Great Lakes - Trails out of Xenia, Ohio

Anyone out there running the numerous trails coming out of Xenia?
I live right off of the Little Miami Trail, run the Creekside Trail into work and train on the Ohio to Erie.
Anyone?

We are going down there this weekend. Some family biking on Sunday and brunch at the Winds. Haven't decided exactly where. Have not been before, so looking forward to it.

A.

Yeah, I live in Springfield, and routinely travel through Yellow Springs to Xenia. I also travel between Xenia through Cedarville, South Charleston to London. Highly recommend the Xenia to Springfield leg. Beautiful tree lined trail about 17 miles long.

http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/miami.htm

Andrew,
If you are looking for a good family ride to go with that meal at the Winds, I suggest parking in YS. You can then run leisurely routes either North or South from town.
If you are more adventurous, I suggest parking in Xenia, at the train depot, and running North, up the hill, into YS.
Either way its a beautiful experience.

Lion,
Are you saying that you run Springfield to London, r/t? If so, that is some serious biking.
I've only once run YS to London r/t, and it kicked my butt.
I often ride my MTB into Springfield and then take the northern trails: one up to Urbana, the other out to Buck Creek. Ever ride them?
I like the Buck Creek run the best; it's even prettier than the southern runs out of YS, but I hate cutting through Springfield because there is always glass on the trail through town so I refuse to ride anything lighter than the bike with the heaviest tread, plus gator (tuffy) strip (23c racing tires wouldn't survive 5 minutes on that city-trail).

Andrew,
If you are looking for a good family ride to go with that meal at the Winds, I suggest parking in YS. You can then run leisurely routes either North or South from town.
If you are more adventurous, I suggest parking in Xenia, at the train depot, and running North, up the hill, into YS.
Either way its a beautiful experience.

Aye, that is our general idea. Thanks for the info to confirm.

Would love to do the Xenia-YS run, but 10 mi uphill might be pushing it for an 8yr-old who had his tonsils out two weeks ago. Aside from some geocaching in the park, this will be his first approved exertion.

I expect we will be back.

A.

Lion,
Are you saying that you run Springfield to London, r/t? If so, that is some serious biking.
I've only once run YS to London r/t, and it kicked my butt.
I often ride my MTB into Springfield and then take the northern trails: one up to Urbana, the other out to Buck Creek. Ever ride them?
I like the Buck Creek run the best; it's even prettier than the southern runs out of YS, but I hate cutting through Springfield because there is always glass on the trail through town so I refuse to ride anything lighter than the bike with the heaviest tread, plus gator (tuffy) strip (23c racing tires wouldn't survive 5 minutes on that city-trail).

No, I don't log these trips all at once. I sometimes ride to London from Cedarville, but not from Springfield. I'm retired, so I can mix it up daily. I ride the Urbana and Buck Creek trips often. You are right about the glass problem in Springfield. I ride 25c tires and hope for the best. I really try to keep to the middle part of the streets, as much as possibile. I see that you hail from Yellow Springs. My wife and I really like your village. We ride there for lunch and refreshments at Peaches' and the 'Ye Old Tavern quite often.
I think that the Xenia to Spring Valley route is, also, especially pretty. We certainly are blessed with some beautiful trails here in SW Ohio.

My goal is to ride every mile of trail in this area from the house. It is not an easy goal to achieve. There are simply too many miles of trail (fantastic problem isn't it?).
This weekend, I plan to ride YS to Milford at the southern end of the Little Miami Scenic. It's a 120 r/t.
I hope I'm ready.

My goal is to ride every mile of trail in this area from the house. It is not an easy goal to achieve. There are simply too many miles of trail (fantastic problem isn't it?).
This weekend, I plan to ride YS to Milford at the southern end of the Little Miami Scenic. It's a 120 r/t.
I hope I'm ready.

They added 4 more miles after Milford, over to Little Miami Golf Center.;)

I live in the area and split my riding between the roads and trails in the area. We're really fortunate to have such an extensive network of local trails.

My favorite sections of the trails are the Xenia to Milford and the Dayton to Franklin. They both provide adequate shade in the hot summer months. I'm probably a little biased about the Xenia to Milford trail as I grew up in Spring Valley - just south of Xenia.

