Xenia To Spring Valley on the Little Miami Scenic Trail

The first stop from Xenia Station South is the small town of Spring Valley. Most of this well shaded trail runs through cool woods and beside farmer's fields, following US Route 42 and the Little Miami Scenic River. See Yahoo Maps for a satellite view of The Station. The station is the X-shaped place on N. Miami Street and N. Detroit Street, directly below. You can navigate to see the 5 trails leading from the station.
Leaving Xenia Station we cross from the trail in front of the Station to the trail between two parallel streets. The trail continues for .42 miles until we get to Cincinnati Street at right. This is also US Route 42. If you turned left (South) you'd be going out of town and to Spring Valley, Corwin and other stops on the Little Miami Scenic Trail.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	The trail starts to curve around to the left to start heading South towards our first major stop, Spring Valley. Here we are crossing Industrial Blvd. We are now about .90 mile from the Station.

As you can see we are approaching the double span blue US 35 bridge (above in photo) that crosses over the trail about 1.6 miles from the Station. You can hear the traffic before you come to the bridge	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	About one quarter mile South of the US-35 bridges over the trail is a .34 mile trail spur to East as you see here. It connects the trail to the Wright Cycle Estates development in Xenia. You can see the back of the sign in the left of the picture. We are looking South.

About 1000 feet South of the Wright Cycle Estates Spur we come Glady Run Reserve Spur. As you can see if you click on the image there is a park bench at the beginning of the spur (which is to right going South). In this photo you are looking North towards Xenia Station. Glady Run Reserve is right next to the Xenia Wastewater Treatment Plant. You can see it to the top left of the picture. This is a good place to get to the trail from the Southern areas of Xenia off of Lower Bellbrook Road (SR-42).	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	At left is the parking lot for Glady Run Reserve. You can't see this from the trail. This is the first staging area 2 miles South from Xenia Station. Glady Run Reserve is on Lower Bellbrook Road in southern Xenia. It has a parking lot, a portable restroom but no water. From it a 300 yard spur takes you to connect to the Little Miami Scenic Trail

Here is the trail crossing at Hedges Road 3.25 miles. At this point you are changing jurisdictions for the trail. Greene County Recreation & Parks maintain the trail to Hedges Road. South of Hedges Road the trail is maintained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the trail is a park; "Little Miami State Park" . The sign at left of the trail across the street explains you are now in the park. As you cross the street the trail becomes narrower. This section of the trail was built before Greene County Parks built their connection to it. Note: As of 2006 Greene, Warren, Clermont and Hamilton Counties changed the trail marking. Xenia Station is now the "0" mile. Miles read up as you go South to Little Miami Golf Center the current Southern end of the trail.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Before we get to Richland Road we cross three old railroad bridges with rivets sticking up from them. Take it easy crossing the bridges. Then we come to Richland Road at left 5.4 miles from the Station.

At right we are crossing Spring Valley Road 6 miles from the Station. We are almost to Spring Valley. We cross one more street in about one-half mile, Maple Street, and then we are approaching Spring Valley. Eventually (2013) there will be a trail here running West about 4 miles along SR-725 to Sackett-Wright Park in the City of Bellbrook.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In the photo, we are just coming into Spring Valley. At left in this picture is the downtown area including the Spring Valley Mercantile

At right is the Spring Valley Mercantile Co. This is a good place for ice cream. They carry Hershey's Ice Cream. We recommend "Moose Tracks". They have snacks, restrooms and they'll fill your water bottles for you.

Click on photo for larger image	Spartan Spirit Restaurant Just up the street from the Mercantile is the Spartan Spirit Restaurant. They are open Mon-Sat will a full menu and they have cold beer on draft. 937-862-9999

At right we are still in downtown Spring Valley a block from the previous pictures. If you turn right here at Walnut Street in a block you'll be at Elm Street and in Walton Park. There is ample parking, a portable restroom and water here. This is a good staging area for the trail. Take US 42 through town South, and turn right on SR 725. If will lead around the back of the park.	Click on photo for larger image

Of the four trails that are in operation from Xenia Station at this time, the Xenia to Spring Valley section is the coolest since the old railbed is overgrown with trees.

Note: Greene County Parks and Recreation received funding approval to start planning what is called the "Bellbrook-Spring Valley Connector. A trail will be constructed to connect the Little Miami Scenic Trail to Bellbrook which is East about 3-4 miles from the existing trail. The right of way has not yet been determined. For more information see: Approved Projects.

Trail Description (with photos)	Overall Condition
Trail Length & Surface	Facilities On The Trail Water, restrooms, food& parking
Cities/Towns Along Trail	Restaurants/Fast Food
Parking	Map of the Little Miami Scenic Trail
Printable Map of the Little Miami Scenic Trail	Hotels, Motels, B&Bs & Campgrounds Near Trail
Construction Plans

Place	Location	Restrooms?	Water?	Parking?
Xenia Station	1 mi S. of U.S. 35 at US 68	Inside	Yes	Yes
Glady Run Reserve	2 miles S. of Station	Portable	No	Yes
Spring Valley Mercantile	Spring Valley	Inside	Yes	Yes
Spartan Spirit Restaurant	Spring Valley	Inside	Yes	Yes
Walton Park	Spring Valley	Portable	Yes	Yes