Great Miami River Recreation Trail - Stewart Street Bridge South to Crains Run MetroPark

Stewart Street Bridge South
To Crains Run Nature Park
14.7 miles
Finished
Ohio State Route 25 (1)

Click on photo for larger image	Our trail South begins at the Stewart Street Bridge. The trail is only on the East bank of the Great Miami River. As you can see here we are looking North along the trail along the river and we can see the Stewart Street Bridge in the background.

Construction Alert
The Stewart Street Bridge in downtown Dayton is planned to be replaced starting in June 2008. The $16.5M construction is planned to take 18 months. When it is complete the new bridge will be six lanes wide instead of the current four lanes. There will be a 10’ sidewalk on each side (North & South) to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. During construction, the detour will be North to the new Washington Street Bridge (just North of US-35). I am told the detour will be clearly marked.
Construction Alert

In this photo we are looking South along the trail towards Carillon Historical Park and the first great bend in the river to right.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we see the Bicycle Sculpture that is next to the trail just before we go by the Carillon Historical Park. You can see the Deeds Carillon in the background.

Here the trail has reached the park and the Deeds Carillon. The Carillon which is used for concerts in the Summer contains 57 bells which are rung via an electronic keyboard. Col. Edward A. Deeds the namesake of the Carillon, helped develop the automotive electric starter with Charles K. Kettering. They went on to establish Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company which later became the DELCO division of General Motors.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	We are now under the railroad bridge looking North. In the background you see the I-75 bridge again , the low dam and on the left side of the picture you can just see the Deeds Carillon and the Carillon Historical Park The trail then goes up to the street level at the low dam and is next to Carillon Blvd.

In this photo we are looking North from under the Dryden Road bridge. The bridge you can see in front of us is the railroad bridge. Behind that is the I-75 bridge. We are 3.81 miles North of "K" Station	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we are 1/2 mile North where the trail again crosses East River Road. The trail goes down to the river level and follows the Great Miami River North.

Here we can see that the trail crosses East River Road and follows on the East side of it for about 1/2 mile until it crosses the road again. We are looking North is this photo down East River Road.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	We have reached the River Road Boat Ramp. What you see in the photo is the trail crossing the road that takes boaters down (left) to the parking lot and boat launch for the river. Watch for cars with boats as you cross. We are 1.3 miles North of "K" Station and 4 miles South of Stewart Street.

In this photo we have reached the Sellars Road bridge and are looking at the Paul Law Memorial Bike stairs dedicated 1991 by the Miami Valley Regional Bicycle Committee renamed later as Bike Miami Valley (and now defunct) . The stairs has a bicycle channel to take cyclists up to Sellars Road easily. We are 5.3 miles from Stewart Street,	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	This picture was taken looking North from "K" Station. The bridge you see in the background is Sellars Road. It goes over the Great Miami River, the trail and I-75. It's about .5 mile North of "K" Station.

"K Station" As you arrive in West Carrollton, and reach Marina Drive, you pass by "K" Station; at right a set of public restrooms with water, named for Kay Huffman, Dayton Daily News' columnist Dale Huffman's mother, who suggested the facility. Built with donations from the public, it is owned and maintained by the local VFW Post 3438 on Marina Drive (building in background). Marina Drive has been split into a road and a bike lane so cyclists have a safe lane of their own to ride in.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	As we ride South on Marina Drive we pass by Miami and Erie Canal Park, owned by the City of West Carrollton. The park is on Marina Drive about .3 mile South of "K" Station. It has parking and picnic shelters.

The trail leaves Marina Drive and turns right towards the river. After a left turn the trail can be found on the levee for a about a mile. Here we are about to go back down to the river and follow it along the bank.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	After 2.6 miles from "K" Station South we come to the road crossing at Farmersville-W. Carrollton Pike. The road crossing is behind us. The photo was taken looking North towards Hydraulic Road which is to left. We are now about 7.7 miles South of Stewart Street.

After another three miles of riding (10.5 miles S. of Stewart Street) we see the Upper Miamisburg Road bridge over the river and trail. We will be going under it.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	We are looking North in this picture back toward the Upper Miamisburg Road bridge which we can see in the distance. After going under the bridge you go up a slope. At the top there is some shade, a bench and a working water fountain. There is also access to Pearl Street in downtown Miamisburg. You could also park your car here and unload your bike. I put in the picture because of the water fountain. If you look South you can see the Linden Avenue Bridge in the distance.

Here we are looking at the Linden Avenue bridge crossing of the river in Miamisburg. We are about 4.1 miles North of our destination; Crains Run Nature Park.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we are looking South along the Great Miami River. In this section the trail is on the flood control levee. There are 30' or more drop offs on both sides of this narrow trail section. Parents: If your children are small you may not want your children to ride this trail section South of Linden Avenue in Miamisburg.

North of Rice Field a large, old railroad bridge crosses over the Great Miami River at a diagonal. In the photo just below you can see it crossing the trail which goes under it and continues North. In this photo we are looking South along the trail from North of Rice Field and the bridge.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In this photo we are leaving Rice Field just South of Miamisburg. The trail comes in under an old railroad bridge.

This is the entrance to Rice Field on Dayton-Cincinnati Pike. The park has playing fields, restrooms and water available for your use. It is 12.6 miles from Stewart Street.	Click on photo for larger image

Construction Alert
According to the Miami Conservancy District, the trail washed out in 2006 between Shepard's Run and Crain's Run and is being undercut by the river. So the trail is being re-located away from the river's bank. It is expected to be completed by July 2008. You can walk you bicycle around the construction.
Construction Alert

Click on photo for larger image	In this image we have reached Rice Field. We are looking South in this photo.

n this photo we have the power plant on our left and ahead of us is the first bridge at Chautauqua Road that crosses the trail and the river.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In this photo we are at the corner of Dayton-Cincinnati Pike (the road that parallels the trail) and Shepard Road. We are looking South at the public boat launch that is next to the trail.

We continue South on the trail. In this photo at right we are looking at a large power plant across the river from the trail. There is a low dam in the river just downstream of the power plant. The three smoke stacks can be seen for a long distance on the river. We are about 1.85 miles from Crains Run Nature Park.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In this photo we have left Crains Run Nature Park traveling North on the trail. It is alongside the Great Miami River and provides great views of the river.

Crains Run Nature Park is on the East Bank of the Great Miami River. As you can see here the trail winds through the park. There are two parking lots as well as picnic shelters, water and restrooms at the park for your use. We are 14.7 miles South of Stewart Street.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Crains Run Nature Park is at the Southern border of Montgomery County with Warren County. At left is a photo of the end of the bicycle trail in the park. The trail extends another 3.7 miles to Franklin. (Trail opened October 2006). The trail will be extended in phases South to Middletown and Hamilton.

There is construction going on now to add 28 miles of trail South from Crains Runs MetroPark to Hamilton, Ohio This trail construction project is called: The Great Miami River Recreation Trail [GMRRT] in Warren & Butler Counties The 3.7 mile section from Crains Run Nature Park to Franklin is complete.