Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk is part of the Columbus Recreation and parks, with special contributors. The mudflats are a great attraction to many different kinds of birds. I've read that bald eagles, peregrine falcons and osprey are lake residents. While we were on the boardwalk overlooking the mudflats and reservoir we saw a turkey vulture, a hawk of some kind, and a great blue heron - which was exciting to the kids. I'm sure if we had stayed a little longer, or come at a different time, we would have seen many more birds. Another thing my kids enjoyed were some of the spider webs on the boardwalk wiring - they were large and you could see the detailing (and the spiders - yuck - not a fan!).
When walking along the boardwalk on any given day, you might pass a few fishermen, or people sitting on the pier looking out onto the water. It is a quiet, peaceful and relaxed area - which we enjoy after a long crazy day. This could be either a quick trip to the end of the boardwalk and back, or leisurely explore - looking for wildlife - depending on your, or your child's, mood.
It's worth noting that the last time we were there, a couple weeks ago, that the seagulls had claimed the end of the pier which simply meant that it was littered with droppings. That's one of the few times that I have seen it so bad, so I wanted to warn you as that kind of takes away from being able to lean on the rail or sit on the boardwalk (just at that end). The picture of the end of the pier below is from a time when it was clean (not our most recent visit).
There is a parking lot. If you aren't looking for it, you might pass right by it, as the entrance to the parking lot is nestled between mature trees. The parking lot is off Front St. Take Old 3C Highway north to Galena, then turn right onto Front St. and look to your right for the parking lot. There is a porta-potty there as well.
One downside to this boardwalk is that between the top rail and the boardwalk there are only four wires (you can see it in the photos). Granted they are heavy duty wires, and they are spaced well, but if you are squeamish about your children being out over the water or they are dare devils, you might want to bring extra adults, or not go until they are older. I won't lie, there have been a few times my husband and I had a little panicked gasps, but with three carefree kids, one acting fearless, and two slightly high strung parents... that's bound to happen. That said, we go several times a year.
The only other two negatives were that the water was really muddy in color, it would have been nice to see down into it a little, and there was some litter. Not much, but still sad nonetheless.
What to bring: It might be good to bring binoculars so that the kids can see the birds better, and maybe a bird book for the kids to reference. If you plan on staying a little, maybe a blanket to sit on. Sunscreen is a must being out over the water.
In the very small circle of 'downtown' Galena, there are two restaurants in case you are interested. We have not yet eaten at either place, so I can't speak for the food, but worth noting.
If you are traveling any distance to visit, we suggest wrapping it around something else. My recommendation would be to check out Hoover Dam off Sunbury Rd. (if your kids are a little older), or Inniswood Gardens Metro Park where the grounds are beautiful and they have a children's garden area, or possibly to Millstone Creek Park which is a fun playground that also has a water element (little creek) - all three are in Westerville.
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Entrance to the Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk. There is a gate at the entrance which I assume they close every night after dark.
Walking on the boardwalk.
Looking out over the reservoir from the boardwalk. Note the four thick wires.
End of the boardwalk, the boys looking for birds, fish and other wildlife. This is where we saw the hawk and great blue heron. We also saw, and heard, a few fish jump. Please note - the end of the boardwalk is loved by seagulls who leave presents - so at times, it is not as clean looking as this photo.
