The Little Miami State Park Trail
Food, and
Onward to Yellow Springs
Snacks are available in a machine in the station;
or take the Creekside Trail west and north from the station to Main
St. for anything from fast food to hotel dining room. From there,
following signed route, you can continue to Market St., go one block
east, then take Church St. around behind the hotel and shopping
center to the trail, across Detroit St.
Not hungry? Follow the paved path which leads east,
then north from in front of the station. Follow the marked bicycle
lane on the sidewalk on either side of Detroit St., obeying the
walk signals and yielding patiently to pedestrians, continuing one
long block after crossing US 35 (Main St.). The Yellow Springs section
starts across Church St. on the east side of Detroit St. A city
park with facilities and parking is just beyond.
The eight mile section from Xenia to Yellow Springs
is managed by the Greene County Park District. Several street crossings
in town require extra care -- don't expect drivers to stop for bikers.
Then the trail gets into open country. At about 3 miles, there is
a parking lot with privies and picnic tables (but no water) just
off U.S.68. The great chief Tecumseh had his major village on the
flat across the highway. We cross Massie Creek and then the Little
Miami, veer a bit eastward and away from U.S. 68, and only a couple
of road crossings before reaching residential outskirts of Yellow
Springs. Sometimes heavy roller-blading traffic on this section!
Total mileage from Milford is about 60.
Yellow Springs is the site of Antioch College,
Glen Helen Nature Preserve, and John Bryan State Park. East beyond
the state park is Clifton Gorge, a unique natural area well worth
detouring to see. A visitor center in a rebuilt railroad station
in the center of town opened in 2000. There is parking at the north
end of town -- follow the brown signs. Lots of restaurants and other
facilities in Y.S.; bike rental at "The Caboose".
The trail crosses to the west side of U.S.
68 in town, (busy intersection!) then continues eight more miles,
to within a mile or so of the center of Springfield. At first it's
on an elevated bed through woods on the fringe of Yellow Springs,
then in more open territory as it continues northward. If you have
time, don't miss the side trip (sign) to Young's Dairy Store on
U.S. 68. After crossing several small roads, the trail crosses U.S.68
and then Yellow Springs Rd. (parking area), then Possum Rd. and
Leffel Lane to end at John St.
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