Information

The Little Miami Scenic Trail is just a small part of the Buckeye Trail of Ohio. There are 26 sections to the Buckeye Trail, each named for a town or feature within the section, and each with its own unique experiences. The portion of the Trail located in Hamilton Township is named the Loveland Section. The Buckeye Trail, from it’s southern terminus at the upper overlook in the northeast corner of Eden Park in Cincinnati, to the intersection of US 50 and Wooster Lane in Terrace Park is on urban and suburban streets. This section leads you past some wonderful examples of mansions and churches that were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From the intersection of US 50 and Wooster Lane to the end of the Loveland Section the Buckeye Trail follows the Little Miami Scenic State Park, a paved bike path located on abandoned Penn Central railroad right of way along the Little Miami River. Popular on hot summer days, the bike trail follows a rail bed first build in the 1840’s as the Little Miami Railroad, named after the nearby river and not the size of the train! As the trail heads north, you pass through Camp Dennison, used as a Civil War camp by the Union Army. North of Loveland, the land gets less urban, though you can often hear the sounds of Kings Island amusement park near Foster. After passing through Morrow, the trail passes under the I-71 bridge and into the Caesar Creek section. The Fort Ancient prehistoric Indian earthworks and museum are adjacent to the trail near SR 350. Please click here to be linked to a map of the trail. (Information above from the Buckeye Trails Website.)

History

In 1958, Merrill Gilfillan wrote an article for the Columbus Dispatch proposing a trail from Cincinnati to Lake Erie. One of his hopes was that the trail would serve as an encouragement to young people to slow down and learn about their native land. Spurred on by the article, several people, including Merrill, met in Columbus in February, 1959 to discuss building such a trail. In June, they formed a non-profit organization – The Buckeye Trail Association.

The first 20 miles were dedicated on September 19, 1959 in Hocking County. Several of the founders and early leaders were among the 34 people making that dedication hike, including the BTA’s most famous grandma, Emma Gatewood. From that beginning, the trail grew to over 1,444 miles under the auspices of the BTA. It was completed near Deer Lick Cave in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area in 1980.

The purpose of the Association is to promote the construction, maintenance, and use of a state-wide trail system, within the State of Ohio, to be supplemented with side trails, campsites, and other facilities, so as to render accessible some of the historical and beauty spots of the Buckeye State. The trail shall be primarily a footpath, but certain portions may be designated for use by horsemen and/or other non-motorized users. Said corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes co-extensive with the purposes set forth in Section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) including for such purposes the making   of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under said Section.

Today, the Buckeye Trail Association is a large, strong body of volunteers who maintain and promote the trail. Though the entire route is marked, the Buckeye Trail continues to change and improve. The BTA looks for ways to move road sections off the roads, and to upgrade those off-road sections to high quality trail. (Information above from the Buckeye Trails Website.)

Restrooms

Hamilton Township has Restrooms at Foster’s Park located at the intersection of W. Foster Maineville Road and Old 3C Highway.

Trail Access and Parking Area

Hamilton Township has an access area with parking at Foster’s Park located at the intersection of W. Foster Maineville Road and Old 3C Highway.

Little Miami Scenic Trail Hotline

Call (513) 212-6958 to report downed trees or other non-emergency safety issues.