At a Glance
Location: Springfield to Bellefontaine, OH
Length: 33.7 miles / asphalt & gravel
Class: B, A1+
Roughly half of the Simon Kenton Trail is unpaved at this time, giving the trail a split personality. [Scroll past 'Specs & Facts' to continue reading.]
Trail Specs & Facts:
Location: Clark, Champaign and Logan Counties
Class: B, A1+
Length: 17.8 miles / asphalt + 1.6 mile spur; + 15.9 miles / crushed stone
Condition: Good
Facilities: No known trailside facilities between Bellefontaine & Urbana.
Parking: Lewis Moore Dr. in Urbana, OH. (See trail map for more options.)
Worth Noting: The SKT's connection with the Little Miami Trail essentially ties it to the SW OH trail network and the cross-state Ohio-to-Erie Trail.
Map: Simon Kenton Trail or Sm Screen Version
Elevation: South to north
More Trails in this Region: SW OH Trails List
Shortly after leaving Urbana and heading north toward Bellefontaine, the bikeway's asphalt surface turns to crushed stone for the remainder of the 16-mile journey.
This segment also shares the corridor with a train track, whereas paved trail coming southwest out of Urbana has the corridor all to itself.
In Springfield, OH the trail connects with the Buck Creek Trail before ending at Center Street, a mere .2 miles from the Little Miami Trail. This final connection, via a protected bike lane, effectively connects the Simon Kenton with trails throughout SW, central and NE Ohio via Xenia Station.
Restored Depot in Urbana, OH - Photo by Billy Helfrich
Here's a description of the trail by Billy Helfrich:
The Simon Kenton Trail runs 18 miles from the YMCA in the east end of Urbana, Ohio, meandering west and then to the north, and eventually south to downtown Springfield, Ohio. Mostly flat, it's mainly a rail trail with lots of shady areas and wide open spots too. There are many wildflowers to see and lots of corn and soy bean fields.
There are interesting sights along the Trail with much farm land and a few streams to cross.
There are plenty of places to stop for refreshments in West Liberty and Bellefontaine.
Photo by Billy Helfrich
Cedar Bog Nature Preserve is conveniently located nearby on Woodburn Road.
Spurs branch off to the Melvin Miller Park in Urbana, the Urbana University, the Springfield Soccer Fields, the Splash Zone Water Park, and the Buck Creek Trail.
The Simon Kenton Trail, which has become known simply as the "SKT," crosses over the old 1916 Buck Creek Bridge and it has been connected with trail into downtown Springfield to Center Street where It connects via downtown streets to the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
If you like to go fast and enjoy long stretches of trail, then riding on the SKT is just where you want to be.
