Creekside Trail, Greene County, Ohio

The Creekside Trail, (also known as the "H Connector" because it makes an "H" pattern on the map from Xenia to Dayton), runs West from the Xenia Station 17.8 miles to Eastwood MetroPark .In Greene County it is called "The Creekside Trail. When it crosses the county line into Montgomery County where it is called "the Creekside Recreation Trail."

Surface: The trail is completely paved in asphalt; 12' wide. Five Rivers MetroParks, the builder of the Montgomery County portion of the trail finished the trail in 2001.

Construction Plans - The City of Beavercreek is planning two new trail spurs to better connect Beavercreek to the trail. The first is what was a road spur from the East end of Research Blvd to US-35 West. The tunnel under US-35 will be used to provide access to the Woodhaven neighborhood of Beavercreek. This spur will be built in 2007. A second trail spur from the Government Center to the trail is planned for 2008. The planned spur will be several hundred feet long and will connect Research Park Drive to the Creekside Trail. This will provide access to the trail from the Dayton-Xenia Road area from where Research Park Drive runs South from the Beavercreek Post Office to the Beavercreek City buildings.

Hotels, Motels, B&Bs & Campgrounds near the Trail - Each trail has it's own accommodations near the trail. Click on the link to be taken to the Accommodations in the Miami Valley RailTrails Area

Park and Ride Locations: Xenia Station, Sol Arnowitz Park, Beavercreek Community Park, E. J. Nutter Park, Grange Hall Road and on Dayton-Xenia Road just East of I675 US-35 at the 5th/3rd Gateway Park & Ride. At this point you pass into Montgomery County. There is also parking at the K-Mart at Woodman and Burkhardt and also at the trail's northern terminus Eastwood MetroPark.

Rest Rooms: There are rest rooms at Xenia Station and the Fairgrounds Recreation Center both in Xenia. To get to the restroom at the Fairgrounds you have to take the spur to the James Ranch and cross Fairgrounds Road to get into the Fairgrounds proper. It's only about 1/2 mile from the trail. There are also restrooms at Kilkare Speedway, Beavercreek Community Park , E. J. Nutter Park and the 5th/3rd Gateway Park & Ride (including handicapped). Then you cross into Montgomery County where there are restrooms at Eastwood MetroPark. See all locations below.

Trail Review: Creekside Trail from to 5^th/3^rd. Gateway Park & Ride. East to Xenia Station

Note: In order to have both the Creekside Recreation Trail (Montgomery County) and Creekside Trail (Greene County) pages work together I have decided that we will start the review of both trails from Eastwood MetroPark in Montgomery County and work East to Xenia. So this review will start near the Montgomery County Line and work East to Xenia Station.

Click on photo for larger image	We are now continuing our review of the Creekside Recreation Trail in Montgomery County and the Creekside Trail in Greene County. This is the Gazebo at the 5th/3rd Gateway Park & Ride. There is parking, water and portable restrooms for your use. The sign for the Park and Ride that you see from Dayton-Xenia Road is at the top of this web page. This staging area is on Dayton-Xenia Road where it crosses I-675 in Beavercreek. We are 5.2 miles from Eastwood MetroPark

In this photo from Google Earth you can see I-675 running North and South in the picture and Dayton-Xenia Road crossing I-675 East to West. The old railroad bridge that is now a part of the Creekside Trail is just South of it. Just to the East you can see the cars in the Parking lot of the Gateway Park. The little round white circle is the gazebo's roof. Click on the link to be taken to Google Maps where you can view almost the whole trail for yourself by navigating. The arrow is to the address of the church and cemetery next to the Park and Ride	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Staging Area - After we ride East for about another mile we cross Grange Hall Road in Beavercreek. Unfortunately there is no tunnel or light here and the traffic can be very fast. Be careful crossing the road. The staging area only has parking. No restrooms or water here But for those wanting to ride to the East on the Creekside Trail from this staging area and not wishing to try to cross Grange Hall Road the parking area is useful. The City of Beavercreek will eventually (about year 2010) a 1600' spur South from here to Research Blvd. SR - 835. See: Approved Projects.

