Explore the best rated trails in Independence, KY. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Great-Little Trail and Lebanon Countryside YMCA Trail. With more than 24 trails covering 527 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.
The trail is crushed stone. Well maintained. It was a little soft in Feb but I was told by a frequent rider that it is very hard later in the year. Very pretty surroundings as it follows the canal and Whitewater railroad line.
I love this Trail close to my home, wonderful way of getting from Metamora to Laurel and also some great places to see awesome history and in Laurel you can get something to eat at the local restaurants.
Overview:
• If you are a gravel enthusiast, you will be very disappointed as the OTET is 92% either paved or concrete.
• I would not attempt to experience the OTET without GPS guidance {bike computer or 3rd party software on a smartphone {i.e. Ride with GPS} or you will experience navigation set backs on your adventure.
• Areas that are crushed limestone/chert have a sparse covering and could be messy after a rain as there was plenty of exposed hard packed dirt due to a lack of limestone/chert covering.
Cleveland to Massillon 5 October 2022 ~ 70 miles
• Trails Experienced:
o Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail
• Beautiful views of the Cayuga river and Canal tow path with some locks in remarkable condition.
• Detour at the city limits of Massillon and as we arrived at end of the workday and the transition through was met with heavy traffic. You will need to make the downtown transition to rejoin the OTET on the Southside of Massillon.
Massillon to Mount Vernon 6 October 2022 ~ 80 miles
• Trails Experienced:
o Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail
o Sippo Valley Trail (10 Mile)
o Holmes County Trail (23 Mile)
o Kokosing Gap Trail (13.5 Mile)
• Expect rural road riding (20+ mile) through Mennonite/Amish communities from Dalton to Fredericksburg. This transition was well marked at every turn and you can see an example in the photo section for this trail.
Mount Vernon to Columbus 7 October 2022 ~ 52 miles
• Trails Experienced:
o Heart of Ohio Trail (17 Mile)
o Alum Creek Trail (25.2 Mile)
Columbus to Xenia 8 October 2022 ~ 60 miles
• Trails Experienced:
o Camp Chase Trail (15.9 Miles)
o Robert’s Pass Trail (6.5 Miles)
o Prairie Grass Trail (29.2 Miles
Xenia to Cincinnati 9 October 2022 ~ 70 miles
• Trails Experienced:
o Little Miami Scenic Trail (78.1 Miles)
o Armleder-Lunken Connector Trail (1.0 mile)
o Lunken Bike Path (5.0 Miles)
o Ohio River Trail (7.6 Miles)
• There is a detour on the Little Miami Scenic Trail halfway to Cincinnati near Kings Mill Bike Trail Access. After talking to some local runners on the Trail, they highly recommend not taking the detour due to road safety for cyclists. You can safely and easily make it through the detour and once you make it to the construction area with the buildings, head to the Cartridge Brewery and on the backside of it you can rejoin the trail.
Beechmont levy bridge is completed
Trail is now 1.15 miles in length with easy access at both ends and in the middle. Short length but pleasant ride.
Long review for a long trail. This is my favorite trail by far in the area. I broke this trail up and completed it in sections starting from Piqua. There are plenty of restrooms and parking. Mostly shaded and cool because it runs along the river. Once you get to downtown Dayton there are several connectors to other trails along with a concession stand near riverscape if you want a quick bite to eat.
Very well maintained. Somewhat scenic. Steep hills in both directions. Very little shade, I saved this trail for a cloudy day and I’m glad I did. It was an awesome workout.
Great diverse scenery, for the most part smooth, well-kept, asphalt pavement but there are a number of intersections that are nor clearly marked as to which direction to go. My brother and I rode from Franklin to Piqua and there is a split in Dayton you have to watch for otherwise you'll go down the Mad River trail. The next area where there were a number of intersections that were not clearly marked was when you got close to Troy. There was one intersection where you had to make a 90 degree turn after crossing a bridge that was very poorly marked. There should be clear consistent arrows at each intersection indicating the direction the main trail continues. It was too easy at many of these to go the wrong way and find out a mile later you better turn around and go back.
We ride this trail very often from Corwin to Yellow Springs and love this portion of the Trail. We went North of Yellow Springs for the 1st time this past weekend heading to Urbana. for the 1st time we felt unsafe on the trails in Springfield. We have been on 100's of miles of the trails all over Dayton, Troy, Miamisburg, Piqua, Loveland, Morrow, Beavercreek, Xenia. I have never feared being on the path with my husband. This was the 1st time we made it a point to turn around before getting to our planned stopping point to be sure we had the energy to keep a steady pace to get back through an area without slowing or stopping. homeless, graffiti, glass on trail, we love riding but will not go on this portion of trail again. I want to be clear it was only the Springfield area. If going North of Yellow Springs I would stop at I believe it was called Beatty Park, skip Springfield and hope back on at a different time north of Springfield. I will Note that we never passed any other bike riders in this area in either direction, which we have never encountered being completely alone for a few miles.
Scary sections of the trail. My husband and I road the trail starting in Corwin to Springfield. Several sections of the trail we went thru were questionable areas. On more then one occasion we were harassed by random homeless people. This can be very scary when out on the trail in the middle of nowhere . I recommend taking some sort of protection with you. I don’t know about the other sections of the trail but we will not be riding these parts ever again. Also, large sections of the trail were overgrown with lots of sticks and brush on the trail. I did not feel safe riding this trail
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
