Moonville Rail Trail :
Ohio
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Description:
The Moonville Rail Trail is a 16-mile trail that utilizes the former Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad that began service in the 1850s. This railroad provided only industrial service, never carrying passengers because of its proximity to the Red Diamond Dynamite plant.




This rail-trail will take visitors through beautiful southeast Ohio forest lands including Zaleski State Forest; the communities of Zaleski and Mineral; past New Marshfield School, which ceased operation in 2004, after more than 100 years of continuous use, and Lake Hope wetland areas. The corridor holds water on both sides of the trail creating a wetland area that is home to numerous species of flora and fauna. Additional points of interest along this trail are two unique and historic tunnels. King Switch Tunnel is a 120-foot structure carved through the rock and lined by a series of 12x12 wooden beams. The Moonville Tunnel is brick lined and thought by some to be haunted.




Currently, 10 miles of ballast surfaced trail, perfect for horses or walkers and hikers, are available from Lake Hope School to the Moonville Tunnel. Future plans are for the trail to extend approximately eight miles to the east and link with the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway in Athens. To the west the trail will eventually extend to the Jackson County line.




To reach parking and trail access at Lake Hope School take State Route 278 to Lake Hope Dam. Turn east on to Wheelabout Road and continue approximately half a mile to the school.
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Status of Moonville Rail-Trail
By jaknouse in March, 2009
The Moonville Rail-Trail right-of-way is owned in part by Vinton County, Ohio Commissioners, and by Athens County, Ohio Commissioners. The trail is passable but there are overgrown stretches and many water crossings with no bridges. The governing organization is trying hard to find funding to build new bridges to make the trail continuously usable in all seasons. The website is:

http://www.moonvillerailtrail.com
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