Best Bike Trails Near Centerville, OH

With warm weather and longer days comes new opportunities to explore the outdoors. For cyclists, that means the privilege of seeing wooded landscape, expansive farmland, and serene settings while enjoying the freedom of the wind flowing through your hair. Get the blood rushing through your veins, grab your helmet, and dust off your gear to head out on some well-known, and not-so-well-known bike trails in the area. Read on for our list of the best bike trails near Centerville, Ohio.

John Bryan State Park

Image via Flickr by Zach Dischner

Located in Miami Township, John Bryan State Park offers 752 acres of scenery, a limestone gorge, and Little Miami State and National Scenic River. Beautiful year-round and featuring 10 original trails, a reservable day lodge, and a public rock climbing and rappelling area, the park is a favorite of Centerville locals.

Great for cyclists, there is a 12-mile bike trail with ramps for speed and air, varied terrain to challenge your skills, and immense trees and lush foliage to create a picturesque backdrop for your ride. There are trail segments with mostly level terrain suited for novice bikers, while creek crossings and log jumps provide a challenge for intermediate and advanced cyclists. The Abracadabra Trail and Frankenlite Loop Trail are both nearly 3 miles each and favorites among local mountain bikers.

You’ll find John Bryan State Park at 3790 OH-370 in Yellow Springs. The park opens a half-hour after sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset. For information, call the park office at (937) 322-5284.

Little Miami Scenic Trail

The Little Miami Scenic Trail is 78.1 miles long and has trailheads in both Springfield, and Newton, Ohio. It is the fourth-longest paved trail in the United States, and sees heavy recreational use by hikers, bike riders, and horseback riders alike. The trail runs past Fort Ancient and King’s Island and connects to Creekside Trail, Xenia-Jamestown Connector, Ohio to Erie Trail, and Simon Kenton Trail. With miles of well-shaded trail and two state parks along the route, it is a cyclist’s dream.

Along your journey, consider stopping at the Xenia Station in Xenia, Ohio. Built in 1998, it is a replica of Xenia’s 1880s brick railroad station. The interior houses a local history museum, a classroom and meeting area, and the Hub Lookout, an observation tower.

The Little Miami Scenic Trail wanders along the Little Miami River and can serve as a great starting trail for novice cyclists. It is best to park at Clear Creek Park, where you’ll conveniently find restrooms, picnic areas, and a pavilion.

Great Miami River Trail

The Great Miami River Trail is 93 miles of terrain that hugs the Great Miami River throughout the entire route. Riders on this trail are privy to expansive urban skylines, beautiful river vistas, and challenging terrain. The trail winds near parks, museums, historic downtown areas, picnic and restroom facilities, and rolling natural landscapes. A wonderful route to help you disconnect from daily worries and enjoy nature, the Great Miami River Trail sits at the heart of the paved-trail network and connects to Wolf Creek Trail, Mad River Trail, Stillwater Trail, Ohio-to-Indiana Trail, and Dayton-Kettering Connector.

The passage features 57 continuous miles of pathway between Franklin and Piqua and runs through several towns along the way. Take the opportunity to explore downtown Dayton on your journey. A point of interest for many cyclists on this route is RiverScape MetroPark, home of the Bike Hub. Designed to support bike commuters, the Bike Hub serves as a central location for the regional bikeway network. It is a safe place to lock your bike, take a restroom break, and use a locker room to shower and change. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one of Ohio’s famous sunsets.

Iron Horse Trail

Iron Horse Trail is a short 7-mile rail trail for pedestrians and cyclists and serves as a natural oasis and retreat in suburban southern Montgomery County. The Iron Horse Trail connects with Creekside Trail and ends at State Farm Park in Kettering. The surface is mostly asphalt and concrete, making it ideal for the novice rider. The route, formed by a combination of trail, shared roadway and sidewalks, begins at Iron Horse Park, the site of a historic railroad yard.

Iron Horse Trail can help riders connect to Delco Park in Kettering. Delco Park is a great stop to use the looping walking paths and stretch your legs. The park also has a popular BMX track open to everyone where you can test your racing speed and skills. Other park amenities include four barbecue grills, picnic tables, drinking fountains, a fishing pond, full-service restrooms, and benches to sit and relax.

Wolf Creek Trail

Wolf Creek Trail is a flat urban route that follows along the creek and a historic rail corridor. Along the trail, stop and see the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park. Learn about the Wright brothers’ work, Paul Laurence Dunbar’s creativity, and see why many regard Dayton as the birthplace of aviation.

Continue along Wolf Creek Trail toward the Dull Woods Conservation Area and see farm animals ranging from cows, to goats, horses, sheep, and llamas as they pasture in the fields in Brookville. The trail also passes along Sycamore State Park. If you’re ready for an adventure and a change of scenery from the farmland, visit the wooded wonderland to hear the wind rustle the leaves, songbirds chirping, and glimpse a red fox, deer, or woodchuck in natural surroundings.

While in Sycamore State Park, take the .6-mile long Storybook Trail near the shelter off Providence Road. Ride your bike along a small creek as you read the story “Daniel Finds a Poem” by Micha Archer, charmingly displayed on the path. The storybook trail concludes at a Free Little Library where you can opt to take a book, or leave a book.

So there it is. The Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Centerville staff has shared our list of top bike trails near Centerville, Ohio. Novice and experienced cyclists alike are sure to find something to keep those peddles going this spring and summer. What do you think of our list? Did we miss your favorite trail to visit for bike-riding fun? If we did, let us know! Leave us a message sharing your suggestions and we’ll check out your ideas. Meanwhile, if you’re in the market for a new car, check out our monthly specials to find the best deal around.

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