DESCRIPTION:

Battelle-Darby Creek Metropark is the largest physical park in the system. That said, it is less of a bounded island like some of the other parks and more of a collections of land parcels that are strung along the Darbys. There is a large central section with two large picnic areas that are accessed by several roads which cross or pass close including Alkire Rd, Gardiner Rd, Darby Creek Dr and Harrisburg - Georgesville Rd. The village of Georgesville is less than a mile to the west of the park on Alkire Rd.

The existing park trails, due to restrictions of the Darby Creek watershed plan, are gravel, crushed stone, hard-pack dirt and/or mown grass. The same applies to the trails up in Prairie Oaks. Currently (6/'07) there are several loop or connector trails which radiate from the center point off Alkire Rd on the east side of the Darby(s). The exceptions are the pet trail and the ski trail which are accessed on the west side.

The center of the picnic area is also where the Darby confluence occurs. It can be viewed from one of the trails.

THE DARBY CREEK GREENWAY TRAIL

The Greenway Trail is not signed as such in this park and doesn't really exist as an independent trail as yet. There are several trails in the park which have sections that run along the Darby (east side of the Big Darby) and a new section of trail is being extended north from the central picnic areas (summer '07) which will eventually reach and underpass the National Rd (US 40) to the north. The existing section of the Darby Creek Trail in Prairie Oaks to the north will eventually underpass I - 70 and the two will be linked by a connector. Currently this connection is in the planning stages. The new section of trail in the Metro Park will be opened later this year.

The route of the of the Darby Trail would be a combination of existing trail segments. The new section runs from near the Darby Creek Dr entrance north through a short wooded section and then cuts through several large meadows, crosses a small creek run via a short bridge and currently dead-ends about a mile and a half south of US40 in a field near an abandoned section of asphalt road. From the southern end of this new section, the trail would connect with the Indian Ridge trail either via the Hawthorne Trail on Cobshell Trail or a combination of both in passing around the Cedar Ridge picnic area. It would follow the Indian Ridge trail south under Alkire and Gardiner Rds and by the confluence of the Big and Little Darby rivers and under the Camp Chase railroad trestle. At the end of the Indian Ridge trail, the Darby Creek would follow the east side of the Terrace Trail loop and connect to the Ancient Trail where it would run south on the eastern side of that trail's loop to the southernmost point where, for the moment it would end. The trail from end to end as described would run something over 4 miles.

As to the trail itself, I believe the restrictions in the Darby Creek watershed proscribe asphalt paving here as in Prairie Oaks so the trail would be a combination of fine and coarse gravel and/or hard-pack dirt. Currently, the Ancient Trail is short-mown grass.

Cobshell Trail
	The Cobshell Trail is  a loop trail on the west side of the Cedar Ridge picnic area. There are numerous entrances. All ramp down to the river except the northernmost which has a series of stairs.	The northern part of the trail has these very steep stairs.	There is a river overlook platform	The Cobshell going south passes a small woodland amphitheater used for nature presentations.	The trail has two or three ramps up to the Cedar Ridge picnic area. This is the end of the Cobshell and the start of the Indian Ridge Trail (Note the post to the lower right)	One of the ramps up to the picnic area.
Indian Ridge Trail
	The Indian Ridge Trail basically connects the two main picnic areas of the park. Near Cedar Ridge it is heavily forested.	Another view farther south. The wood begin to give way though as it approaches Alkire Rd.	And then, abruptly, it punches out of the woods.	And out into the open. In the distant center you can see the Gardener Rd overpass.	The underpass of Gardener. A little beyond that is the underpass of Alkire Rd.	The underpass of Alkire is ahead. There is this stone block barrier on the river side.	South of Alkire, the trail passes the canoe access parking area.
	The Indian Ridge trail continues south into the woods.	Approaching the confluence overlook area. That's the Camp Chase Railroad trestle overhead.	The trail passes under the trestle.	Looking north. The overpass is Alkire Rd. The Little Darby comes in on the left side and the Big Darby on the right side of the bridge pier in the center of the picture.	The end of the Indian Ridge Trail. The trail intersects the Terrace Trail. Straight ahead accesses the Indian Ridge picnic area. Going right continues south along the river.
The Terrace Trail
	The Terrace Trail west side heading south. It was under reconstruction when this picture was taken.	A little farther south, where the trail renovation has been completed.	Another view	The intersection with the Ancient Trail (looking north - the Ancient Trail branches east)
The Ancient Trail
		The Ancient Trail has some gravel but mostly hard pack dirt and mown grass surfaces.	It passes over this stone creek bridge.	The trail eventually split into a large loop at the bottom.	At the split, it intersection this dead end road with access to Harrisburg-Georgesville Rd	The loop fork.	The west side. Note the grass surface.
	The light woods gives way to an enormous prairie meadow.	It passes this large mound which is unmarked but resembled the native American burieal mounds in Highbanks.	The trail continues south through prairie fields.	The south end of the Ancient Trail loop. The path is blocked off. Farther south, it is open to hunting.
New Darby Creek Trail
	Cedar Ridge picnic area looking north from where the Cobshell exits to the parking area.	North end of the picnic area. The access road goes out to Darby Creek Dr.	The new trail under construction starts near the park entrance off Darby Creek Dr.	The new trail has a fine to medium gravel surface.	It spends a short time winding through the woods.	And then emerges into wide open fields.	Another view.
	An access path to Darby Creek Dr.	Another view	Along the way, there is this unfinished creek bridge.	Past the bridge, the trail surface is still just the basic crushed rock underlayer.	The trail runs by these active corn fields. This may be an easement.	The end of the new trail.	Just beyond the trail is the abandoned road which goes on a little farther. It was an access road to a neaby barn which has been torn down.

Prairie Oaks Metropark
Metropark Connector (Darby)

AERIAL MAP

The aerial photography used to create the map below is a high res available on Google Earth. The map below has been reduced in size for faster page loading. The thumbnail to the far left is the Metroparks map reproduced. The right image is a FULL SIZE version of the map below. It is a large file. Click on either to bring them up in a separate page.

REPRESENTATIVE PHOTOS

These are a few photos of various points in the park. They are not exhaustive.
	The state marker for the two Darby creeks.	Trail makers are similar to other Metro Parks.	Trail connections near Alkire Rd.	The Darby south of Alkire Rd.	The Darby confluence as seen from the Indian Ridge Trail. The Little Darby comes in to the left of the bridge support. The Big Darby from the right side.	The Indian Ridge Trail north of Alkire. Note the surface. This trail joins loops trails in the Cedar Ridge picnic area to the north and Indian Ridge picnic area in the south.	The trail is well signed.
Heading south, towards Indian Ridge. The trail is more forested here.	The Camp Chase railroad trestle in the upper picture as the trail nears the Creek.	The Terrace Trail. A 2 miles loop that circles the Indian Ridge picnic area.	Terrace trail. Note the surface.	The access path to the Indian Ridge picnic area.