The Dawes Arboretum

very beautiful here. i loved the visitors center with the birdwatching area and inside of the bee hove, i wanted to tour the Dawes House for $ 2 each but it was closed so we will be going back, the old cemetery was neat, they have different events on their website. and free to get in!

Gorgeous location that is hidden out in Newark. Came out here for family photos in August at the Japanese Garden the Arboretum has. It was very pretty and we had great photos taken. I hope to visit out here again and go for an extended walk with the family to explore the grounds. Highly recommended if you are a nature person!
⁵⁄₅ stars

Definitely worth the 50 minute trip it took to get there. A very big park with lots of walking to do. Lots of trees as one would expect at an arboretum. I spent 3 hours here and was worn out walking the hilly trails. I recommend bringing water and snacks and to carry them with you.

Venture off the beaten path! There are tons of not-​so-​known paths at Dawes that really showcase some amazing things (like last week when we quite literally stumbled upon a Ginkgo Biloba tree). Not sure what to pick? The staff are incredibly passionate about their jobs and can recommend all kinds of cool sights.
This is my families go-​to walking spot. The visitor center has an awesome bird watching room downstairs and a big area for kids to explore, complete with snakes & a working bee hive. It’s all free to the public, but becoming a member has great benefits, too like discounts on classes for kids & adults, special event invites like bluegrass bands & ales, nighttime story walking tours, etc. But really, most of their events are family oriented & free, so we stop in often. Also a MUST for seasonal family pics, prom pics, engagement pics, puppy pics, selfies, whatever’s your flavor.

Beautiful area! Dawes Arboretum contains a lot of areas and trails that offers plenty to explore. It’s free, with plentiful parking. There’s a large lot by the Visitor’s Center, and then additional smaller areas near some of the gardens. Since this was my first visit, I opted to start at the Visitor’s Center to collect a map. The center also offers a shop, restrooms, and a collection of bonsai to view. There are a number of picnic tables and a shelter near the parking lot, as well.
I then headed out on the trail with the intention of seeing most of the centrally located gardens. Unfortunately, the Japanese Garden was closed for renovations, but that just means I’ll have to visit again! There is a lot of wildlife, good birdwatching, and some neat views from areas being up on hills looking down on the surrounding gardens. One section takes you to the lake, where you can cross a bridge onto the island. There’s also an observation tower in that area, and bushes that have been shaped to spell out Dawes Arboretum.
The woodlands area contains a historic cabin, which had a sign saying that it was used during maple syrup season, but you can still take a look at the exterior and read a little bit about the history of it.
The cypress swamp was also a neat visit for spring — the vernal pools were there, and it really gave it a neat look.
There are additional areas that lay a bit further out, including the Red Barn area, the Arboretum East area, and the Dutch Fork Wetlands. At the time of our visit, the wetlands were closed for nesting, so one could only get to the viewing platform, but it looks like a neat area, as well.
I plan to return again, especially to see the areas that were shut at the time of my visit.

Really amazing place to visit. Lots of things to see and learn! Lots of plants! Beautiful wide open space! Love it!

This is easily one of my top 3 Ohio day trips. The place is large and there is a lot to see. They have parking intermittently along the main path so it’s easy to get out and see what you want without having to walk miles if you don’t want to.

I came here on a Saturday morning to take advantage of the advent of spring in Ohio, and also because I’d had it bookmarked since Janet L. told me about her visit (almost two years ago, oops). It’s a bit of a drive out from Columbus but definitely worth the trip.
If you can, walking is definitely the way to go. I made it around most of the main trails in about 3 hours. Although it was a nice spring day, I maybe ran into a dozen people while walking. Aaron A. already pointed out the popularity of the Japanese garden — some folks were taking posed photographs there, so I sort of skirted around them. The Bur Oak trail is pretty flat and easy, though mushy if it’s rained recently since it’s a dirt path. The Lake trail has a bit more terrain and is either gravel or dirt. Some areas it was difficult to tell if you were still on a trail, since the grassy path areas are not particularly worn or well marked. The trail to Arboretum East was closed when I was there, as was the Observation Tower. There really is shrubbery that reads «DAWES ARBORETUM» on the south side of the park. I saw it on the map but thought it was just part of the map design. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables, and it is pet friendly!
Parking and admission are all free. There is a small gift shop and visitor’s center near the main parking lot, as well as some more seating and tables to eat your lunch.

Been visiting this place for over 30 years and it is a staple in the small town. A peaceful place to walk, pcinic and play. The paved path is a great place to ride a bike, that is if you can handle the hills. A must see for anyone.

Dawes Arboretum is a beautiful park with several trails and lots of little surprises.
The Japanese garden is really popular with good reason. At the entrance there’s a zen garden with the raked gravel and black boulders. It’s kind of cool because you can’t see the whole thing from any perspective on the path. Continuing on from there is a large pond surrounded by stones. There are a handful of places to sit and enjoy the view. There is a pair of tiny islands in the pond but the bridge was closed and I couldn’t go out there, maybe when it’s warmer.
If you go, make it a point to check out the sundial, it’s right next to the parking and I thought it was fun.
Dawes Arboretum is just a few minutes north of 70 on St Rt 13. There are Unilocalable restaurants on the way, go get ‘em!

One word … Outstanding!!! I frequent this place because there is so much to enjoy, all for free! Yes, free! What a great place to spend time alone or with family friends enjoying all that Ohio nature has to offer!
Take the auto tour. A paved roadways winds you through Dawes so you can get the beautiful scenery and views all from the car seat and quickly.
Enjoy one of the many trails available for a run to get in that cardio, or just for a Sunday stroll.
Japanese garden is a must visit as well as the observation deck and island off the lake.
I take my kids here regularly, my 2 year old lights up every time I mention Dawes!!!

Incredibly large, well-​maintained park! My mom absolutely loves this place and I have to agree with her! I’ve taken my girlfriend here and it is just very beautiful! Hard to find nice places like this! Lots of variety! Plan on several trips here if you want to see it all… unless you do it all in like 5 hours, haha!

There is a wonderful tour of the Dawes Estate. You are escorted by David, an extremely knowledgeable tour guide. He brought life to a historic location. The tour is only $ 2. They are available at 1:30 and 3:15 pm. Also, the entire park can be done by car. I chose to walk the 3 mile oak trail because it was as beautiful and sunny Saturday.

Huge. Beautiful. Free. What else can you ask for?
I’ve lived nearby for five years and never went till last weekend. It’s a bit early, so not much was blooming; I’d recommend waiting till May or later. Still, it is a beautiful place. We drove the auto loop, stopping whenever anything looked interesting. There is a visitor’s center with gift shop, and apparently a nature center (which I didn’t see.) I hope to go back.

Dawes is a paradise for tree lovers.
We made the mistake of parking by the information center. The park is way too big to expect a two year old to cover a lot of ground so we only experienced a little of it by foot. I highly recommend taking the auto tour and then finding the part that interests you most.
The grounds are beautiful, well maintained, and have more species of trees than I would have imagined.
The park is free!

Dawes Aboretum has 1660 acres of trails, gardens, and natural scenery. There are 8 miles of hiking trails and a four-​mile auto tour. This place is amazing and I highly recommend it. The hiking is very relaxing and it’s a very peaceful place. It’s a great place for a picnic.