Xenia-Jamestown Connector

(Complete Phase II)
12 Mi. Jasper Road to Jamestown and Fayette County Line
Jamestown to Jasper Road 2005 (7.7 Mi)
Jamestown East to Fayette County Line (4.3 Mi. Fall 2007)

Update October 2007 - Greene County Recreation & Parks is paving the 4.3 miles of trail East from Limestone Street (US-72) in Jamestown, the current trail's end, to the Fayette County Line. It will probably be completed by early 2008. The $539K construction is being funded by grants; (Greene County's share of the cost is $189K). When complete the trail will be 12 miles long from Jasper Road to the Fayette County Line. It is hoped that the City of Washington Courthouse can pave the railbed from the county line to Washington Courthouse to connect with the Tri-County Triangle Trail that is planned in Fayette, Ross and Highland counties.

Remaining Construction Three unused bridges were constructed during Phase 1. They take the trail Northwest from Jasper Road to US-35 (two bridges) and next to Home Road (one bridge). The remaining trail construction to get to Xenia Station divide into three phases that will be completed in 2011. They are:

Route: Southeast from Xenia Station to Jamestown and then on to Washington Court House. (See map)

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

Park and Ride Locations: Xenia Station has parking, water, and rest rooms as does Frank Seaman Park in Jamestown.

Rest Rooms: Frank Seaman Park in Jamestown has rest rooms parking and water. When the trail is completed to Xenia you can use Xenia Station as a staging area.

Impressions: The 7.7 mile Phase 1 trail section from Jamestown West to Jasper Road is a scenic, mostly flat and shaded trail that is fun to ride. The trail is very rural so what you'll see is a lot of farms. The 4.3 miles of Phase 2 construction East to the Fayette County line will be complete in 2008.

Trail Review:
The trail is complete from Jamestown (US-72) 7.7 miles North west to Jasper Road near US-35. The trail review and pictures are below.

Future Plans: In long range planning, the trail should be continued East from the Fayette County line to Washington Court House, the county seat of Fayette County. This construction is the responsibility of Fayette County and their Tri-County Triangle Trail organization. They are developing a trail Southeast from Washington Courthouse to Chillicothe, then West to Greenfield and finally North back to Washington Court House. Click Here to be taken to Yahoo Maps to see the area. When connectivity to the Xenia-Jamestown connector is accomplished, the three counties in the Tri-County Trail plan; Fayette, Ross and Highland counties will be connected to the ever growing Miami Valley Trails System. which has exceed 309 miles in length (Fall 2007).

New Construction Fall 2007
I am informed that paving may start on this new section from Jamestown to the Fayette County line October 2007. Delays in paving will move completion to Summer 2008. Below for your viewing pleasure are some new photos from Greene County Parks and Yahoo Maps so you can get an idea of the construction.

Click on Image for Larger Photo Yahoo Maps	At left is a reduced size Yahoo Map of the area showing Jamestown at the left (East) of the photo. The photo shows about 1 mile of the trail. This is a Yahoo Map. Click on the photo to see a larger image. Click Here to be taken to Yahoo Maps to see the original map and to manipulate it yourself.

This bridge is described as: "62’ bow truss east of Sycamore St. in Jamestown." You can find Sycamore Street just east of US-68 in the Yahoo Map above. You can clearly see the old railbed that the trail is being built on. To the East of Jamestown the railbed can be seen as the straight line of trees running just South of East towards Fayette County. These two bridges (this one and the one below) were finished before the trail paving effort started.	Click on Image for Larger Photo Photo: Courtesy Greene County Parks

Click on Image for Larger Photo Photo: Courtesy Greene County Parks	This image is provided by Greene County Parks. I am told that this photo is: "the 17 foot bridge East of Rosemoor Road."

This Yahoo Map at right shows Rosemoor Road in the center of the image. You can click on it to see a larger photo or Click Here to go to Yahoo Maps and see the original photo. You can also manipulate it there. Just East of this location you can see I-71 crossing from Northeast to Southwest. Just before the old railbed crosses I-71 you are in Fayette County.	Click on Image for Larger Photo Yahoo Maps

Original Trail. The photos from here down the page are of the original 2005 construction from Jasper Road (4 miles Southeast of Xenia to Limestone Street (US-72). The trail is 7.7 miles long.

