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I rode the Armleder-Lunken Connector Trail in Otto Armleder Park in Cincinnati, Ohio as part of my southbound Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET) route ride. Officially, this trail is not recognized as one of the trails of the OTET route, but I would recommend it to all who are attempting to ride the Ohio to Erie Trail as it avoids a dangerous traffic circle near Lunken Airport. Having ridden the OTET twice before, I consider Beechmont Circle a dangerous intersection for all cyclists because this traffic circle has a number of buildings and trees in its center which block a driver's view of what is up ahead/around the corner in the circle. Combine these blind curves with fairly high speeds within the circle and the interchange can be hazardous to cyclists. Therefore, I have sought out a way to avoid this intersection all together. My solution is to connect to the Lunken Airport Bike Path or Wooster Road/Wooster Pike (depending on your direction of travel) by using the Airport Connector Trail between Lunken Airport and Armleder Park. If you take this trail you avoid Beechmont Circle completely.
I've ridden the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET) three times; first in July of 2013, again in May 2016, and most recently in October of 2019. It is interesting to note the progress that has been made in filling in the on-road gaps in the trail between each ride. However, it is frustrating to witness the glacial pace at which this trail is being completed.
Currently, the largest on-road gaps in the OTET exist between the end of the Sippo Valley Trail in Dalton and the beginning of the Holmes County Trail in Fredericksburg; between Killbuck and Glenmont on the Holmes County Trail, and between the end of the Heart of Ohio Trail southwest of Centerburg and the beginning of the Sandel Legacy Trail in Sunbury. There are a few smaller gaps in the OTET among which include, the bike lane in the Ohio River Trail in Cincinnati, the missing bridge over Little Miami River at the end of the Little Miami Scenic Trail needed to connect to the Lunken Airport Bike Path and a less than 1 mile gap between the Prairie Grass Trail and the Roberts Pass Trail in London.
The Ohio to Erie Trail is a paved trail except for the portion of the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail that runs through northeast Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is unlikely that the National Park Service will pave this portion of the trail due to the canal's historical significance in developing the Ohio territory and helping to expand our nation from the original 13 colonies.
This trail links the three C's of Ohio -- Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. These are Ohio's 3 largest cities. In between you will encounter a variety of cities and towns; rivers, wetlands, and forests; industrial, commercial, and agricultural areas; and different types of topographies. This variety makes the Ohio to Erie Trail unique when compared to the nation's other long-distance trails.
It is important to understand that the OTET is still a work in progress. While some locations have embraced being a part of the trail, others seem to have completely ignored it. Communities that embrace the trail offer bike friendly establishments whether they be bike shops, hotels, Bnb's, restaurants, or trailheads. There just are not enough of them. The state of Ohio should be looking into promoting such businesses along the trail. One thing that is certainly needed are more official, recognized campsites along the trail. Whereas riders of C&O/GAP Trail, or Missouri's Katy Trail can expect to see a campsite roughly every 8 to 12 miles, the OTET has some areas where such campsites are 60 miles apart. Such distances don't make the trail appealing those that would prefer to camp. It also doesn't give riders much wiggle room in their itineraries to explore around the trail or deal with the unexpected such as a flat tire. Perhaps more campsites and other amenities will become a priority once the trail is fully completed.
My complaints are not intended to be a trashing of this trail but rather constructive criticism designed to help improve this into one of America's great trails. With the Rails to Trails Conservancy designating much of the OTET as part of its route for the Great American Rail-Trail through Ohio, I'm hoping that improvement and completion of the trail will become more of a state priority. If you are considering riding the Ohio to Erie Trail, don't hesitate. It is worth every pedal stroke.
On October 7th, after over 300 miles of pedaling across Ohio, I reached the final trail of my southbound journey on the Ohio to Erie Trail route. I started on the Ohio River Trail (Ohio version) at the Lunken Airport Terminal. Only 5.5 more miles to downtown Cincinnati and I would be able to dip my tires in the waters of the Ohio River and call this trip finished and a success.
The trail runs along US-52 (the Ohio River Scenic Byway) sometimes on side next to the river, sometimes on the side away from the river and for about a 2.5 miles as a bike lane on US-52. You really don't get to see much of the Ohio River until you cross the US-52 and ride into Turkey Ridge Park in the Columbia-Tusculum neighborhood of Cincinnati. Here you ride a trail that skirts the rivers edge while passing by Riverview East Academy. Immediately afterword you ride into the Ohio River Edge Launch Club where you can ride down to the water and dip your tires in the Ohio River at this boat launch. I had a different river access point in mind so I continued toward downtown.