After another two miles or so have come to the tunnel under North Fairfield Road in Beavercreek. We are now 7.4 miles from Eastwood MetroPark	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Now we are on the other side of the tunnel looking East. We have just crossed over Old Mill Lane, a spur off N. Fairfield Rd that will someday have a staging area, with water and restrooms. We are looking East towards Xenia.

After another three quarters of a mile we come to the spur from the trail to Geneva Road in Beavercreek. We are looking North into the spur in this photo. This is another connection from the trail to the neighborhood North of it.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	After another mile or so we come to E. J. Nutter Park on the North side of the trail. This City of Beavercreek playfield has five baseball diamonds that were all in use when we rode by. There is a spur you see here to the park where water, parking and restrooms may be found. If there are games going on the concession stands will be open for food. We are now 9.2 miles from Eastwood MetroPark

Beavercreek Community Park - Just after E.J. Nutter Park we cross Factory Road and come to Beavercreek Community Park. There is a spur to North to take you into Community Park where you will find ample parking, water and indoor restrooms. There is also a soft drink machine near the restrooms next to another building The park is also a memorial to for the eight Girl Scouts and two leaders from Troop 133 who were killed by a train in March 1959. Beavercreek Trail Connector (click on link to see webpage) The spur runs North from Community Park and crosses Dayton -Xenia Road at the intersection of Dayton-Xenia and Beaver Valley Roads. It meets the existing bike path that parallels Dayton-Xenia Road and runs West to Rotary Park. The .75 mile spur will open the trail to more Beavercreek residents.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	On this day there was a free water stand courtesy of a local Lutheran Church in Beavercreek just after the spur to Community Park. I assured the cyclist in red that I had gotten his better profile. The lady seated under the umbrella is a member of the congregation.

After another 1000 feet or so we cross Alpha Road. This photo was taken looking West, or the way we came, to get a nice picture of the old Alpha Seed and Grain building which is now the Alpha Museum.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Just on the other side of Alpha Road is the Alpha House Bed and Breakfast . They are just North of US-35 that runs from Dayton to Xenia. Their address is 785 Alpha Road, Alpha, Ohio, (800) 337-2582. We are looking back (West) towards the Alpha Seed and Grain building (see above).

Here we are crossing Orchard Lane 9.9 miles from Eastwood MetroPark	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	The next stop after Orchard Lane is a small roadside place to stop and sit at the Phillips Land Improvement Center. This large "building" is a part of the property

Next we cross the Little Miami Scenic River It's about 5 miles East to Xenia Station. There are benches on either side of the River for your use to rest and contemplate the river. The Beavercreek Jaycees have adopted the bridge and the immediate area.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	After another mile or so you'll go under the tunnel at Trebein Road as shown at left. The water table is low here so the tunnel can get wet. You are seeing the West end of the tunnel here.

At right is a photo of some of our "recumbent" friends just coming out of the East end of the tunnel. Our couple seen here seemed to be having a good time.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	The next crossing is Shaw Lane. Just beyond it is Kilcare Speedway. The racetrack is very busy on some weekends. At the entrance where the trucks with trailers containing racecars wait to get into Kilkare, there is a picnic bench and a portable bathroom. Be careful crossing on race days. This picture was taken from the Hawkins Road crossing to the East of the speedway and looking West.

At right is the bridge across Shawnee Creek from the Creekside Trail to the James Ranch which is an old farm site. If you are riding in the Xenia vicinity but plan to ride to Yellow Springs on the Little Miami Scenic Trail you can bypass downtown Xenia by crossing this bridge and by following "Alternative Route 2.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	Here you see the North side of the new bridge. From here you can cross Fairgrounds Road and go into the Greene County Fairgrounds near the pool. From there you can ride through the fairgrounds and then follow Fairgrounds Road East for 1/2 miles to the signal light at US-68. Once across US-68 you turn left onto the Little Miami Scenic Trail to Yellow Springs and Springfield. This is "Alternative Route 1".

About .75 miles Southwest of the spur to James Ranch (see above) is the Towler Road crossing. There is a park to left (east) called Sol Arnowitz Park. There are no services here.	Click on photo for larger image

Towler Road Spur I have been told that there is a trail spur; the Towler Road Spur that runs West on Towler Road where the Creekside Trail crosses it (see above). The spur is about one half mile long and ends at West Side Park on Towler Road. There is also a short spur through Sol Arnowitz Park to the East that comes out where Leigh Avenue dead ends at the park.