I enjoy the smell of the morning campfires as I ride south of Corwyn along the Little Miami. It's very scenic as well -- especially, in the area where the bridge crosses the gorge. Plus, all the canoes give it a festive ambience.
We are very fortunate.

Had a great Sunday on the trails by Yellow Springs. Went South for a while until my son had enough then back to YS for brunch. Then we went up to Young's with an excursion to Ellis Park. A little > 15 mi total which was fine for an 8yr old.

We will definitely be back.

A.

When is it to early to ride these trails, I ride from 5:30-6:30 in the morning..just during sun-up. Can be on the Xenia to Springvalley trail in 3 mins from my dirveway...but starting at dark I was wondering if this is allowed?

Technically, I think that the trails are supposed to be open from "dawn to dusk", but I doubt that a little early is any big deal.

Technically, I think that the trails are supposed to be open from "dawn to dusk", but I doubt that a little early is any big deal.

I called the county and the trails in Greene County are open 5am to midnight...with lights and/or relfecltive surfaces while dark. I hit them this morning at 5:30...much better then the plat.

J-

I live near the base and usually ride into YS and pick up the trail there, ride into Xenia and depending on how I feel etc, go south toward Waynesville or East toward Cedarville/S. Charlston.

Is there any centralized source of information on these trails? I've been thinking of travelling down to that area from Michigan for a couple days of riding. I could even mix in a stop in my hometown of Cincinnati. Trails between Xenia and Cincinnati would be of the most interest to me (paved of course -- suitable for a road bike).

http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/

Their web design could use some help, but this is a nice site.

Is there any centralized source of information on these trails? I've been thinking of travelling down to that area from Michigan for a couple days of riding. I could even mix in a stop in my hometown of Cincinnati. Trails between Xenia and Cincinnati would be of the most interest to me (paved of course -- suitable for a road bike).

The Little Miami Trail official park site (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/lilmiami/tabid/756/Default.aspx). It's trail map and mileage chart (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/2/parkmaps/littlemiamiparkmap.pdf). The trail continues north of the end of this map, to Xenia and beyond.

If you are visiting Cincinnati, it's probably best to start from Loveland. The trail is quite busy for the first 3 or 4 miles north from Loveland, then the walkers and casual bikers thin out. From there, it's wide open for bike riders. It's about 43 miles from Loveland to Xenia, very slightly uphill to Springfield, then a bit more of a grade up to Xenia, just enough to slow your average speed a bit.

The trail going south from Loveland is nice, too. But there's more riders and walkers, and more intersections. So do it a a slower pace, often less than 15 mph, slower when passing inline skaters, little kids on bikes, etc.

I grew up near Waynesville/Corwin. The railroad where the little Miami trail is now was still going back then. I just wanted to weigh in and say that the Little Miami Trail is incredibly nice. I noticed some people commenting on how pretty it is from Yellow Springs to Spring Valley which is of course true, but my favorite part as someone else mentioned is underneath the I-71 bridge. That Is Fort Ancient. It is a state park featuring Indian mounds. It is a prehistoric Indian Fort. If you have time when you are biking near there, it is well worth it to climb the hill and check it out. I also highly recommend Morgan's campground there. Some old buddies and I have taken to staying at Morgan's at least once a year and putting in the hundred or so miles on the little Miami trail. It bears noting that these rail to trail bike paths generate income for otherwise dead areas. Of course it is not like putting in a huge factory, but many of the little motels and restaurants seem to experience much better business thanks to the cyclists who ride the trails.

I was just on the trail at Corwin last Sunday afternoon. I was adding some miles after a morning ride from Caesar's Creek State Park. I took pictures from the I-71 bridge north to Corwin, Ohio. It was a nice, shady ride on a hot afternoon.

Here's some photos from the ride: Picasa Web Album (http://picasaweb.google.com/jim859n/LittleMiamiTrailNearCorwinOH). Click the Slideshow button.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/jim859n/SLVRf_RtqkI/AAAAAAAAA1o/v6v9JkxE-HI/IMG_5933.jpg?imgmax=576