Further on you return to US-52 where you will ride a well-defined bike lane on both sides of US-52 for the next 2.5 miles. Riding along this bike lane I noticed how this once empty stretch along the river had changed since I last rode on this bikeway 3 years ago. There have been many new riverview condos or townhouses built along this stretch. So much so that there is a lot fewer panoramic views of the Ohio River and downtown Cincinnati than previously. When you reach The International Friendship Park the bike lane ends and you will re-cross US-52 (now Riverside Dr.) and enter the Park. From here you will follow a Bike Path all the way to the riverfront downtown. On nice days and weekends this area can be quite crowded. On this cloudy, overcast Monday, the Riverfront was nearly empty. You will pass under several large bridges that span the river on your way to the downtown riverfront.
When you reach Yeatman's Cove and Sawyer Point Park you are pretty much done with the trail. You will reach the Newport Southbank Bridge (or Purple People Bridge) and can choose to ride over to Newport, Kentucky on this pedestrian and bicycle bridge and get some wonderful views of the Cincinnati skyline. If you continue traveling west you will reach the arena, (until recently named US Bank Arena), where a parking lot slopes into the waters of the Ohio River. This is where I go to dip my tires in the river.
The Ohio River Trail continues to travel west for another mile or so past the Great American Ballpark (home of MLB's Cincinnati Reds) and Paul Brown Stadium (home of the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals). Check out the bars and restaurants in the area known as the Banks located between the two stadiums. There is also a park area on the banks of the Ohio River between the two ballparks. The trail ends just a little past Paul Brown Stadium when the trail passes under the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge.
The Lunken Airport Bike Path is a 5 mile loop that essentially runs the perimeter of the airport. The path is flat except for two short climbs onto the levees that protect the airport from floods of both the Ohio and Little Miami Rivers. For those of you that are thinking about riding the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET), I have found that connecting to Otto Armleder Park through the Airport Connnector Trail is a much safer way to go than the on-road route suggested for the OTET to get from Lunken Airport to the Village of Marimont as it will help you avoid what I found to be a very troublesome Beechmont Circle interchange. This may add a few extra miles to your trip, but I have found that I do not enjoy negotiating this traffic circle with its driver blind spots.
If you are travelling southbound on the OTET I would say to use the Airport Connector Trail out of Armleder Park and connect to The Lunken Airport Bike Path that parallels the Little Miami River. This will parallel the airport's longest runway and take you the Ohio River Trail. Turn right and cycle to the Lunken Airport Terminal in order to pick up the Ohio River Trail.
For northbound OTET riders, I suggest following the Lunken Airport Bike Path along Wilmer Avenue toward Lunken Playfield, then take the part of the Lunken Airport Bike Path that crosses through the Reeves Golf Course at the end of the runway. Once through the golf course, climb the short steep hill onto the flood levee, and turn left onto the Lunken Airport Connector Trail in order to reach Otto Armleder Park and avoid Beechmont Circle.
Currently, there are plans for the OTET to connect directly to Little Miami River Trail by a bike and pedestrian bridge connected to OH-125 (Beechmont Ave.) so that OTET riders will be able to avoid riding along the very busy Columbia Parkway (US Rte. 50) in Mariemont. This bridge's construction is supposed to start in 2020 and be completed by 2021. If you are going to ride the OTET sooner than this I suggest that this is definitely an area you want to look at in Google Maps.
