Find the top rated birding trails in Urbana, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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From Eureka Ave to Hollywood Casino don’t ride alone, be cautious of trail hazards. I encountered between 10 & 15 individuals sitting on and around the trail using heavy narcotics, ‘on the nod’, plus two girls between 8 & 10 yrs of age sitting on the trail smoking weed. On my return I rounded a curve at high speed and almost collided with a car in mid path with its trunk open and two women standing at the trunk. A bike was laying across the path as well blocking all pavement. So much garbage, shopping carts, and scrap metal in the path. My co-rider hit something they didn’t see that sliced his tire. So many homeless camps along the path. Definitely not the 5 star, pretty ride described in the comments. I would ride the rest of the trail again but will never again ride between Eureka Ave. and Hollywood Casino.
This "trail" is made up of many smaller trails and some of it is on roads. Do as much research on this as you can before your trip!
I rode an out-and-back ride on the OgdenTrail/Elizabeth J. Looney Trail located in Wilmington, Ohio. This 3.34 mile-long rail trail is also identified as simply the Ogden Trail or the Elizabeth J. Looney Trail, and on a posted map of Wilmington Trails it was named the Elizabeth J. Looney Ogden Trail.
The trail is built on an old Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad Line which was later operated by the Pennsylvania RR, the Penn Central RR, and Conrail during different times of its operational history.
The Ogden Trail/Elizabeth J. Looney Trail connects to one end of the Luther Warren Peace Path at South Nelson Avenue and runs southwest until it reaches Ogden Road, where it presently ends. This is a nice trail; probably the best trail in the Wilmington trail network. The pavement is in great shape because it is new. The trail travels along Lytle Creek and crosses over it four times over its 3.34 miles. When you start your ride at South Nelson Avenue, you’ll quickly pass by the Wilmington Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Wilmington Landfill. After 6/10ths of a mile you are out of the city. For the remainder of the ride, the landscape along the trail toggles between wooded areas and farmland. On this particular weekday afternoon I encountered only two runners out using the trail – no cyclists. I imagine that you would likely encounter more users on the trail during the weekend. This was a peaceful ride and different from some of the other trails in the developing Wilmington trail network. If you live outside of the Wilmington area and you are considering coming to Wilmington just to ride this particular trail, I don't think that the trail is long enough to make your trip worthwhile. If you are coming to ride all or most of the trails in the city’s trail network, then that would be a more rewarding endeavor.
We parked at the Newell Recreation Preserve on County Line Road and biked to Sunbury. Most of the trail is un-shaded as it travels through open farmlands. There are a few sections of the trail that travels through wooded areas offering shade. Trail surface asphalt paved in very good condition. Well maintained, the grass was cut along the trail. This trail connects seamlessly with the Heart of Ohio Trail for an addition 16 miles into Mount Vernon. Trailhead at Newell Recreation Preserve is a gravel lot, zero shade, no benches or anywhere to picnic (have a lunch/snack). Sits up high, like a wind tunnel anyhow.
We traveled over 4 hours to the Xenia area to ride this trail. We biked from Xenia Hub to Octa and back for just under a 40-mile round trip. Not real good signage from the Hub to this trail but we biked around until we found it! The trail is in very good condition, asphalt paved. The parks / county does a good job keeping the grass along the trail mowed. The trail is about half shaded and half open farmlands. We stopped in Jamestown for lunch at a Pub in town. There is a short paved path from the bike trail into Jamestown. Not much signage along the trail. Found nice restrooms at Caesar Ford campground between Xenia and Jamestown. At the Octa end we continued through the tiny one-block town and saw where it appears they are working on extending the trail East.
We stayed in Yellow Springs. Very quaint small town. Variety of restaurants and main street lined with shops. We biked from Yellow Springs to Springfield and back. Approx 20 mile round trip. The trail was well shaded and beyond the trees along the trail were farmlands and rural area. A few road crossings. Paved trail surface in very good condition and the grass was mowed along the trail. June, 2026.
The trail from Verona to trotwood was in great shape, appropriately marked, clean and no problems. Totwood South was problematic I decided not to take that today. A very nice ride with lots of things to see or stop.
My husband and I intended to ride from JR Smith Park this morning, but the park and its parking lot are CLOSED due to construction. We shifted northeast to the next available trailhead with parking at Newell Recreation Preserve to begin our ride. It was a beautiful day for a ride on the HOOT section of the OTET!
Discovered this comfortable place with great accommodations for two bike travelers. They offer a pullout sofa if you do not wish to share a bed. Indoor bike storage with a comfy bed and a hot shower! Distillery right next-door and two restaurants to fuel up in the morning to get back on the trail. Close to the panhandle of West Virginia. Their name is Harmony Trail Haven on Airbnb.
I only recommend the 2 1/2 mile section from the Great Miami Trail to the Medler Conservation Area. There is a climb made somewhat easier by the switchbacks but the scenery is worth the effort. You will pass through woods and meadows. Medler offers a nice place to rest and refresh. Coming back down is a blast. We add this trail on to our ride from Franklin to Miamisburg.
Not many scenic trails of this length have a great brewery, literally on trail, at the midpoint (Austin OH). The trail runs from Chillicothe to Washington Courthouse. There is a little urban clutter/noise at either end but other than that it’s a peaceful, beautiful ride. Lots of shade. You’ll never be in the sun for long stretches. That’s all the good news. The bad news is the trail is completely closed for repairs 9 miles out of Chillicothe and also closed, for the same, about 10 miles out of Washington Courthouse. The construction sites are impassable, and there are no official detours. The whole trail needs repaved but the WCH side is particularly bad. Could be a 5 star with the proper attention.
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