Piqua Activities Trail For Health

Canal Run Piqua has expanded the trail North 2.2 miles calling the trail, Canal Run. It starts at French Park and runs through Frantz Pond, Fountain Park and Echo Lake and ends in Swift Run Lake off State Route 66 near the water plant North of Piqua.

Rivers Edge Section The trail runs from Lock 9 Park in downtown Piqua 3.6 miles North along the Great Miami River and then the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath to Roadside Park North of town to meet the Canal Run. The trail also runs South from Lock 9 Park 3 miles to Peterson Road. This is called the Rivers Edge Section South.

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 currently runs 5.5 miles east and west parallel to State Route 36 in Piqua. The trail starts at Troy-Sidney Road on the east side of town. After about one mile the trail shares a residential street before crossing under Interstate 75. From there the trail continues about one mile to the restored railroad bridge about 50 feet above the Great Miami River just east of downtown Piqua At the foot of the bridge is the connection to the The River's Edge of the trail along the river. From the end of the bridge a cyclist has to take their bicycle down two flights of stairs to get to the street level in Piqua. From downtown Piqua, the trail rises on an elevated grade to cross the new bicycle bridge crossing State Route 36 (College Drive). After another mile or so the trail has a spur that takes you down to an access at French Park and you can connect to the Canal Run North. The trail then crosses under Sunset Road at a pale blue Piqua water tower. After about another mile the trail crosses R. M. Davis street near one of the EvenFlo plants in town. The trail ends at Spiker Road. If the trail were to continue west, it would cross Spiker Road and run right through a house.

Map: The new trail will connect to the Miami Valley county trail just east of where the trail now ends at Troy-Sidney Road. See the map below for detail. See Piqua Parks and Recreation City Parks Map

Park and Ride Locations: Troy-Sidney Road parking area at the trail's eastern end, downtown Piqua near the railroad bridge at Lock 9 Park, French Park and the trail's west terminus at Spiker Road

Rest Rooms: There are new restrooms at French Park which is about the center of the trail just west of downtown. There are several locations which could use a portable restroom such as the staging areas at Troy-Sidney Road and the Spiker Road parking area, which is the trail's current western end.

Impressions: The trail at 5.5 miles is a beautiful trail, or as it is called, a "linear park." The scenic views from the trail, which is in large part elevated 50' from grade, are lovely. The City of Piqua have been installing signs with historical information along the trail. They are well worth the stop to read them.

Click on image for larger image	At left is the end of the trail to the East, where the trail ends at Troy-Sidney Road. There is a staging area here with parking. This area needs a portable restroom and water. From here the trail will be extended to the East to connect with the Great Miami River Recreational Trail for the North to South trail being built from Taylorsville MetroPark in Montgomery County to Sidney.

Facing West from the same location as above, at Mile Post 2.3 miles East of the bridge over the Great Miami River. This is how much of the trail looks traveling west towards Piqua.	Click on image for larger image

Click on image for larger image	I could not resist taking this picture of the "surrey," that was navigating the trail. We are at the end of the trail section that began about a mile ago at Troy-Sidney Road looking East. We are at Garbry and Looney Roads. There is a mile post marker nearby that shows this point 1.3 miles East of the railroad bridge.

Again we have turned around from where the picture above was taken and are looking to the West. We parked our car behind me and the trail comes out to the right. At this point the trail shares the road for about 400 yards as the trail goes under I-75 at Piqua. There are a couple of inline skaters coming this way.	Click on image for larger image

Click on image for larger image	Here we see cyclists enjoying the new trail as it follows East Main Street near Voisenet Drive.

Here is the view from the West end of the former railroad bridge over the Great Miami River. As you can see the surface of the bridge is planking so you'll get a bumpy ride here. The bridge is about 50' above the city of Piqua here and the view is outstanding.	Click on image for larger image

Click on image for larger image	At left is another view of the railroad bridge. The previous photo was taken from the left or West side of the bridge looking East. This picture is taken from the South . Just below the bridge at the right or West end of the bridge is the connection to the The River's Edge of the trail that runs North 3.6 miles to Roadside Park and connects there with the Canal Run and runs South to French Park.

At the West end of the railroad bridge is a set of stairs with bicycle guides in the middle so that you can take your bike up to the top of the bridge. Here we see "friend wife" standing on the stairs to give you a "human perspective" of the bridge.	Click on image for larger image

Click on image for larger image	We are still in downtown Piqua here about 1/2 mile from the railroad bridge. Here the trail restarts and begins to climb so that the trail becomes elevated over the streets by about 25' or so.

At right is another photo of the Linear Park looking West from the railroad bridge across the Great Miami River in downtown Piqua. I took this photo more recently than the rest on this page. As you can see the trail downtown is a colorful site with lovely landscaping on both sides.	Click on image for larger image

Click on image for larger image AKA Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge	A mile or so farther down the trail and it crosses over State Route 36, which is also College Street in downtown Piqua. As you can see the trail is an elevated trail now.

This is French Park. The trail is above the park and the builders made a bicycle spur from the trail down to the park. There is ample parking here but the trail could use a portable (or permanent) restroom here and water. From here you can ride North on the Canal Run	Click on image for larger image

Click on image for larger image	At left the Piqua bikeway passes under Sunset Drive The picture is of the new tunnel at Sunset Drive west of downtown. In the background a cyclist is just coming through the tunnel. The runner looks to be having a good one. This is West 1.5 miles from the railroad bridge over the Great Miami River.

This is another picture of the new tunnel at Sunset Drive I added it so you could see that the water tower with "PIQUA" on it is close by. State Route 36 is about 250 yards South (or left) of where this picture was taken	Click on image for larger image

Click on image for larger image	Here the trail crosses R. M. Davis Street at grade. A group of cyclists is getting ready to cross the road. At right (out of the picture) is one of Piqua's EvanFlo plants.

This is the end of the trail in the West. We are at Spiker Road. There is a staging area here with parking. I'd expect a restroom and water here If the trail were to continue in a straight line across Spiker Road it would hit a house that is built on line with the trail. The trail is planned to be extended West from here. I have no more details at this time.	Click on image for larger image

If you'd like to see more pictures of the new Piqua Linear Park
check out the Scott and Stephanie Myers website

Canal Run (Trail)	Rivers Edge Trail North Rivers Edge Trail South
Surface	Hotels, Motels, B&Bs & Campgrounds near the Trail
Route	Map
Additional Trail Information	Park and Ride Locations
Rest Rooms	Impressions
Trail Review and Pictures