The Little Miami State Park Trail
The Little Miami Trail -- 69 Miles of Great
Biking
The Little Miami Trailis a paved bike/hike/skate
trail following an abandoned railroad route, mostly close to the
Little Miami State and National Scenic River, from Milford, an eastern
suburb of Cincinnati, to Xenia, Yellow Springs, and Springfield,
69 miles north. For much of its length, the pavement is paralleled
by a grassy strip suitable for horses, walkers or runners who dislike
pavement, and cross-country skiing in rare winters. The route is
entirely off roads except for five blocks in Xenia.
Accomodations
and Maps of Trail Area
The route starts just across U.S. 50 in Milford,
about 10 miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati. (Three miles of
trail south of Milford are overgrown railroad ballast, not bikeable).
There are 40 parking spaces at the terminus, and limited spaces
on city streets across the river. The first 8-9 miles are through
mixed industrial and residential areas, with perhaps six road crossings
to Loveland.
Because Loveland and the state park have provided
excellent parking facilities, and maintain a water supply and year-round
heated toilet facilities, Loveland is the principal starting-point
for most Cincinnati-area users. Snack shops, skate and bike rental
in season.
Leaving Loveland, the area quickly becomes rural,
with the trail closely following the Little Miami River. Heavy use
can require caution on the part of cyclists for the first mile or
so, especially on summer weekends. Soon the baby carriages, tricycles
and family pedestrian groups thin out, and cyclists will pass only
occasional walkers, joggers or in-line skaters. At mile 13, a riverside
bar offers the usual (soft drink machines are outside), plus a toilet
if you can find your way through their inky gloom. A small township
park and public parking area abut the trail.
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Shortly the trail passes Middletown Junction, now brushy woods,
where the railroad branched northwest toward Middletown. Exploring
the woods towards the river, surprisingly tall pedestals remain
from a road bridge built to service the former railroad workers'
village there; the old rail bridge is being used to convey water
mains across the river for growing suburbs on the hilltop areas.
Along this big curve, the trend of the route changes from north
to east and remains so until we reach Morrow. The trail passes South
Lebanon (informal parking, picnic shelter, children's playground),
then climbs modestly to a height of land bounded on both sides by
large gravel pit lakes. The last 1.5 miles into Morrow is gently
downhill. We have traveled 13 miles from Loveland or 22 miles from
Milford.
At Morrow, the State Park has provided a picnic
shelter, a large parking lot, water and toilets in summer. The town
maintains the area and an adjacent park nicely. In season, snack
shops appear nearby. The 26-mile round trip from Loveland is popular
with local riders.
Soon the river turns again, and the trail turns
northward. Five wooded miles along the river take you to the foot
of Fort Ancient, a prehistoric settlement on the hilltop. The road
up the hill (St. Rte. 350) is steep, winding and busy, and admission
to the park costs $5 per, but a half-mile south is a well-made foot
trail up the hill to the fort. If you can lock your bikes well off
the bike trail, the short hike is worth the time and effort. You
can enjoy the overlooks and marvel at the earthworks, but the museum
is a half-mile away at the other end of the park. Morgan's canoe
livery at the road crossing is a beehive of activity in nice weather,
and has snacks and soft drinks for sale. Parking in state canoe
access lot or (off-peak periods) in Morgan's lots.
Two miles further on, a location known as Mathers
Mill, there is another state canoe access (parking). Continue along
a widening valley with steep hills on each side through Oregonia
(bar, cafe, general store) to Corwin, 28 miles from Loveland. Here
the state has built a large parking lot and summer-only toilets.
In summer, a very popular snack and ice-cream shop across the street
and a restaurant around the corner are open. Bike and skate rental
available, too. One-half mile west, across the river and U.S. 42,
is Waynesville, a larger town with motel, hotel, restaurants and
lots of antiques stores. Maybe next year a bike path from Corwin
to Waynesville will be finished. For now, take the road.
| For those who get bored with so much level riding, the closely
parallel Corwin Road introduces a few mild hills in the stretch
from Mathers Mill to Corwin. For a high-energy excursion, ride
up one of the roads off Corwin Road, such as Elbon Rd., and
back down. A longer and hillier diversion between Corwin and
Spring Valley skirts the Caesar Creek reservoir and takes you
through some upland countryside beginning a little gentrification.
Take New Burlington Rd. north out of Corwin, then Compton Rd.,
then left (west) on Roxanna-New Burlington Rd. down to the trail
again. Light traffic on these roads. |
Beyond Corwin, the valley opens to a wide bottom-land,
the route leaves the river and passes mostly through farm fields,
more of the ubiquitous gravel operations, close alongside Spring
Valley Wildlife Area with its large wetland (a favorite with birders)
and eventually under U.S. 42 and into the small town of Spring Valley.
The town has a large park on the bottom-land, equipped with Porta-Johns
and water in summer. Ice cream and snacks for sale in the village.
Here we are 35 miles from Loveland, 44 from Milford, and seven from
Xenia.
At Spring Valley, the trail leaves the Little
Miami valley and follows a smaller tributary on a gentle rise toward
Xenia. (At Hedges Road the state park ends and Xenia City takes
over, but only the mile markers give it away). You pass a large
parking area off Lower Bellbrook Rd., cross U.S. 42 (careful! --
no one stops for you) and end at U.S. 68 (Detroit St.). Here there
is a large parking lot and a year-round visitor center in a reconstructed
railroad station. We're 42 miles from Loveland, 51 from Milford,
18 from Springfield.
From the visitor center, one can take the Creekside
trail ("H-Connector") towards Dayton (open to the county
line, 11 miles) or walk across U.S. 68 and take a 9-mile paved trail
to Cedarville (see Accommodations for new inn listing). Greene County
Parks is planning still more trails.
Food, and Onward to Yellow Springs
Accommodations
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