The Xenia–Jamestown Connector Trail links these two eponymous trails, and travels east beyond Jamestown to the Green—Fayette county line at Rosemoor Road. In Xenia the trail links at a hub with the
Little Miami Scenic Trail, the
Creekside Trail and the
Prairie Grass Trail. The trail is relatively new and offers a beautifully maintained asphalt surface suitable for all uses except horses and motorized vehicles.
Start at the east end off Rosemoor Road southeast of Jamestown. You can also park off South Limestone Street in Jamestown. From here, more amenities quickly become available along the trail as you head toward Xenia.
Just a half mile into the journey a wooden bridge off the right side of the trail leads to grocery, which offers beverages, food and restrooms. Another trailhead on the left just 1 mile from the Jamestown trailhead is at Frank Seaman Park, offering restrooms, water and parking. In addition, it has numerous baseball fields, a covered pavilion and picnic area, as well as ample green space to either warm up for your ride or unwind afterward. Continuing northwest brings you to the crossing at Quarry Road.
The trail corridor is amazingly well shaded in summer by a thick canopy of deciduous trees. The periodic breaks in the trees over the next 2 miles allow you to get a peek of the vast farm fields that dominate this part of central Ohio. Just past mile 4 the trail crosses South New Jasper Station Road, and less than 0.5 mile past this, the trail crosses a bridge over the North Fork of Caesar's Creek. The bridge is a nicely built concrete deck and the view both up and down the meandering waterway, with its lush vegetation clinging to the banks, is well worth a stop.
The remaining 3 miles or so offer a smooth quick ride through more farm fields and forested canopy. Keep an eye out for South Monroe Siding Road. Just past it on the right is Skydive Greene County, which offers skydiving opportunities; on a nice day you'll see airplanes taking off and landing. Don't forget to look up as the planes landing will have most likely just had a group of parachutists jump out!
The trail ends at Washington Road in Xenia, where you can link to the other trails mentioned.
To reach the Jamestown trailhead at South Limestone Street from US 35, take Old US 35 east for 1.9 miles. Turn right onto South Limestone Street. After 0.14 mile, look for the small parking lot on the right side of the road; that is the trailhead. However, the Frank Seaman Park Trailhead offers a better starting point. To reach Frank Seaman Park from US 35, take Old US 35 east for 0.4 mile. Turn right onto Quarry Road; after 0.8 mile turn left onto Cottonville Road. Just 0.2 mile down the road look for Greenview High School on the left. Frank Seaman Park and the trailhead are accessed by going through the high school parking lot and turning right.
Having ridden this trail in mid-August, I'd like to share a few comments.
Tanger Outlets ( formally Prime Outlets ) in Jeffersonville Ohio is about 3 miles from the eastern most end of the trail. As that end is closest to my house, I dropped off the ...