If you’re searching for some of Ohio’s most impressive old-growth trees, look no further than Highbanks Metro Park near Lewis Center. This 1,204-acre sanctuary harbors living monuments that have stood for centuries, offering visitors a rare glimpse into Ohio’s pre-settlement forests.
The Crown Jewels: Two 500-Year-Old Sycamores
The park’s most celebrated residents are two massive American sycamore trees, each boasting a trunk circumference of 23-24 feet. These ancient giants have witnessed five centuries of history, from pre-Columbian indigenous settlements through European colonization to today’s suburban expansion. Standing beneath their sprawling canopies is a humbling experience that connects you directly to Ohio’s ecological heritage.
These sycamores thrive along the Olentangy River corridor, where rich soils and consistent moisture have allowed them to reach exceptional proportions. Their distinctive white bark and enormous trunks make them easy to spot, particularly along the Sycamore Trail in the park’s River Bluff area.
A Forest of Mature Giants
Beyond the celebrity sycamores, Highbanks shelters numerous mature trees approximately 150 years old. The park’s diverse old-growth population includes towering white oaks, sugar maples, shagbark hickories, and American beech trees. Many of these specimens would qualify as notable trees in their own right, contributing to the park’s designation as a National Natural Landmark in 1980.
The Edward F. Hutchins State Nature Preserve, encompassing 206 acres within the park, protects this mix of old-growth and mature forest. The preserve’s steep ravines and shale bluffs created microclimates that sheltered these trees from logging during Ohio’s timber boom in the 1800s.
Why Lewis Center?
Lewis Center’s location in Delaware County places it at the intersection of fertile glacial soils and protected natural corridors. The Olentangy River watershed provides the stable conditions necessary for trees to reach extreme ages and sizes. While suburban development has transformed much of the surrounding landscape, Highbanks remains an island of preserved forest where trees can continue their centuries-long growth.
Ohio’s Champion Tree Connection
While Highbanks’ sycamores may not hold official state champion status, they exemplify the kind of specimens tracked by Ohio’s Big Tree Program. The program, managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources since 1940, measures trees using a point system based on trunk circumference, height, and crown spread. Delaware County boasts several state champion trees, including a massive Eastern Cottonwood at nearby Alum Creek State Park.
Planning Your Visit
To experience these ancient giants firsthand, head to Highbanks Metro Park at 9466 Columbus Pike in Lewis Center. The best trails for tree viewing include:
- Sycamore Trail (0.9 miles): Winds through riverside forest with sycamore, buckeye, and cottonwood
- Overlook Trail (2.3 miles): Passes through the nature preserve with mature forest
- Dripping Rock Trail (2.5 miles): Traverses forested ravines with diverse tree species
Visit during spring to see the canopy leaf out, or in fall when the maples and oaks create spectacular color displays. The park’s nature center offers additional context about the forest ecosystem and occasionally hosts guided tree walks.
Conservation Matters
These ancient trees face modern threats including climate change, invasive pests, soil compaction from increased foot traffic, and development pressure on surrounding lands. Their survival depends on continued protection and public awareness. By visiting responsibly—staying on designated trails and following Leave No Trace principles—you help ensure these 500-year-old witnesses endure for future generations.
The Value Beyond Age
Standing at the base of a tree that sprouted around 1525—before Columbus reached the Americas—puts our brief human lifespans in perspective. These trees have filtered countless gallons of water, sequestered tons of carbon, sheltered generations of wildlife, and survived droughts, floods, and storms. They represent ecological resilience and serve as outdoor classrooms for understanding forest succession, climate adaptation, and biodiversity.
For Central Ohio residents and visitors alike, the ancient trees of Highbanks Metro Park offer an accessible encounter with living history. Whether you’re a tree enthusiast hunting for champion specimens or simply seeking a peaceful walk beneath a towering canopy, these Lewis Center giants remind us what Ohio’s landscape once looked like—and what we must work to preserve.
Getting There: Highbanks Metro Park is located at 9466 Columbus Pike (US Route 23 North), Lewis Center, OH 43035. The park is open daily from 6:30 AM to 10 PM (April-September) and 6:30 AM to 8 PM (October-March). Admission is free. For more information, visit metroparks.net or call 614-906-3149.
