Great Parks Opens New Mountain Bike Trail Along Little Miami River
Great Parks has completed construction of the new 1.5-mile mountain bike trail at Avoca Trailhead in Columbia Township along the Little Miami State and National Scenic River and will open the trail with an inaugural ride and celebration from 10 a.m.-noon on Monday, Sept. 29. (See event details at end.)
The trail provides improved access for adaptive mountain biking, while welcoming both beginning mountain bikers and hikers to explore this area near the river. This is the first of what will be a series of nearly 10 miles of natural surface trails braided along and between the river and the existing Little Miami Scenic Trail. Several partners on the broader network of braided trails, which is being led by the Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance (CORA), include Great Parks, Anderson Park District and Cincinnati Parks. The Little Miami River was one of the first rivers designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. The new trails will help people experience the natural assets of the river valley and introduce both visitors from outside the area and urban residents to fun recreation opportunities along the waterway.
Trail expansion was the top priority the public established for Great Parks in its master planning process.
The new trail can be conveniently accessed from the adjacent Avoca Trailhead in Columbia Township, along U.S. 50 and the Little Miami River east of Mariemont. It is relatively flat and excellent for users ranging from casual walkers, and those with dogs on-leash, to beginning mountain bikers. Replacing informal paths with purposefully designed routes will provide a more responsible way to enjoy the off-road trail experience while exploring the river corridor. Additionally, any pets on the trail must be on a leash no more than six feet long.
Great Parks created the trail with internal labor and minimal materials. By designing a sustainable alignment, Great Parks will have lower maintenance costs while opening the forested river floodplain habitat to more visitors. However, the trail’s proximity to the river means that closures will happen due to high water and to preserve the trail integrity for everyone.
The future braided trail network along the Little Miami River is inspired by Bentonville, Arkansas, known as the “Mountain Biking Capital of the World,” where a network of over 300 miles of trails provides world-class recreation, while stimulating tourism, cultural creativity, economic development and enjoyment of outdoor places.
Great Parks now maintains more than 84 miles of trails throughout Hamilton County, including the 8.1-mile mountain bike trail at Mitchell Memorial Forest. Many more miles of trails are being planned, with information available at greatparks.org/projects.
Great Parks is making significant investments into new amenities in this area. Avoca Trailhead, Bass Island and the Little Miami Golf Center are now known collectively as the Great Parks Little Miami Scenic Corridor, a name selected after input from park guests and other stakeholders. Upgrades in this area reflect public requests for recreational opportunities along the river and nearby trails. At Bass Island, Great Parks is making improvements to the existing river access site to provide an enhanced experience for paddlers entering and exiting the river, while protecting the riverbank. Just three years ago, Great Parks opened the Beechmont Bridge Connector, a critical half-mile link over the river that connects trails at Otto Armleder Memorial Park and the Lunken Trail to the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
Naming opportunities for this trail are available through Great Parks Forever, the philanthropic partner of Great Parks. Great Parks made a commitment to the public to leverage tax dollars with private investment as a means of fulfilling its Comprehensive Master Plan. Bolstering its current funding from earned revenue, grants and tax funding, Great Parks is adding significant private philanthropy to meet bold future goals, including trail development and capital investments established in partnership with the public.
(Note to editors: Parking is at 7949 Wooster Pike. Bikers will ride the first loops around the circuit at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 29 following a welcome by Great Parks CEO Todd Palmeter at 10:15. Guided tours and bike demonstrations will begin at 10:45. On site media contacts are Peter Osborne, 513-546-4181, and Rachel Doellman, 859-803-5686.)