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The Western Fayette Bike Path is an 3 mile extension of the Xenia-Jamestown Connector. It extends the Xenia-Jamestown Connector eastward from the Greene County/Fayette County border to Water Street in the village of Octa, Ohio.
The trail surface of this trail extension was in great condition considering that it is just a few years old. You cross over 3 roads on your way to Octa. None of them are heavily travelled, but there are trail stop signs at every crossing. The trail passes through a tunnel underneath Interstate 71 before reaching Octa. The trail dead ends into a picnic shelter on the other side of Water Street. This shelter appears to have been built on what was once the Octa train depot.
The importance of the Western Fayette Bike Path is that it expands the reach of Miami Valley Trail Network by connecting Fayette County to the Greene County Xenia Station Trail Hub (4 different trails). It has removed one of the major trail connectivity obstacles by tunneling under Interstate 71. More importantly, the possibility of extending this trail from Octa into Washington Court House, Ohio would create a great multi-day regional trail by connecting to the Xenia-Jamestown Connector to 35 mile long Paint Creek Recreation Trail.
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.
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.
We rode the roughly 30 miles from Fredericksburg to Killbuck and back. Paved trail with some nice views and lots of shaded areas. It’s a shared trail with horse/buggies and there are a lot of Amish on E-bikes pulling carts but the path is very wide. My only complaints are the bumps in some areas and the need to constantly dodge horse manure.
The lower section below rock cut rd is now paved to Ellis Dam. There is also a section in town that goes by the river, it isn’t highlighted on the map, but the name is there if you zoom in.
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.
Holmes County trail has recently been extended an extra 4 miles from the Glenmont trailhead. Killbuck trailhead is now approximately a 3 mile highway ride from the end of this new addition.
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.
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