Not only is the Little Miami Scenic Trail one of the most popular trails in Ohio, but it is the backbone for trail development in the Miami Valley. [Scroll past 'Specs & Facts' to continue reading.]
Location: Greene, Warren, Clermont, Hamilton & Clark Counties
Class: A1++
Length: 78 miles / asphalt
Condition: N/A
Facilities: At many of the trailheads & parks along the trail.
Parking: Xenia Station in Xenia, OH. (See trail map for more options.)
Worth Noting: Once the trail is officially connected to Lunken Field, the Little Miami will boast 7 trail connections over its 78-mile span.
Map: Little Miami Trail or Sm Screen Version
Elevation: North to south
More Trails in this Region: SW OH Trails List
Still one of the longer trails in the state, the Little Miami begins in Cincinnati, extends northeast through Xenia Station and on to Springfield, OH, a 78-mile span.
But trail doesn't stop there. The Little Miami then hands off the baton to the Simon Kenton Trail which runs north another 32 miles through Urbana and on to Bellefontaine. When the northern most 16-miles of SKT are paved, the two trails will combine for an impressive 110-mile stretch of tarmac.
Currently, 59 miles of the Little Miami are used by the Ohio-to-Erie Trail as it makes its cross-state journey from Cincinnati to Columbus, and on toward its final destination in Cleveland, OH.
The Miami Valley is picturesque and often provides a secluded feel as you ride under the cover of trees and woods only to briefly emerge to pass through a small town now and again. Glimpses of the river catch your attention from time to time along with the sound of canoers in the river valley below during the summer months. Finding a canoe shouldn't prove difficult. There are liveries and campgrounds right along the trail.
The bikeway passes through several small towns where there are trailside stops for ice cream, drinks, or a bite to eat. The city of Loveland has perhaps the most attractive "through town" trail section, with eateries, a trailside park, bike rentals and a nearby bike shop.
Yellow Springs has a restored depot (as does Xenia Station) along the trail which makes a convenient trailside water and restroom stop.
We generally see people utilizing this trail like no other in the state. On our last trip we encountered several pace lines with 3-5 cyclists per group, numerous aerobars and tandem recumbents.
The northern end of the Little Miami is in Springfield, OH at Jefferson and S. Center Streets. From here a protected bike lane leads .1-mile north along Center to the start of the Simon Kenton Trail on the east side of the street.
Also worth mentioning, in Springfield in late 2016, two additional trail segments were constructed to eliminate the road riding that had been required there.
The quality of the pavement and upkeep of the Little Miami Trail is consistently good. This may not sound significant, but with longer trails that pass through several counties, conditions can vary a great deal.
Much of this upkeep can be credited to the Friends of the Little Miami State Park, a volunteer-based organization that does a terrific job of fundraising, providing man-power, basically doing whatever is necessary to keep the trail open and maintained for public use.
