London East to Wilson Road

The London to Wilson Road Section of the Prairie Grass Trail runs 1.5 miles through London and then 6.5 miles from London at Maple Street to Wilson Road Here we are coming into the West side of London at the Prairie Grass Trailhead at 280 West High Street in London. In the foreground is the memorial to Bill Young, a much missed member of the organization. There is parking behind the Senior Center as well as a indoor restroom and water. There are also restrooms inside the Center you can use and a soda machine by the back door. I am informed that you can park overnight at the Senior Citizens Center. However, it is recommended that you call either the London City Police at 740-852-1414 or the Madison County Sheriff at 740-852-1212 and tell them who you are and your license plate if you plan to do this	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	As we go by the Prairie Grass Trailhead (riding East) here's how it looks. The FMCPT have added a lot more parking as well as the memorial and wonderful flower beds

One of members of FMCPT told me that cyclists would come into the Prairie Grass Trailhead and ask: : *Where are We?* The sign with two bicycles and the name LONDON tells them exactly where they are!	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	We have left the Prairie Grass Trailhead and have come to Midway Street (Ohio Route 38). The trail turns right here (South) and follows Midway Street for about 1/3 of a mile before turning left onto West Center Street. Note. In this picture we are looking back towards the Prairie Grass Trailhead (West).

At right we see the corner of Midway Street at West Center Street. We are looking back towards the Prairie Grass Trailhead in this photo. We will be traveling East on West Center Street.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	We have reached South Main Street also known as Route 56 South. From here if you look North you'd see the County Count House. The trail continues on West Center Street. We are about 1 mile from the Senior Center.

Here is a picture of the handsome Madison County Court House. From the corner above it doesn't look like this. I took this downtown near where we had lunch.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Continuing on West Center Street we cross Walnut Street at the railroad tracks and a large grain elevator.

Following West Center Street we finally come to Maple Street. We are 1.53 miles from the Prairie Grass Trailhead. You turn left onto Maple Street. This photo is taken after we made the turn. We are almost onto the new trail. The trail is parallel to West Center Street which is SR-665.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	This photo was taken at the new trail start on Maple Street. As you can see the grain elevator dominates the skyline of London. We are looking back (West) to the elevator and downtown London.

In this photo we have turned around and are looking at the trail entrance. We are on Maple Street and we are looking North. There is a sign here that says the trail was "adopted" by the local Boy Scout Troup 102.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	A restaurant alongside the trail is Gee's China Lantern. It is right on the corner of Maple Street and West Center Street. Gee's China Lantern 165 East Center St. London, Ohio 43140 740-852-3055

New Trailhead East of Maple Street (Click on link to see map in Google Maps. At right click on the image to see the new trailhead. I've marked the lot in red. FMCPT is building the new trailhead about Ľ mi. to the East of Maple Street on a vacant lot. They expect to have it complete by 30 October 2010. While it does not have water or restrooms (yet) there will be 10 parking places for cars.	Click on photo for larger image

	Here are a couple of photos of the new construction. The first (this one) is looking South from the trail to the new parking lot. The boxes at right are pavers that will be used on the parking lot in the background. You can see the houses on each side of what once was a vacant lot which will now be a trailhead. The Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails (FMCPT), dedicated the new Trailhead October 28th, 2010.

This second photo of the trail shows a closer look at the parking lot with the base for the pavers already in place. FMCPT is planning some new upgrades to the trail in this area. I'll provide more information as I get it.

New Trailhead East of Maple Street (Above)

Click on photo for larger image	Here we have a typical photo of the trail. The trail is sunny with large shady section and is mostly level. As of December 2007, the 6.5 miles of trail from Maple Street to Wilson Road (current trail's end) is completely paved in asphalt.

The trail crosses Spring Valley Road at 4 miles from the start. Here we are at the trail crossing and I took a photo to South of a grain truck at the corner of SR-665.	Click on photo for larger image

I Click on photo for larger image	In this picture we have reached the bridge over Deer Creek. The bicycle bridge is built on the foundations for the old railroad bridge that was once here. From the South side of the bridge you can see the highway. We are 4.7 miles from the start of this section at Maple Street.

We have crossed Glade Run Road in this photo which looks North. We are 5.8 miles from the trail's start.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here we are crossing another bridge over the Silvia-Wilson Ditch. We are 6.2 miles from the trail's beginning.

n this photo we have reached the end of the current trail at Wilson Road SE, (AKA CR-103). The trail widens into a staging area for parking. We are 8.16 miles from the Prairie Grass Trailhead (Maple Street) and about 2 miles West of the Franklin County line. From here the trail will cross into Franklin County and (Columbus, Ohio). The Franklin County Parks District will connect to the Camp Chase Rail Trail which is not yet built. Then the trial will connect to downtown Columbus. To see where things are please click on Columbus Dispatch Map , Look at the bottom left to see "Prairie Grass Trail - London".	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	On 1 December 2007 the trail was completely paved from Maple Street in London East to Wilson Road, 6.5 miles. Here boys from Boy Scout Troup #102 are Presenting the Colors at the beginning of the ceremony .

In this photo at the end of the (very cold) festivities, the assembled dignitary's gathered for the ribbon cutting. In the middle (with the scissors) are Mr. Gene Pass member and Mr. Wayne Roberts President of the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails, who were instrumental in building this trail .	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	And last, but not least, is a picture of the new outdoor restroom and shelter at the end of the trail. This shelter was built by Mr. Jacob Williams as his Eagle Scout project.

When you're at the end of the trail you can turn North (left) and follow CR-103 to West Jefferson. See Yahoo Maps for a view of the area. While the only accommodations are West of the town, there are several good restaurants in the area. We ate at Ann and Tony's Restaurant a fine Italian restaurant in West Jefferson.	Ann &Tony's Restaurant 211 E Main St West Jefferson, OH 43162 (614) 879-8897


Ohio To Erie Trail - The trail from Cincinnati North on the Little Miami Scenic Trail to Xenia . And the trail Northeast from Xenia to Cedarville, South Charleston and London East to Columbus, Akron and onto to Cleveland is collectively called the Ohio To Erie Trail

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Overall map of London to Wilson Road Source: FMCPT	Source: Wilson Printing & Graphics Click Here for Adobe Acrobat Map