The trail starts in Jamestown. We are looking at the current end of the trail . The photo is looking West towards Xenia. The road in the foreground is Limestone Street (US-72) and Verity Street connects with Limestone Street just behind me. To the right in the photo is downtown Jamestown. Greene County Parks and the City of Washington Court House have purchased the additional 13.5 miles of right-of-way from this point East to Washington Court House. The trail will be built later but the railbed is now owned by the trail builders!	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	Here is a picture that shows my riding buddy Frank at the beginning of the trail. As you can see there is a small parking lot to the left of the trail.

This is the Waynesville Jamestown Road crossing of the trail. This is also know as South Maple Street in downtown Jamestown. We are .35 miles from the beginning of the trail.	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	About one half mile from the trail start is this little wooden bridge to right. It connects to the parking lot of: Jordon's SuperValu Grocery 96 West Washington Street Jamestown, Ohio 45335 (937) 675-4161 You can buy food and beverages and use their restrooms.

A little bit farther down the trail is what looks like a street off to the right of the trail. Frank rode down the 100 yard "street" and reported a McDonalds at the end of it.	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	After our ride we had lunch here: McDonald's: 102 West Washington Street Jamestown, Ohio 45335 (937) 675-7170 You can get food and beverages here as well as use their restrooms. I understand that they will fill your water bottles if they are not too busy

At .9 miles down the trail we crossed a trail connection to a neighborhood of new houses in the Jamestown area.	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	We have arrived at Frank Seaman Park. We are about a mile from trail's end at SR-72 (Limestone Street) in Jamestown. This photo is taken looking into the entrance to Frank Seaman Park and leads to Greenview High School on Cottonville Road. There is parking, water and restrooms in the park.

We are crossing Quarry Road in this picture 1.6 miles down the trail.	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	This is the crossing for Hogeye Road. at 2.2 miles into the trail

This is the trail crossing at Ballard Road 3.8 miles from the beginning of the trail.	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	We are at the South New Jasper Station Road crossing at 4.2 miles from start. I am told that this was some sort of Railroad Station at one time presumably the new Jasper Station.

We are arrived at the largest bridge on the trail. The developers used the original foundations for the steel span bridge over the North Folk of Caesar's Creek. My riding buddy Frank is looking at some of the foot long carp we saw in the Creek (or maybe he is throwing up).	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	This is the South Stringtown Road crossing at 5.6 miles. This crossing is 1/4 mile from the Blue Jacket outdoor drama

This is the Grieves Road crossing.	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	At left is the crossing for South Monroe Siding Road 7.1 miles down the trail.

Just to the left on South Monroe Siding is your opportunity to ski dive in Greene County. It is: Skydive Greene County 177 South Monroe Siding Road Xenia, Ohio 45385 (937) 372- 0700 info@skydiveohio.com As we went by the skydiving field we saw a twin engine taking off. When we came back from the trail end at Jasper Road, we saw about one half dozen parachutes of the sky divers.	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	We have reached the Jasper Road crossing at 7.7 miles, the end of the current trail. As you can see the railbed continues across the road . The trail will cross East Hoop Road and Bickett Road before reaching US-35. There are two completed bridges ( #2 and #3) between Bickett Road and US-35. To continue the trail a 400' tunnel will be built under US-35 and the road will be built on the East side of Home Road.

This is just a picture I took to show you how nice the trail looks on the sunny Summer's day. The trail has patches of sun and then some shade..	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo	At left is new Bridge #1. It is at Home Road and South Columbus Street in Xenia. From here the trail will continue Southwest towards Xenia Station.

Our journey ends at Xenia Station. This is the B&O Caboose at the edge of the Station property at South Detroit Street. The 4.5 miles of trail from Xenia Station to Jasper Road will be built by the City of Xenia something in the future. However, as noted above, all of the bridges are complete.	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Photo

Trail Construction News	Surface
Route	Map
Park & Ride Locations	Restrooms
Impressions	Trail Review (with pictures)
Hotels, Motels, B&Bs and Campgrounds	New Construction Fall 2007
Future Plans