At a Glance
Location: Fairfield to Piqua
Length: ~87 miles / asphalt when completed
Class: A1++, A3++
The Great Miami River Trail, which began as an expansion of the former River Corridor Bikeway in Dayton, will stretch ~87 miles from Fairfield to Piqua, OH when completed. [Scroll past 'Specs & Facts' to continue reading.]
RiverScape Site in Dayton, OH
Trail Specs & Facts:
Location: Fairfield to Piqua / Miami, Montgomery & Butler Counties
Class: A1++, A3++
Length: 80 miles / asphalt (~87 miles when complete)
Condition: N/A
Facilities: At various trailheads and parks along the trail.
Parking: Taylorsville Metropark, Vandalia, OH. (See trail map for more options.)
Worth Noting: 2 gaps remain in the southern portion of the bikeway.
Map: Great Miami River Trail or Sm Screen Version
Elevation: South to north
More Trails in this Region: SW OH Trails List
At this time, completion is within reach as existing trail totals about 80 miles, with a continuous segment of 58.5 miles that extends from Piqua south to Franklin, OH.
South of Franklin, 2 significant gaps remain before the southern end of the trail is finished.
Originally the plan was for a 95-mile corridor which included Sidney, OH to the north. But there's been no mention of the Sidney connection in recent times, suggesting that the slight scale-back of this project may have been the result of land acquisition issues or other trail-building problems in that area.
Upper River Bank Trail Section
This bikeway is one of the more scenically diverse trails in the state. It follows the Great Miami River through Dayton passing above and below city streets as it makes its way along. The path actually serves as a viable alternative route for Dayton-area residents and is a great way for visitors to see a slice of the city.
Highlights include: Interesting riding over ramp-like sections where drains empty into the river in Dayton, a bikeway bridge over the river at Island Park, and panoramic views from atop river banks.
There's also an area called Riverscape in downtown Dayton which includes a Bike Hub.
Moving away form Dayton, the bikeway stays along the river wherever possible and connects with parks, suburbs and small towns, as well as other attractions along its route.
Recent reports suggest that navigation signage along the route is inconsistent. Good in some areas, while poor in others. The middle-section (of the 58.5-mile continuous trail) is apparently a trouble spot, particularly around Troy, OH. So, be sure to take a good trail nav app, or printed map along if you're not fond of straying from the main bikeway.
Island MetroPark in Dayton, OH
Any trail of this size will have significant connections along its route. Here are a list of the connections to the Great Miami River Trail.
- Wolf Creek Trail - Dayton, OH
- Canal Run Trail - Piqua, OH
- Ohio-to-Indiana Trail - Piqua, OH
- Mad River Trail - Dayton, OH
The Mad River Trail links to Wright Patterson AFB, Wright State University and Fairborn, OH. But the most significant long-distance connection comes from the Mad River Trail's connection with the Creekside Trail (at Eastwood MetroPark), which in turn links with Xenia Station.
At over 300 miles of paved bikeways, the SW Ohio trail network is certainly impressive. But when you consider the additional connections from Xenia Station to central and northeast Ohio, via the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, the total trail network grows even larger. Ya gotta love it!
