The River's Edge

The River's Edge

Piqua Activities Trail For Health (P.A.T.H.). Trail is on large railroad bridge across the Great Miami River
The River's Edge runs North from Lock Nine Park (just North of bridge).

North from Lock 9 Park in downtown to Roadside Park on Route 66 north of Piqua near the water plant.

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

Click on photo for larger image		As you can see at left the The River's Edge of the Piqua Activities Trail For Health starts under the railroad bridge that carries the main trail across the Great Miami River in downtown Piqua. We are looking North in this photo

At right is Canal 9 Park in downtown Piqua. At the left edge of the photo is the large railroad bridge that is in the picture above. There is a staging area at the Park. It is on State Route 36 in Piqua. Take the State Route 36 exit from I-75 and follow it into Piqua. The route makes a left turn downtown. Follow Sr-36 and you'll run right into the park.		Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image		At left we have a view looking North showing the new trail on the river below the levee. In the picture at far right you can barely see the railroad bridge that carries the Piqua Activities Trail For Health over the Great Miami River. Notice in the far background a water tower. We will use it for a point of reference. We are looking North, upstream .

At right we are on the trail heading out of Piqua to the North but looking back towards our railroad bridge. If we could see it, Lock 9 Park would be at the right of the picture just right of the brick building you can see.		Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image		By now we have traveled up the trail to the State Route 36 bridge into town. We are 1.9 miles North of the trail's start in downtown Piqua. When you drive into town from I-75 you'll go over this bridge on your way into downtown Piqua. This is the first time you can see the trail. It's a taste of good things to come

At right there is another view of the State Route 36 bridge looking East towards I-75. Just before you get to this bridge you go under a railroad bridge that has a large "Welcome to Piqua" painted on it in yellow. At the corner where this shot was taken is the intersection of SR-36 and Riverside Drive. We are going to follow Riverside Drive North following the trail.		Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image		At left is the trail running parallel to Riverside Drive which you can see at the far left of the photo. In this section of the trail the engineers had to build a retaining wall to keep the levee, which was built for flood control and is about 20' high, from eroding when the trail was built. Please note the fence built at the edge of the trail for your safety.

At this point on the trail we are looking back or South at our landmark water tower. We are now at mile 1.9 on the trail. You can see the retaining wall and protective fence in this photo and the bridge in the background is the State Route 36 route over the Great Miami River. North of this photo we will be entering the woods where the trail runs on the old Miami and Erie Canal Towpath. Looking North the river is on our right, we are on the Towpath and the canal is on our left.		Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image		At left we have entered the woods and are just going past milepost 1.9. The trail is marked every .1 mile with a milepost marker. We are turning right or more to the North on this photo looking North.

We are traveling North in this picture following some other walkers who are out on this beautiful day getting some sun. When we walked this trail it was a beautiful, warm Indian Summer day and the leaves were just starting to fall.		Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image		In this photo we are looking towards the South. Here the trail makes a large "S" curve and large downhill as it goes South to meet the Great Miami River. We were told that there was a lock from the old canal visible on the trail, but we didn't find it.

At right we are at mile post 2.7 North on the trail. Friend wife is sitting on a nice new bench looking towards the Great Miami River at the right of the photo. The old canal is at our left. As you can see from the small inset photo the milepost markers are a nice touch.		Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image		In this photo we are traveling North along the trail and a couple of the many riders and walkers went by. As you can see the trail goes through a dense woods and the trail builders were very careful to avoid chopping down the trees while they built the trail on the Towpath.

At right this is what we have been talking about all along. The photo is taken looking South along the trail. The trail is built on the old Miami & Erie Canal Towpath. You can see the old canal which is still full of water at the right of the photo. The Great Miami River, which we can't see, is to the left of the photo. The towpath is where the horses or mules were led to pull to canal boats from Toledo to Cincinnati. More information about the Canal is below.		Click on photo for larger image

Click on Picture Miami & Erie Canal Brochure You can get a free 24 page brochure from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website. You can order it or download a 1 Mb Adobe Acrobat file that you can print.		This portion of the Rivers Edge Section follows the old Miami and Erie Canal that was built from Toledo to Cincinnati during 1825-1840. If you click on the link above or the picture at left you'll be taken to the ODNR website.

We are looking South at milepost 3.2. We are almost at the end of the Northern section of this trail. We will be turning to the West shortly and come out at Roadside Park on State Route 66 North of Piqua.		Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image		When we went on this trail it was barely open and already it was almost crowded with walkers, cyclists like this lady at left having a good time, and roller bladers. As someone said about multi-use trails; "Build It And They Will Come."

At right we are coming out of the woods to Roadside Park. You can see the parking lot to left. State Route 66 is at the back of the photo and the Water Plant is across the street although you can't see it in this photo. At this writing there was neither water nor a restroom at the park. I expect the Parks Department will take care of that next season. At the far right of the picture the trail goes under SR-66 to meet the Canal Run .		Click on photo for larger image

		At left we see State Route 66 and the trail looking East towards Roadside Park which is across the street. We are at the West side of the road almost to the staging area for the Canal Run behind us.

And here we are at the Roadside Park sign and parking lot. This picture was shot from across the street next to the Water Plant. If you are driving North on State Route 66 you'll see the Roadside Park on your right, the Water Plant on your left and just beyond the Water Plant a road to the staging area for the Canal Run. From here you can ride, walk or blade 2.2 miles South along the Canal Run to French Park on the Piqua Activities Trail For Health (P.A.T.H.) . Enjoy!