Find the top rated hiking trails in Independence, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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I drive 7 hours to cycle this trail. Typically start in Xenia, but have started in other towns. Loveland is also a favorite. This trail is one of my absolute favorites. Great surface, plenty of places to stop for breaks.
I rode the section from Dayton to Troy and back on a 90+ degree day. It is a beautiful trail that is well signed, in a good condition, and has a fair amount of shade. There were some rough patches of asphalt near Troy but otherwise it was in excellent condition.
Like most urban trails the two parts of the Mill Creek Greenway seemed to have started out well when new, but succumbed to neglect and lack of planning and resources. The northern section was the worse of the two. Signs have been tagged with graffiti and plants and shrubs along the trail need to be cut back in spots. The southern section was in better shape as the Salway Park was not as isolated as the Caldwell Playground Park in the northern section. Both sections suffered from a lack of directional signage as it was not clear that the path picked up on the other side of a bridge over Mill Creek in the north section and in the south the trail seems to dead end into a commercial building but continued on the other side of that building.
If you lived in these Cincinnati neighborhoods checking out and riding this trail may be worthwhile if you live nearby. Otherwise don't go out of your way. It is hard to see the gap between the two sections being bridged by additional trail considering that the trail runs along the creek and much of the break in between the two sections is filled with commercial and industrial properties that are unlikely to give an easement to connect both parts to each other.
I think that the citizens of Lebanon enjoy this trail as it is well maintained and connects the community to both the YMCA and the nearby destination trail on the Little Miami Scenic River. If you are connecting to this trail from the LMSRT then you will have a much longer ride as the closest trailheads in either direction are approximately 6 and 8 additional miles away. As mentioned by others there are a couple of challenging hills to climb on this trail. In addition, there is not much shade on this trail so riding in the middle of the day, during the middle of the summer means you're going to bake. Sunscreen a must on a sunny day.
I spent the week riding this trail. I think the best section was the 20 miles from Oregonia to Xenia. I parked at the diner in Oregonia. I only passed a few joggers and cyclists on the trail the Friday morning I rode. There were fewer street crossings compared with the more southern part of the trail. The trail itself temporarily disappears briefly in Xenia. However, it was fairly easy to navigate around Xenia to find a coffee shop on Main St. (and Detroit St.). The ride back (South) was definitely easier as I perceived a very slightly downward grade. Kenneth Haft, Glen Allen, VA
I started at the Hamilton Township Park ( old 3c highway adjacent to Monkey Bar and Grill ). There is parking and fairly decent bathroom facilities. On day one, I rode 18 miles to Oregonia. The trail is in excellent shape and going north, the Little Miami River was nearly always visible on my right. There were a few walkers/joggers that did hinder my 16 mph progress. There were a few rural but trafficked streets to cross over. There were several deer along the trail and many rabbits. The restaurant in Oregonia was not open Monday at 8:30am, but there were nice rocking chairs on the porch.
I’ve been riding the Little Miami trail for 20 years. Well-maintained and scenic, it’s popular here in the Cincinnati area and beyond. One note for new riders - the route running between Milford and Loveland can be congested on weekends and holidays during the warmer months; if you are looking to hammer some fast miles tread carefully. Loveland in particular can be extremely crowded on weekends and the town hosts a farmer’s market every Tuesday evening which can lead to people walking back and forth across the trail. Montgomery Cyclery is located right on the trail in Loveland so any last minute tools, food - even a new bike - can be found there. Did I mention the trail side bars and restaurants? Check it out.
The volunteers do a good job of managing the trail, thank you to the reviewer who helps keep the trail maintained. Yes, after a storm, there will be branches and leaves, but it's all part of the experience.
I am one of those riders who uses headphones while I ride. I do not turn my music up loudly, and can clearly hear if someone calls out to pass. They also come out of my ears when crossing a road. I also call out when passing. Only thing is, maybe 50% of folks actually tell you they're passing.
I've ridden the entire trail, not all at once though. My favorite ride is Spring Valley - Corwin - Spring Valley - Xenia
Grateful to have this gem in my county. We utilize this entire trail for walking & biking whenever the weather allows.
I rode this section of the trail north in August 2017. Like the rest of the trail it is well-maintained and signed. The Middletown section is the most industrial portion of the trail. There is a 1.5 mile gap between where the trail ends north of Middletown and where it picks up again just south of Franklin, Ohio. This gap can be bridged by riding the shoulder of Route 73 until you reach Baxter Road. Route 73 is a divided roadway so the cars and trucks are traveling at high speed. Fortunately, the shoulder is pretty wide and the distance can be covered in 10-15 minutes. Once you are back on the trail heading north, you pass through the cities/towns of Franklin, Miamisburg, and West Carrolton before reaching Dayton and the UD campus. Like much of this trail the towns and cities nearby embrace the trail and cater to cyclists. This section of the trail is the least shaded of all, so those with fair skin definitely should lather up with sunscreen. You might also want to consider the temperature forecast before riding this section as it was pretty hot during my August ride.
This is a great trail. The surface is in good shape and the route is well signed. Despite traveling through the suburban/urban setting of the Great Miami River watershed much of this ride feels as though you are in a park like setting. Worth checking out more than once.
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