Great Miami River Recreation Trail

South from Taylorsville MetroPark (North Terminus) To Franklin, Ohio (Southern Terminus)

Surface: The Great Miami River Recreation Trail is completely paved. While this trail is not a previous railroad right-of-way, it is included because it connects of other trails in Montgomery and Greene Counties that were previous rail lines. The Great Miami River Recreation Trail is also a vital part of downtown Dayton and will also be a connection to other rail-trails still under development.

Hotels, Motels, B&Bs & Campgrounds near the Trail - Each trail has it's own accommodations near the trail. Click on the link to be taken to the Accommodations in the Miami Valley RailTrails Area

Route: The trail runs along the Great Miami River through downtown Dayton, Ohio. From Island MetroPark in the North, to the Stewart Street Bridge in the South, the trail is on both sides of the river. The trail extends North from Triangle MetroPark to Taylorsville MetroPark on the Great Miami River. From the Stewart Street Bridge South the trail is also on the East Bank of the Great Miami River to Miamisburg, Rice Field and Crains Run Nature Park to its current terminus at Franklin. The trail is 29.5 miles long (one way). Downtown at Deeds Point, where the Mad River joins the Great Miami River the Great Miami River Recreation Trail connects to the Mad River Recreation Trail.

Trail Detours and Construction Delays - Occasionally some construction will occur near the trail. When that happens information will be posted on the Miami Conservancy District website to inform you. Also see Five Rivers MetroParks "Alerts Page" See "Alerts, Closures and Construction" The link above will take you there. Click on the [box] next to the yellow caution sign to see trail problems. I have also posted on the trail segments the current construction and detours (if available).

Construction Progress - In 2008 Five Rivers MetroParks extended this trail North from Triangle MetroPark along the Great Miami River to meet the Great Miami River Recreation Trail [GMRRT] (Northern Segment) at Rip Rap Road. The trail currently ends at the Northern end of Taylorsville MetroPark (Old Springfield Road). It is planned to be extended into Miami County to join the trail there at Thomas Kyle Park (Tipp City) in 2010. With the exception of maintenance the GMRRT in Montgomery County is essentially complete.

Map: I have several maps below that will help you. (Maps Courtesy Five Rivers MetroParks )
Interactive Trails Map	This web-based set of maps shows all of the trails in the Miami Valley
River North Map (199Kb)	This map show the trail from Sinclair Park in the North to the Stewart St. Bridge in Dayton.
River South Map (218 KB)	This map shows the trail south from the Stewart St. Bridge to West Carrollton
River South Map1 (355Kb)	This maps show the trail south from West Carrollton to Crains Run Nature Park
River Corridor Interests (88Kb)	Text of Points of Interest around the Great Miami River Recreation Trail
Great Miami River Recreation Trail Map (Online) - Please see the Miami Conservancy District's (MCD) new interactive on-line maps of the entire Great Miami River Recreation Trail. This includes the trail in Miami, Montgomery, Warren and Butler Counties. Best of all, you can zoom in on the area you wish to ride. I am told that this on-line map system is a "work in progress." MCD plans to improve it so that you can tell the system where you want to ride and you'll be able to print maps to order for Your Ride!
Five Rivers MetroParks Map - Please see Five Rivers MetroParks website for a map of the trails in Montgomery County

Park and Ride Locations: You can park your car at Sinclair Park, Wegerzyn Horticultural Center, Triangle Park, Island MetroPark, Kettering Field, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Carillon Historical Park, River Road Boat Ramp, K Station, West Carrollton Soccer Complex, Rice Field or Crains Run Nature Park, looking from North to South. There is a lot more information on each of the Five Rivers MetroParks at their web site.

Rest Rooms: Rest rooms are available at all of the locations mentioned above.

Horace M. Huffman, Jr. biked to work in the late1930's from Oakwood to his father's bicycle factory on the east side of Dayton. But he inherited from the family business more than an appreciation for bicycling.

I've always like to build things with people, " he said, to "build organizations with lots of people working together towards a common goal." The organizations Huffman built have had a major influence on Miami Valley bicycling for more than 35 years.

While president of the Huffy Corporation, he was co-founder and first president of the Dayton Cycling Club in 1961. Four years later, he formed and led the Greater Dayton Bikeway Committee. Now known as the Miami Valley Regional Bicycle Council, the committee drafted on of the nation's first regional bikeway plans, which was adopted by the area's planning commission in 1973.

A key part of that plan was a trail along the Great Miami River. Huffman had gotten the idea around 1965 when he saw how Sacramento, California had struggled to acquire land for a path along the American River. He realized that Dayton had an ideal location for a bikeway, since the Miami Conservancy District already owned the land along the Great Miami River. The initial 8.2 miles of bikeway were dedicated at Dayton's First River Festival in 1976. Now the Horace M. Huffman, Jr. Great Miami River Recreation Trail has grown to 37 miles.

It was "Huffy" as his friends called him, who suggested that the MVRBC [Miami Valley Regional Bicycle Council] establish the "Thunder Road Bike-A-Thon, which has been the major source of funding for the organization and has helped area charities since 1978.

He not only served Miami Valley bicyclists, he founded the Ohio Bicycle Communicator in 1973 and was its editor until it became the official newsletter of the newly formed Ohio Bicycle Federation in 1980. Huffman formed an organization to establish 127 miles of trails in northern Michigan where he spent his summers.

Huffman never stopped loving the bicycle. "It's a marvelous product," he said at age 82. It gets people where they want to go without being dependent on street cars or taxi cars or anything else. You just get on and go. I've often felt that the bicycle was the child's first declaration of independence."

Source: Miami Valley Regional Bicycle Council [MVRBC] - (1977 River Corridor Bikeway Map).

History	Surface
Route	Map
Park & Ride Locations	Restrooms
Island MetroPark North to Sinclair Park (Stillwater River Recreation Trail)	Construction Progress
Island MetroPark South to Stewart Street Bridge	Island MetroPark North to Taylorsville MetroPark
Stewart Street Bikeway (To University of Dayton .5 mile)	Hotels, Motels, B&Bs and Campgrounds
Stewart Street Bridge South to Crains Run Nature Park	Mad River Recreation Trail connects to trail and travels East 2.8 miles to Eastwood MetroPark and Xenia Station
The Great Miami River Recreation Trail Continues North to Miami County and South to Warren & Butler Counties

Crains Run Nature Park South to Warren & Butler County	Trail North into Miami County
Trail Detours and Construction Delays