iconic Ohio Statehouse. In 2017, a development company purchased the property to repurpose most of it, which included the creation of a new Metro Park. In 2021, Quarry Trails officially opened to the public. While part of the land is still used for industry, most of the quarry has since been transformed into a place that showcases its unique landscape, featuring hiking trails, fishing lakes, and the only urban via ferrata in the country (more on that later).

Quarry Trails has over 4 miles of hiking trails that wind through the park's rugged landscape. Eight trails form an interconnected network, all paved and suitable for all skill levels. The longest is the North-South Connector at just over a mile, serving as the park's main thoroughfare and connecting hikers to the northern and southern sections of the park. Beginning at the parking lot in the park's northern section, this popular trail also links to other paths that lead deeper into the park. One such trail is the Tall Wall, a nearly mile-long route that guides hikers along the quarry wall, offering views of the via ferrata and the active section of the quarry. 

After exploring the Tall Wall, return to the Connector and follow it to the Redback Loop, the park's second longest trail, which circles the historic cemetery and the mountain bike challenge area. If you continue straight on the Connector, you'll reach the southern end of Quarry Trails, home to two of the park's lakes (with a boardwalk that crosses over Turtle Cove) and the southern trailhead at Milliken Falls Trail, which leads hikers to a 25-foot waterfall of the same name. The remaining four trails in the park's hiking network are Flat Rock, which treks along the eastern shore of Swan Lake; Kestrel, a quarter-mile trail popular for wildlife viewing; Lake View, which lines the western shore of Swan Lake; and Observation, the shortest at just 0.1 miles long.

While the trails are the park's main attraction, Quarry Trails also offers a variety of amenities for parkgoers. Fly fishing, a style of fishing that uses lighter equipment to catch fish, is especially popular here. Anglers can choose from three lakes and ponds: Swan Lake and Turtle Cove on the south side of the park, and Pintail Pond on its north end. All three are easily reached via the North-South Connector, and they are stocked with bluegill, catfish, and bass. You don't need a fishing license, but all fishing within the park is catch-and-release only.

What sets Quarry Trails Metro Park apart from its counterparts, however, is the via ferrata. Meaning "iron way" in Italian, a via ferrata is a rock climbing route that features cables, ladders, and other fixtures to scale the cliffs. Quarry Trails is the first urban park in the nation to offer this type of amenity, with 1,040 feet of cabled climbing along the park's northern quarry walls. According to the park's website, the entire route takes about 90 minutes to complete from end-to-end. The centerpiece of the via ferrata is a 90-foot suspension bridge that sits 105 feet above a pond. While Quarry Trails' via ferrata is not as expansive as the one found at California's Quarry Park Adventures, it is free to climb; however, you must register in advance to tackle the route. There is no need to worry about bringing your own equipment, as everything you'll need to climb the via ferrata is provided by the park, free of charge. 

If you'd like to explore another Metro Park in the Columbus region with a unique landscape, head to Blacklick Woods Metro Park, located about 23 miles east in Reynoldsburg. Alternatively, if you want to experience more of what Ohio's capital city has to offer, spend a day in historic German Village, just 9 miles southeast of Quarry Trails.