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Print Friendly MapThe Equality to Glen O. Jones Lake Bike Trail traverses an area where salt mining figured much in its early history. So did the Ohio River, which lies just 12 miles to the east, down the Saline River. Now it's the nearby Shawnee National Forest that brings many visitors to this area with its natural beauty. The trail begins at the Ohio River Visitors Center, which has considerable interesting information about the area.
The first 1.2 miles of the trail are on village streets and a county roadway. It leaves Equality, crosses the Saline River, and heads out across open farmland for a short distance, before turning onto the rock trailway and returning to follow the river for about 0.7 mile. Once it leaves the river, it alternates between rock trail surface and country roads paved with oil-and-chip, and between farm and woodlands—all the way to the entrance of the Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area and Glen O. Jones Lake. Ever forward on the trail are expansive views of the nearby Eagle Mountains.
Many riders add another beautiful 2.3 miles to this south end of the trail by riding Glen Jones Road around the entire perimeter of the lake. The park traffic is slow and light and makes for a great interlude before heading back to Equality.
From Interstate 57 in Marion, take Exit 54 and turn east onto State Route 13. Proceed 34 miles, through Harrisburg and on to State Route 142. Turn right and proceed 1.4 miles into Equality, to the route's end and the Visitors Center on the left. Parking is on the street.
We started at the Ohio Visitors Center and traveled to Glen O Jones Lake. The signage to turn off the main road to the bike trail is missing and we passed it and had to cut across using another road. This wasn’t a big deal but signage would be nice. The trail was moderately easy following tree lines most of the way. Glen O Jones Lake is beautiful. The trail along the Saline River is beautiful as well. The trail would be best ridden in the Spring and Fall for foliage. After our ride we stopped at a food truck in Jac’s parking lot for a delicious lunch. The drive down through the Shawnee Forest and by Garden of God’s is beautiful. We will take this trail again sometime.
When you go to Equality, you have to go around mealtime. That way you can eat at The Red Onion, a favorite area restaurant right across the street from the trailend there at the Ohio River Visitors Center. Dine then ride. Ride then dine. Either way works fine. The quiet ride through the countryside works well on either end of a good meal.
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