title: Big Walnut Creek
text: # Big Walnut Creek
  
  Big Walnut Creek starts near Mount Gilead, Ohio in Morrow County. It flows south to eastern Delaware County and parallels Alum Creek. It passes to the east of Sunbury and into Hoover Reservoir, which then crosses into Franklin County. From the dam outflow in Westerville the creek flows through Gahanna and Whitehall. Near Obetz it is joined by its principal tributaries Alum Creek and Blacklick Creek at the Three Creeks Columbus Metro Park. It flows through southern Franklin County and joins the Scioto River near the Franklin-Pickaway Counties line at 39°47′57″N 83°00′34″W﻿ / ﻿39.799305°N 83.009373°W﻿ / 39.799305; -83.009373.
  
  ## Name
  
  Big Walnut Creek was named for black walnut trees which once grew in old-growth forests near the stream. According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Big Walnut Creek has also been known as:
  
  * Big Belly Creek
  * Big Bellys Creek
  * Big Lick Creek
  * Gahanna River
  * Hayes Ditch
  * Walnut Creek
  * Whingwy Mahoni Sepung
  * Menkwi Mhoani Siipunk
  