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I rode both portions on a beautiful spring day. The surface on the gravel trail varies from crushed gravel, packed dirt and larger gravel stones. Your experience may vary depending on your tire size and bike, when it was last groomed, and any past nasty weather. Parts are shaded, but expect most to be in the sun, depending on the time of day of course. The northern portion was flat to rolling hills, but (I felt) it would be doable by most riders. The scenery of the lakes in the northern portion was great. The maps were helpful. The southern portion was flatter. I'm glad I saw the bison. I tried to imagine horses on the track as I pedaled along side it. I put in 20 miles doing both sections.
This trail is good for local people and college students and staff to get to various places close to the Ohio Wesleyan University. A few people were using it at mid-day on a Wednesday during April. It was in fairly good condition. Warning lights help with street crossings. I parked in the lot off of S Liberty St and then biked in both directions.
The last time I rode this trail was in July of 2018. The ultimate goal of this developing trail is to connect the county seats of Clinton County (Wilmington, OH) and Fayette County (Washington Court House, OH). In 2018, the trail consisted only of what I would now call the southwest section of the trail. It ran, and still runs, from North Borum Road in Sabina, Ohio to Melvin Road in Melvin, an unincorporated community in Richland Township, Clinton County, Ohio. In 2018, the trail was paved only from the Sabina water tower to Reesville. Today, this southwest section of the trail is completely paved.) In addition, there is now an additional section of trail near Washington Court House, Ohio which I am identifying as the northeast section of the trail. This section runs from Jamison Rd NW to Bush Rd NW outside of Washington Court House.
While I did not encounter anyone else riding or walking on either section of this trail on the day I rode both of them, it appears that the southwest section of the trail through Sabina seems to get more use. I would attribute this impression due to the condition of the trail surface and addition of trail signage along the southwest section of trail. The northeast section of the trail has numerous places where grass is growing up through cracks in the pavement, indicating that it does not get much use. There is very little that connects the northeast section of the trail to the city of Washington Court House. Currently, there is a gap of about 1.25 miles into Washington Courthouse. Closing this gap would allow users of the popular Paint Creek Recreation Trail to connect to this trail section. There is very little shade along the northeast portion of the Clinton-Fayette Friendship Trail as this runs through corn and soybean fields. Between Sabina and Melvin, the trail is tree lined and the resulting shade provides some relief from the summer sun. If the 4.5 mile gap between Sabina’s N. Borum Rd. and the Washington Court House’s Bush Rd. and the 1.25 mile gap between Jamison Rd. and West Market Street in Washington Court House can be developed then I think the Clinton-Fayette Friendship Trail would get a lot more use. Eventually, the 6.5 mile gap between Melvin and Wilmington would need to be completed to connect the two county seats as intended.
That final section is now paved. This Trail's length helps it be a good start for the new year. Notice, however there is a West Wind that goes the entire length. Most of the time it's not too bad because the overhanging trees break it up.
Pumphouse Rd bridge is out due to repairs. No way to cross Beaver Creek at this time.
Good trail takes you from urban Hilltop District, Columbus to just west of rural Lilly Chapel. Lots to look at along the ride. Crosses several roads along the way where you will need to stop for traffic. Some railroad crossings but they are even. Special call out to stop at Amy's Donuts on Georgesville Road (Amazing and huge selections of donuts, bike parking, right on the bike path, restrooms, great service). Some cautions:
1. I have had to dodge homeless hanging out on the trail and/or their possessions on the trail in the section in Columbus.
2. At Darby Creek Metro Park, there is about 1/2 mile that is rough rock and not paved. If riding a road bike, I advise walking it.
Really love this trail. Mostly shaded and they have ground down the tree roots but could use more road markings and signage at road crossings. The electric bikes and scooters are really becoming a problem.
Next time I will start at Scioto Trails Group Home Area parking Lot and go toward Washington Courthouse. In the woods and quiet, and was a lot more pleasant than along the highway and going into Chillicothe.
I parked at the school close to US 40 and rode the trail out and back in June. It passed farmland on the southern end and residential and businesses on the northern end, crossing several bridges and some streets. The trail was in fairly good shape. There is a bike fix-it station by the historic National Road Station. There are no restroom/port a pots available. I would encourage the park to put at least a port a pot near the southern end, but maybe it has been tried. A good trail for the area and probably a good training trail since there is a high school at each end.
I took the trail during the last week in August, starting at the west end. It was trashy under the first bridge just at the beginning, but otherwise the trail was fine. I didn't have any problem seeing the chain link fence.
Views of the Basket Building are best going west, especially when even with the white-roofed greenhouses. Longaberger Basket closed in 2018 and it is now empty.
I could not find the parking lot on the west end as mentioned when I was on the corner of E Main St and S Morris St. I ended up parking at the St Vincent De Paul Thrift Store with permission. If one is going to do the whole route, there is better and obvious parking about midway at Marne and Licking Valley Rd NE as mentioned by others. There is a bike fix-it station less than a minute's ride from that parking lot at the trail side of the church. This would be a good place for a port a pot, since there are no restrooms along the way. The east end doesn't have parking either where the trail just ends.
There are a couple fast food restaurants and a convenience store off the path a couple miles from the west end. Some are at the bottom of a hill, so keep in mind you have to go back up the hill to get on the trail again.
Overall a good trail for the area.
Drove from Columbus on beautiful Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Rode from Borum rd parking to Melville - it’s only 7.1 miles one way and the last 3/4 miles is grass (not paved). Path is in great condition. Only facility is at Roger park and it’s scary, dark and torn up, unfortunately.
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