Prairie Grass Trail Page 2

Surface: The South Charleston Section is new and is 10' wide. It is 9.7 miles from Cedarville to South Charleston.

Route: The trail is parallel to and just South of State Route 42 which runs from Xenia to Cedarville, South Charleston and London. The trail starts at Massie Park and State Route 72 which is the main route through Cedarville and runs by Cedarville University.

Facilities on the Trail Parking is available at Massie Creek Park in Cedarville. Also at Community Park (Station) in South Charleston and at the Senior Citizens Center in London. Rest Rooms and Water is available at Xenia Station, Evans Acres in Xenia and at the Massie Creek Park (Seasonal) in Cedarville. Water is available at both locations (Massie Creek Park is seasonal) as well. Restrooms and water are also available at South Charleston Station and the Senior Citizens Center in London.

Trail Review: This section of trail is open for use. Dedication was held at the Clark/Greene County line, 17 November 2001 near Chillicothe Pike and US Route 42.

The trail is continuous from Xenia Station through Cedarville, South Charleston and to London. Here we see a picture of the trail just getting ready to cross State Route 72, the main street of Cedarville. The sign says "State Route 72". To the right in the picture is the: Hearthstone Inn & Suites (They cater to cyclists). The trail becomes a marked part of the road on the left for the next 200 yards or so. You can see it at left. Also at left we will be passing Massie Park which had parking, water and restrooms.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	As we are crossing State Route 72 on our left (going northeast is the: Main Street Station. 19 South Main Street Cedarville, Ohio (937) 766-4874 They have fast food, parking, restrooms and water. They are "very friendly" to cyclists. They are just across the street from the Hearthstone Inn & Suites.

In this picture we have already crossed SR-72 which is on the left of the picture. These are the new restrooms and water at Massie Park which starts here and follows on to the right for a 100 yards or so along the trail. The photo is taken from the entrance to the Hearthstone Inn & Suites which is just behind me to the left.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	We are heading northeast in this photo. Massie Park is at left . Hearthstone Inn & Suites aa at the left and we are sharing the road for a while on the marked (left) bike lane

The trail used to end just East of Massie Park in Cedarville. Here we are looking Northeast from the old trail's end towards South Charleston. Parking, restrooms and water are available at city park on South Street and at Massie Park in Cedarville.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	he first crossing is James Barber Road (at left), which comes about a mile after leaving Cedarville. The next crossing is Townsley Road South of Chillicothe Road. Notice the "Z" curves at the crossing. The bicycle trail runs parallel to US Route 42 and Old US Route 42. You can access the trail from either road.

After about another 2.7 miles you reach the new bridge over the North fork of Massie Creek at Chillicothe Road. We are looking West here towards Cedarville. This is near the county line between Greene and Clark counties and the location of the dedication 17 November 2001. You can see US Route 42 on the right of the picture (We are facing South).	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	In this photo we have turned around from where we just shot the picture above. We are looking at Chillicothe Road towards South Charleston in the middle distance. I took this picture because the oil-filled switches for the Dayton Power and Light high voltage line overhead are the only ones on the trail. When you see these 6' high can looking things on the left side of the road you know that you are crossing into Clark County and are about half way to South Charleston.

Here we see the Selma crossing (South Charleston-Old Clifton Road) looking Northeast towards trail's end. If you turn left and cross US Route 42 in about 300 yards on your right you'll find: Victoria-Green Plains Farm B&B (937) 462-8682 E-Mail Near Selma the trail is about 50 yards from US Route 42 which in this photo is at left.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	I just threw in this picture at left. It could have been taken almost anywhere along the route. The trail follows farmer's fields and when these photos were taken the farmers were still harvesting corn. There is a large farm on the right of the picture and above the entire trail is the high voltage lines of Dayton Power and Light. When the rail line became abandoned, D P&L bought the right of way and installed the high voltage transmission lines. The builders of the trail had to secure an easement in order to build the bicycle trail. Also in the picture at left is US Route 42 which parallels the trail from Cedarville to South Charleston. As you can see there are no trees in the area so this trail is apt to be very windy.

Coming into South Charleston you can see the new blue water tower on the left from the trail. By road take US Route 42 to South Charleston. Make a right on Sprague Road, then left on Mound. Trail end is at the community park at Mound and High. After about 9.7 miles from Cedarville we reach the Community Park in South Charleston at left. As you can see there is a lot of parking and two cabooses, one red and the other one blue, that are undergoing restoration at this time.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	This picture was taken from across Mound Road from the Community Park. This is a good picture of the restored Charleston Station. The restored log cabin is just visible behind the station. As you can see in the foreground there is still an active railroad line running through South Charleston.

IN this photo is the log cabin which was erected in 2000. It is just behind the station. South Charleston has established a park as well as the Station and other amenities for trail users. In South Charleston see: The Famous Houstonia B&B 937-462-8855 E-Mail	Click on photo for larger image

Click on thumbnail for larger image Photo courtesy of Surf N Cycle	Just across the street from the Station and new restrooms is "Surf N Cycle" a new bicycle shop in South Charleston. They are open on the weekends so drop in and see them. You can use their restroom, fill your water bottles and they do minor repairs. Note the soda machine next to the building. Surf N Cycle 150 W. Mound Rd. (937) 462-7873 surfncycle@aol.com

Just up the street to the East is the "Purple Monkey Restaurant" a new establishment along the trail. Purple Monkey 25 W Mound St, (937) 462-8440	Click on thumbnail for larger image Photo Friends of Madison County Parks & Trails

Trail Description	Surface
Route	Map
Trail Review	Facilities On The Trail Water, restrooms, food & parking

Place	Location	Restrooms?	Water?	Parking?
Xenia Station	Xenia	Indoor	Yes	Yes
Evans Acres	Xenia	Indoor	Yes	Yes
Massie Creek Park	Cedarville	Indoor	Yes	Yes
S. Charlestown Station	S. Charleston	Indoor	Yes	Yes
Senior Citizens Center	London	Indoor and portable	Yes	Yes
Wilson Road (End of Trail)	London	Portable	No	Yes