Simon Kenton Trail - Buck Creek Trail N. to Villa Rd.

In Clark & Champaign Counties
In Clark County - From Buck Creek Trail North to County Line Road (6.6 miles)
In Clark County - From Buck Creek Trail South to Springfield (2.0 miles)
In Champaign County - County Line Road to Urbana YMCA (8 miles)
Total Trail 17.9 miles

Trail Description: This trail opened in 2003 and was finished in 2004 and 2005. The trail runs 17.92 miles from downtown Springfield, crosses the Buck Creek Trail in Clark County and runs North to the Urbana YMCA in Champaign County. The trail was built in Champaign county with the help of the Simon Kenton Pathfinders.

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: (and maps) The trail starts at the Buck Creek Trail at its Southern terminus using an old railroad bridge across the Buck Creek. At far right you can see the bridge that now carries the trail North. At near left is a map of the trail to Villa Road.

Below we will describe the trail with photos.

Simon Kenton Clark County.jpg (97902 bytes)

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At right is The Map for the trail in Champaign County. I have modified the original with permission to show you the three Park and Rides on the trail. Please click on the map and print it. Starting at County Line Road there is a parking area. Moving North to Woodburn Road, where the Cedar Bog is, is another parking area. The final one in Phase II is at the end of the trail at State Route 55. There is another one at the trail's end at the YMCA in Urbana.

Click on Map at right to see it. Click Here or above for a printable map

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Original map Simon Kenton Pathfinders

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Above we see the first parking area on County Line Road at Carter's Lumber. See the map for the red marker. I'm looking Southwest across the parking lot. Friend wife is picking "weeds" for her natural dyeing hobby. The parking lot is not yet marked for parking.

Rest Rooms: I did not see any on the trail. There are inside restrooms and water at the Heritage Center (downtown Springfield) and at the Urbana Station (downtown Urbana). I also did not see any water available on the trail. In Summer and Fall I'd carry extra water since the trail is very sunny.

Impressions: The trail is beautiful and secluded. The trail in Clark County is shaded and is below grade for the most part. The trail in Champaign County runs by farmers fields and is very sunny with little shade. In the Fall you'll see what rural Ohio is famous for; "Corn and Soybeans!"

The trail starts at the Buck Creek Trail on the railroad bridge. At right is a another couple of cyclists about to take the ramp at their left down to the Buck Creek Trail	Click on Photo for Larger Image

Click on Photo for Larger Image	At left is a view of the Buck Creek Trail and the Buck Creek looking North from the center of the old railroad bridge.

Here is another picture of the bridge looking South. I guess I like taking pictures of railroad bridges. The trail continues South to downtown Springfield in what is known as the Simon Kenton Trail Phase IV. See Buck Creek Trail to Springfield page.	Click on Photo for Larger Image

Click on Photo for Larger Image	At left is the first crossing the trail makes at Mitchell Blvd. Watch for cars.

After about 1/2 mile or so we cross Kensington Avenue. Watch for traffic; it moves fast.	Click on Photo for Larger Image

Click on Photo for Larger Image	After another half mile or so we go under the tunnel at Home Road. As you can see from the photos, we rode this trail in the Fall. The leaves we coming down and the air was sparkling and clean. A good day for a ride!

Following the trail North another 1000 yards or so, we come to the crossing at Red Coach Drive. Again watch for traffic.	Click on Photo for Larger Image

Click on Photo for Larger Image	Villa Road Staging Area. At left we are within about one mile of the end of the trail. Here we see the Villa Road Staging Area. At the left is Villa Road curving to the East. Here there is parking, water, restrooms and picnic areas. With permission you can leave your car overnight here to ride our trails. To get permission call National Trails Parks and Recreation at 937-328-7275

Here we are North of the Staging Area and can see on our left US Route72. We are looking to the South. The trail parallels the road for several hundred yards on a elevated levee with a protective guard rail. We are about 300 yards from the intersection of Villa Road which you can see at the right of the picture with US Route 72.	Click on Photo for Larger Image

Click on Photo for Larger Image	At left we have crossed the intersection and are still on Villa Road but West of the intersection. The trail curves around to the North and is parallel to Villa Road for about 500 yards.

At right we have reached Villa Road. The building at right was once a ice cream store. Now it's a out of business used car lot. What a pity! The trail is directly behind it. I	Click on Photo for Larger Image Photo by ":Billy" Helfrich

Click on Photo for Larger Image	At left we start out on our grand adventure. These pictures were taken when Phase II of the Simon Kenton Trail was completed. Here I am following "the boss" North from Villa Road on the brand new trail. As I told you before on this trail you get to see a lot of rural Ohio. What that means is you see lots of fields of: "Corn and Soybeans!"

After going around one of the few gentle curves on this old Erie-Lackawanna railbed we first come to what looks like a county gravel processing plant in about .3 mile. At right is a picture of the plant. If you want to ride "like blazes" we recommend this trail since it is very straight.	Click on Photo for Larger Image

Note: As of Fall 2007, a 1,000' spur to SplashZone waterpark is being built just South of the spur to the Eagle City Soccer Field. This $160,000 project should be complete by the end of 2007.

Click on Photo for Larger Image	After a few hundred yards we come to a "T" Intersection on the rail. Just after the small bridge at left you can see the trail spur going to the West. This is the "Soccer Field Spur" that leads in about a half mile down the spur to the soccer fields off US Route 68 on Eagle City Road. We are now about . 8 miles from the start of our journey at Villa Road.

New Trail Construction	Trail Description
Surface	Route (and Maps)
Park and Ride Locations	Rest Rooms
Trail Review Clark County (Photos)	Trail Review Champaign County (Photos)
Impressions	(This Page) Page 1 (Buck Creek Trail to Villa Road
Go To Page 2 Villa Road to State Route 55	Go To Page 3 SR 55 to Urbana YMCA End
Go To Page 4 Buck Creek Trail Bridge South to Springfield	Hotels, Motels, B&Bs and Campgrounds