On October 7th, I rode the Airport Connector Bike Path in Otto Armleder Park in Cincinnati, Ohio as part of my southbound Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET) route ride. Officially, this trail is not recognized as one of the trails of the OTET route, but I would recommend it to all who are attempting to ride the Ohio to Erie Trail as it avoids a dangerous traffic circle near Lunken Airport. Having ridden the OTET twice before, I consider Beechmont Circle a dangerous intersection for all cyclists because this traffic circle has a number of buildings and trees in its center which block a driver's view of what is up ahead and around the corner in the circle. Combine these blind curves with fairly high speeds within the circle and the interchange can be hazardous to cyclists. Therefore, I have sought out a way to avoid this intersection all together. My solution is to connect to the Lunken Airport Bike Path or Wooster Road/Wooster Pike (depending on your direction of travel) by using the Airport Connector Trail between Lunken Airport and Armleder Park. If you take this trail you avoid Beechmont Circle completely. This route suggestion of mine should be a temporary route detour. A bridge crossing the Little Miami River to the Lunken Airport Bike Path has been in the works for quite some time. At present, the bridge design is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019, with construction starting in 2020, and completion by 2021. Let's hope that this timeline can be maintained.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail (LMST) is one of my favorite trails in Ohio. It has length (78 miles), scenery, wildlife, trail towns, amenities, lodging, camping, dining and shade. I've ridden this trail numerous times but this is my first review of the trail. I consider my home trail to be the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail that runs through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Little Miami Scenic Trail probably should be considered my home away from home trail as it is so close to where my daughter lives. During my 2019 Ohio to Erie Trail ride, I rode the LMST from Xenia to Loveland and from Loveland to Avoca Park before having to road ride to get to Lunken Airport and the trail that circles the airfield there.
I rode part of the Simon Kenton Trail from Buck Creek into Springfield, Ohio back in July. The northern part of the LMST travels through Springfield and on to Yellow Springs before moving on to Xenia. Since this trail runs through both cities, farm land and the Little Miami Valley, there is quite a variety of scenery to look at. The city and towns vary as well. The trail towns range from some that have seen better days, to others that seem to be very trendy, and some that appear to be stuck in time. There is something for everyone along this trail. You won't be disappointed when riding this trail. Yellow Springs and Loveland are towns with restored train stations and dining and other amenities.
The trail surface is asphalt and is in very good condition with just a few spots where river bank slippage has caused some undermining of the riverside edge of the trail. The trail has numerous road crossings but once you get out of the larger cities you can ride for miles before having to cross another road. South of Xenia, because the trail parallels the Little Miami River in the narrow Little Miami Valley you feel as though you are in a much more isolated area than you truly are. There is plenty of wildlife. One of the highlights of my ride south from Xenia this time was having 3 deer cross the trail in front of me and ran down into a gulley that paralleled the trail only to race me along the trail route for about half a mile. My one complaint about the trail is this. The Little Miami River has been designated a National Scenic River. However, that designation must only apply if you are canoeing or kayaking on the river. From the trail you rarely get an unobstructed view of the river. Sometimes I think to myself, "Would it hurt to cut down a few trees here and there to let users of the trail enjoy the sights of the river, too?"
South of Loveland, the trail continues following the Little Miami River through Miamiville and Milford before reaching Avoca Park outside of Mariemont, Ohio. Once you reach Newtown Road you will have to ride out of the park and cross US-50 and ride through Mariemont to Wooster Pike before trying to connect to the Lunken Airport Bike Path. I should note that the Little Miami Trail does not end at Newtown Road. It actually passes under a bridge there and then goes across the Little Miami River and heads toward Lunken Airport. The problem is that the bridge that is supposed to be built over the Little Miami River to connect to the Lunken Airport Bike Path has not been built yet. I read about bridge construction of this bridge would start this summer, but there is absolutely no sign as to when this will happen. When this bridge is built the trail near Mariemont will be shorter and safer.
Most of the trail is nice with the beauty of nature, flat pavement, fun tunnels and bridges. All that is nice for the family. But it would be better if it were all connected without having to go on the road. That part scared my 9 year old. Otherwise, It was nice to get ice cream in Aurora and there’s a strongs pizza right by the lawrenceburg trailhead. And parking is free and plentiful.
Perfect trail for the family. We have two teens and a 9 year old. Great trail for their ages. Playground, UDF Ice cream at the trailhead, Galley restaurant, bathrooms, flat paved surface, safe...all around great.
Lovely trail to combine Lunken and the connector trail. Made for a nice ride. Lots of wooly worms, grasshoppers and the fall colors were plentiful. The scarecrow display added to the fun.
You can now go straight through S Springfield to downtown without getting off the trail. Then only 1.1 block N to the Simon Kenton trail that heads east from there. (Note the SKT is trail for 2 blocks, then has a 2 block on Washington St then finally stays trail as it turns northbound.)
Nice trail, the small section I was able to ride today (thus 4 stars) - but sadly missing alerts that it's currently mostly closed due to roadwork!! (Thus only 4 stars).
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