Multiple Reroutes

Date Posted

Sep 11, 2024

Section

Troy

Chapter

Miami Rivers Chapter

These updates apply to the November 2015 edition of the Troy Section map and to the early 2024 editions of the FarOut and Avenza applications.

John Smilek, Troy Section Supervisor, worked over the last three years to make changes to the Troy Section trail and map. In the process he has moved both ends of the Section, ceding some to the St Marys Section and gaining some trail from the Caesar Creek Section. In addition there is a change to the trail in Eastwood Metro Park and another change in Fairborn at Central Park. The information below incorporates previous updates to the November 2015 map dated (4-11-2024, 3-28-2023, and 7-23-2026). These are the updates to the trail log:

CW 3.6 SW | CCW 48.7 NE | Point 3 | City of Fairborn Central Park (WCS, P, PJS, PS, Pt, WS)

Take the cement trail SW into the City of Fairborn Central Park. Follow the trail 0.23 mi as it travels along the outer edges of the park turning W, then S, and W at drive for the YMCA entrance to reach Central Ave. Cross to W side of Central Ave on crosswalk and continue S on Central Ave across Ohio St and South St. After crossing RR (0.15 mi), turn SW on Wright Brothers’ Huffman Prairie Bikeway (WBHPB) that lies within narrow, wooded corridor between RR and Kauffman Ave. Continue SW on WBHPB past access to W Garland Ave (0.7 mi, exits SE), across W Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd (0.8 mi) and beneath McClerron Memorial Skyway (0.6 mi). Trail is now headed W. After 0.45 mi, pass access to Wright State Rd. After 1.3 mi, WBHPB crosses Kaufman Ave at light and continues W.

CW 8.2 N | CCW 44.2 E | Point 4 | Wright Brothers’ Huffman Prairie Bikeway at Memorial Rd

Description same as Point 2 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 9.9 W | CCW 42.5 E | Point 5 | MRRT across Springfield St from Entrance to National Museum of United States Air Force

The museum (free admission) is the largest aviation museum in the world (P, PS, PT, R, T, W, WC). Consider adding a day to your hike to visit this museum. Continue on MRRT along Springfield St across 2 roads. After 0.5 mi, MRRT turns N, soon passing both a motel and an imposing house, capped with a large Widow’s Walk. Continue N beneath RR using a culvert built in 1918. At the Mad R, go beneath the Harshman Rd Bridge. Immediately, leave MRRT to follow footpath along Mad R on N edge of Eastwood MetroPark, home of the Midwest Outdoor Experience which draws over 10,000 outdoor enthusiasts the first Saturday in October. Eastwood MetroPark exhibits wild areas as well as development (P, PS, PT, Pr, W) as one would expect in a unit of Five Rivers MetroParks (FRMP). After 0.42 mi, an obvious casual trail connects to parking (100’ S, 39.784157, -84.129601). Continue on footpath along river for 0.4 mi and pass steps that lead to another parking area. Follow footpath past the small boat launch area (0.08 mi) and two shelters, as it then turns S and then SE to pass another shelter to reach the MRRT on the park road and bridge over the lagoon. Cross lagoon on bridge.

CW 12.2 S | CCW 40.2 N | Point 6 | SW Corner of Eastwood MetroPark at MRRT Coordinates: [39.779633°, -84.139192°]

Description same as Point 4 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 15.2 N | CCW 37.2 S | Point 7 | Deeds Point MetroPark (FRMP)

Facilities changed to Facilities(P, W) otherwise description remains the same as Point 5 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 16.2 NW | CCW 36.2 S | Point 8 | GMRRT near Restrooms in Island MetroPark

Facilities: (P, PS, PT, T, W, WC) Go generally NW on paved trails through Island MetroPark. After 0.2 mi, cross Great Miami R on rust-colored Gayle B Price Jr Bridge that overlooks the confluence of the Stillwater and Great Miami R and enters Triangle Park (Dayton City Park, home of the Dayton Triangles pro football team 1920-1929). Very soon, at junction with Stillwater River Recreation Trail, turn N (right) and continue on GMRRT along Great Miami R beneath Keowee St Bridge (0.9 mi), I 75 bridge (0.28 mi) and a RR Bridge (0.6 mi). Turn N away from the river along fence that protects the well fields and later an industrial area. After 0.9 mi, cross Chuck Wagner Rd and jog W before turning NE to follow narrow grassy area between Wagner Ford Rd and golf course fence. After 0.8 mi, turn E between 2 fences. After 0.6 mi, you will reach Needmore Rd near the Dayton Firefighter’s Center and soon go beneath Needmore Rd Bridge. Heading N, enter a delightful flood-plain woods of primarily Box Elder and Cottonwood. After 0.5 mi, cross Birch Drive and continue N through field and river edge habitat.