Click on photo for larger image	Here we are getting into downtown Xenia. We are at the Market Street crossing on the trail. At the right of the photo across the street are signs that direct you to: Xenia Station - Straight Ahead Yellow Springs - Turn Left Ahead you can see the next intersection which is West Main Street (US-35). There are many restaurants on W. Main St.

We are now crossing West Main Street ( US-35). You can see the McDonald's at the right of the picture. We are going by a Subway Sandwiches and Salads show at near left. There are many other restaurants in the area. We are about 1.3 miles from James Ranch.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	We are continuing to get closer to Xenia Station. This is the Second Street crossing.

This is the crossing for Cincinnati Avenue in downtown Xenia (SR-42) . After you cross Cincinnati Ave. you are back into the trees as you go over an old railroad trestle bridge. The Little Miami Scenic Trail also crosses Cincinnati Ave. on it's way South from Xenia Station.	Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image	At left is the last road crossing before you get to Xenia Station. As soon as you cross South West Street here you are into Xenia Station. See the street lights ahead.

Here we are at Xenia Station . The station is a replica of the old freight station that was once on the site. We have traveled about 17 miles from Eastwood MetroPark on the Creekside Recreation Trail to the county line and on this the Creekside Trail to Xenia Station. Here you will find ample parking, inside restrooms, several water fountains, maps, literature and a soft drink machine. See Yahoo Maps for a satellite view of The Station. The station is the X-shaped place on N. Miami Street and N. Detroit Street, directly below. You can navigate to see the 5 trails leading from the station.	Click on photo for larger image

Trail length & surface: 11.2 miles in Greene County , asphalt, brand new, to Eastwood MetroPark 17.2 miles.

Trail Description	Surface
Route	Map
Park & Ride Locations	Restrooms
Beavercreek Trail Connector (Spur to Rotary Park)	Trail Review (With Pictures)
Hotels, Motels, B&Bs and Campgrounds	Trail Distances
Construction Plans

Creekside Trail and Creekside Recreation Trail Restrooms, Water and Parking
Place	Location	Restrooms	Water?	Parking?
Locations in Greene County
Xenia Station	Downtown Xenia, Oh	Indoor	Yes	Yes
Sol Arnowitz Park	Trail at Fowler Road	No	No	Yes
Fairgrounds Rec. Center	James Ranch exit and cross Fairgrounds Rd.	Indoor	Yes	Yes
Kilkare Speedway	On Trail	Portable	No	No
Beavercreek Community Park	Trail at Factory Rd	Indoor	Yes	Yes
E. J. Nutter Park	Trail at Factory Rd	Portable	Yes	Yes
Grange Hall Rd.	Trail at Grange Hall Rd.	No	No	Yes
Fifth Third Gateway Park	Dayton-Xenia Rd. at trail near I-675	Portable	Yes	Yes
Locations in Montgomery County
K-Mart at Woodman	Trail at Woodman Rd	Portable	No	Yes
Eastwood MetroPark	In Eastwood MetroPark	Indoor	Yes	Yes

Location	Miles
Xenia	0.0
Sol Arnovitz Park	1.0
James Ranch	1.5
Kilkare Raceway	3
Little Miami River	5
Beavercreek Community Park & /E.J. Nutter Park	6
Geneva Spur	6
5th/3rd. Park & Ride	9.7
I-675/ US-35	10.0
Trainview Spur	10.2
Greene/Montgomery County Line	10.4
Spinning Road	11.1
T-Intersection (Travel North to Eastwood MetroPark or South to Woodbine Road (see below)	11.7
Trail Runs North to Eastwood MetroPark
Burkhardt Road	12.8
Airway Road	14.2
Radio Road	15.7
Fair Park	16.2
Smithville Road	16.7
Eastwood MetroPark (Trail end)	17.2

Trail runs South from T-Connector to end Iron Horse Trail
Falker Road
Arcadia Road
Woodbine Road	1.0
Woodman Drive	2.0
Spaulding Road	3.0
Research Blvd at County Line Road	3.7