Explore the best rated trails in Gallipolis, OH, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Elk River Trail (Coonskin Park) and Moonville Rail Trail . With more than 9 trails covering 132 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I rode this 72 mile trail from east to west (gradual downhill grade) with 3 of my girlfriends. It was quite thick gravel but the downhill grade helped keep your momentum up to make it not completely exhausting pushing through the thicker stuff. It will rattle you pretty good and we were glad to come to the end. We went in late September and rode in a 60 degree cold drizzle the whole way. Nice feather in our caps!
During a busy workweek this was my go-to ride. I ride it twice and add some riding around town in order to get at least 10 miles in. There is lots of shade on the trail. I would have two points of caution: The deer are heavy. I’ve had several cross in front of me and sustained a minor injury when I had to slam on my brakes. Secondly, there is a lack of trail etiquette from pedestrians. I put a bell on my bike but it hasn’t helped. Use caution on this trail, especially when crossing Route 93.
This trail has potential for some serious greatness, but it needs some work. It’s very secluded and peaceful with some beautiful scenery and it’s highlighted by the Moonville and kings hollow tunnels which are fantastic to ride through. The trail from Mineral on pass the Moonville tunnel is crushed stone and not so bad to ride on. Once you go through Moonville and keep heading west towards Zalensky though, there is a bridge out & it abruptly ends. I drove over to Zalenski and rode the other half of the trail, which is all grass, and not really all that great. If this trail was paved and all connected & a little longer, it would be one of the best, but… It still needs a lil work.
This trail is not bad but it could be so much better. It’s not in the best condition and the section from Bidwell to Kerr was completely unkept & unridable as far as I could tell. If they could fix that section and have it connect to the main trail and then somehow add some more trail along the river front, this would be a five star trail.
We started at the Nelsonville trail head and rode south. We had no idea how beautiful the path was. The path was well maintained and there were several porta-potties along the way. We were getting ready to turn around when we stumbled upon Eclipse Company Tap Room on the path. An appetizer and a few cold ones and we were back on the path. What a hidden gem. We will be back! had a few cold
We rode from Nelsonville to Athens on June 1, 2023. It was a beautiful day and we stayed at the Hocking Tec Lodge. We just got on the trail and saw a turtle. My husband put it over in the grass. It had been several years since we rode this trail. That evening we ate at Sonic and my husband had a sparrow land on his head while he was eating a hamburger. We will remember this great trip.
We started in Cairo and went to Ellenboro (about 8 miles), such a lovely peaceful ride. We went through 3 tunnels, there is a 4th tunnel but you must have to verve off the path some. We have 4 little kiddos with us and they all did great! They also replaced some of the bridges since the last time, they look so good.
I have been walking and biking sections of the North Bend Rail Trail since at least 2013- over 10+ years as of this review (May 2023). I am very impressed at all of the improvements. Today I walked from the historic Salem Depot around mile marker 65 to the Tunnel around mile marker 68. Salem had paved their trail within city limits. It is smooth and wonderful! Past Salem, heading towards Wolf Summit, the current Eastern end of the trail, it is gravel. Bring a light for the tunnel!
I parked at the west end riding a touring/gravel bike with panniers on 700x38s. This is really a trail best suited for horses, mountain bikes, and fat bikes. It starts out with nice farms and is very quiet, tree-lined with multiple stream crossings. very pretty and well maintained. The state park (first place for water east-bound) was a nice place to stay with showers, camp store, nice campsites. There is a beautiful shelter that overlooks a river/stream on the trail, at the east end of the tunnel that's immediately east of the SP. Somewhere east of there, and definitely at the Dodges /Ritchie county line, the trail has been a bit neglected. There is chunky rock with deep loose gravel piles, occasional double track, and at each road crossing gate it's a real challenge to pass through with panniers. Expect to walk the underpass for Dodges county park. It's super slippery with moss, mud, and grass, then the trail stops... with no further direction. I saw a HWY sign and headed down the road to a no-vehicles gravel road that looks like the trail. Yep, good choice. But then the sign sends you pushing up a steep, muddy, rocky 4wheel drive road. The arrows on the sign need to be adjusted, or place the sign better. Go left at the sign toward the river and it'll bring you into the campground, also across more loose gravel, deep asphalt piles, and mud. The campground is nothing fancy, but there is a shower.
CAUTION! -- GRAVEL! -- In April 2023 I started from Wolf Summit and headed west on this trail, expecting crushed stone like the GAP or Mon System. This was not the case --- it is GRAVEL. I had 1.5-inch hybrid tires with a mild tread and I was getting bounced around like a carnival ride. I went about a mile and turned around and abandoned the idea of this trail. I went up I-79 a few miles and rode the Mon System instead, which is crushed stone, almost like asphalt. At least for the Wolf Summit area, you need a fat tire bike for the North Bend, or at least some really serious mountain bike tires. Maybe it will smooth out over the years, but for now this is the case.
Rode from Nelsonville south about 7 miles south and back September 14, 2022. It was a beautiful day on a great trail. Would love to go back and ride the other end.
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