CW 21.6 NW | CCW 30.8 S | Point 9 | GMRRT at Rip Rap Rd near End of Great Miami R Bridge (39.827517°, -84.165167° )

Description same as Point 7 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 23.7 NW | CCW 28.7 SW | Point 10 | Three-Way Trail Junction near Little York Rd

Description same as Point 8 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 25.3 N | CCW 27.1 S | Point 11 | GMRRT at Stairs to Blue Heron Shelter (P, Pr, PS, PT)

Description same as Point 9 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 27.3 N | CCW 25.1 S | Point 12 | Tadmor – a Ghost Town

In the next few hundred feet lie remains of the former Village of Tadmor. Tadmor boasted all 4 important modes of transportation during the 19th Century — canal, railroad, keelboats on the river, and the National Road. All came to an end following the devastating flood of 1913 and the completion of Taylorsville Dam in 1922. There is on-site interpretation for history buffs. After 0.26 mi there is a fence made of boards blocking the trail. Just beyond this point is a dangerous sink hole. DO NOT enter. Turn NW across the canal prism, ascend a few feet to rejoin GMRRT (150’) and head N. After 0.9 mi at Old Springfield Rd, leave Taylorsville MetroPark.

CW 28.8 NW | CCW 23.6 E | Point 13 | Trail Culvert beneath Old Springfield Rd (C8)

Description same as Point 11 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 32.3 W | CCW 20.1 E | Point 14 | GMRRT near Kiosk in Canal Lock Park

Description same as Point 12 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 37.6 SE | CCW 14.8 E | Point 15 | GMRRT at Small Trailhead off Dye Mill Rd (P, Pr)

Description same as Point 13 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 40.1 SW | CCW 12.3 SE | Point 16 | GMRRT at Adams St Bridge near City Park

City Park Facilities: P, Pr, PS, PT. Cross Great Miami R on bridge. Head NW on top of levee past Treasure Island Park. After 0.4 mi, stairs lead down to both Treasure Island Park (P) and Smiths’ Boathouse Restaurant on N Elm St. After 350’ at N Elm St, cross road at crosswalk. Go W on top of levee on across Harrison St (500’), above RR (0.13 mi) and across N Ridge Ave. Jog N across intermittent stream and turn N along S side of Trade Rd E entering an attractive industrial area dominated by Hobart Brothers facilities. After 0.7 mi at Trade Square E and Surrey Rd, turn E to begin a meandering path generally N through rural lands past a fenced spring (0.35 mi), trailside information about Paul G Duke (0.45 mi) and El Sombrero Restaurant (0.1 mi), possible parking on drive. Cross Eldean Rd N, turn E 200 ft to parking lot.

CW 43.8 SW | CCW 8.6 SE | Point 17 | BT Marker Post on GMRRT (P)

Description same as Point 15 on the 2015 Troy map.

CW 46.6 N | CCW 6.2 W | Point 18 | GMRRT at W Peterson Rd (C31, P, Pr)

Turn N onto GMRRT across intermittent creek. Follow GMRRT generally N. After 2.0 mi, pass Piqua’s decommissioned nuclear power plant (1963 to 1966). Piqua is the first city in United States to own an atomic power plant. Very soon, cross Great Miami R on trail bridge and continue N beneath Garnsey St Bridge and Main St Bridge. About 150 ft after going under Main St Bridge, exit the GMRRT NW using the trail that goes up the levee. At the top of the levee turn W crossing N. Main St and enter the Rivers Edge Trail.

CW 49.2 W | CCW 3.2 E | Point 19 | Ohio to Indiana Trail at N Main St

Historic downtown Piqua lies in almost all directions from here. The 5-block area around here was settled primarily by German immigrants who came up the Canal from Cincinnati. Lock 9 Park is just N of the RR bridge. The park (PT, W) features historic photos mounted on attractive brick wall. A plaque indicates that the lock was built in 1837 to connect Piqua with Cincinnati (1837) and Toledo (1845) by way of the Miami-Erie Canal. It was important to the development of Piqua. Water power from this lock powered industrial development nearby for products as diverse as flour, flannel and flax seed. The lock remained in use until the great flood of 1913. GMRRT goes north through Lock 9 Park along Great Miami R first and later Miami Erie Canal Towpath to pass Swift Run Lake.

CW 52.4 NE | CCW 0.0 SW | Point 20 | SR 66 at Hardin Rd (C110)(P)

Go W across S Main St on The Ohio to Indiana Trail. Across College St (0.5 mi), ascend to join former RR grade. After 375 ft at trail junction, take the right hand trail to join River’s Edge Trail. In .15 mi pass French Park (P,Pr) on right and then turn right (NW) with River’s Edge Trail to High St (0.22 mi). Continue across High St through wooded area past Franz Pond, across Park Ave (0.4 mi), beside hydraulic canal, past Echo Lake, above Fountain Park (P, Pr,PT, PS) and across Ziegler Rd (1.1 mi). After crossing modern spillway from Swift Run Lake (0.1 mi), reach trail and footpath junction (.36 mi). (P) on right. Continue on footpath 0.26 mi along levee, across two older spillways to SR 66 (P).