Trails & Ales! Sharon Woods Metro Park / The Draft Room
Sat, Aug 15, 6:30 PMFrom GOhio! Adventures Around Columbus
**History**
[Sharon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/sharon-woods/) officially opened in October 1968 to provide open green space for the rapidly expanding population of Westerville and northern Columbus. Located in Sharon Township — the biblical source of its name meaning "a plain" — the park preservation efforts began earlier in February 1962. Planners initially acquired a 139-acre parcel of land to protect it from impending highway developments. Through 23 distinct land transactions with local farmers and developers, the park district successfully amassed the core acreage by August 1965. Today, this meticulously planned 761-acre oasis serves as one of the most frequently visited properties in the Central Ohio Park System.
The geographic foundation of the park is heavily rooted in ancient history and glacial till. Thousands of years before modern development, the area was utilized by Paleo-Indian and Archaic peoples who hunted native wildlife using flint-tipped spears. Centuries later, the land transitioned into heavily forested terrain populated by majestic beech, hickory, and oak trees. Early American settlers eventually cleared portions of the land for agricultural use and family farming. Remnants of these historical eras are still preserved across the landscape, safeguarding the natural heritage of Franklin County.
The park features the 320-acre Edward S. Thomas State Nature Preserve, named after a pioneering Ohio naturalist. This specific tract of land protects an impressive old-growth forest containing eight distinct species of oak trees. Remarkably, some of these towering oaks are over 250 years old, predating the founding of Columbus itself. The preserve also protects a deep ravine system formed around Spring Creek, which supports diverse tree species like black walnut and Ohio buckeye. This dedicated sanctuary ensures that pristine, old-growth ecosystems remain untouched by urban sprawl.
Recreational infrastructure expanded rapidly throughout the 1970s to accommodate booming visitor numbers. In 1972, the park district engineered a massive 100-foot-high sledding hill featuring a 500-foot slope for winter activities. Shortly after, excavations began in 1974 to construct a paved 3.8-mile multipurpose bicycle and walking loop. Upon its completion, the smooth trail was proudly declared the finest and safest recreational bike trail in Central Ohio. Park staff also established family picnic sites and incorporated fishing opportunities at the 11-acre Schrock Lake.
Sharon Woods has long served as a crucial testing ground for advanced ecological management. In April 1974, resource managers made history by conducting the park system's very first prescribed burn on a 15-acre field. Decades later, the park faced severe ecosystem degradation due to an overpopulated deer herd that grew from zero in 1968 to 500 by the early 1990s. The resulting six-foot browse line completely decimated native wildflowers and forest undergrowth. Strict conservation and deer management protocols were successfully implemented, allowing the understory and vibrant wildflowers to recover beautifully.
**Map of the Park**
Here is a [map of the park](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SHW_map_2023_1980px.jpg).
**Summary**
For this event, we will hike the Edward S Thomas, Oak Openings, Spring Creek, and Lake Trails. The trails are individually not long, but we'll hike them in a couple directions and end up doing around 5 miles.
Sharon Woods is generally not too strenuous. Most of the hike will be on graveled nature trails, but some of it will be on grass and potentially in the sun.
**Where We'll Meet**
When you enter the park, drive all the way back to the rear parking lot by Schrock Lake. You'll see a picnic area and playground here, as well as restrooms and a water fountain. Our hike will start near these restrooms.
**After the Hike**
After the hike, we'll head over to [The Draft Room](https://www.draftroomcbus.com/). This brewery is located right next to [Pasquale's Pizza](https://www.pasqualespastahouse.com/), [Can’t Believe It's Vegan](https://cantbelieveitsvegan.biz/), and [Jimmy John's](https://locations.jimmyjohns.com/oh/westerville/sandwiches-1514.html). These eateries will [deliver](https://www.draftroomcbus.com/menus) to the brewery, or you can stop and bring something in.
The actual address of The Draft Room is [570 W Schrock Rd, Westerville, OH 43081](https://www.google.com/maps/place/570+W+Schrock+Rd,+Westerville,+OH+43081/@40.1115698,-82.9456815,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8838f52171863dbd:0xbc5b0380f89850c7!8m2!3d40.1115698!4d-82.9456815!16s%2Fg%2F11bw4d67c5?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), and it's fairly close to Sharon Woods. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.
