Abraham Lincoln once chugged down this very corridor on his way to his inauguration. More than 130 years and one final locomotive later, those historic tracks traded freight for two wheels, transforming into one of Ohio’s absolute best bike paths.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail stretches for 78 paved miles from Springfield all the way to Cincinnati, earning its spot as the fourth-longest paved trail in the entire country. It follows the old Little Miami Railroad right-of-way nearly the entire distance, and you can still spot the original rail bed running right alongside the path in several places.
What the Ride Is Like
South of Spring Valley, the trail hugs the Little Miami River closely, running through shaded canopy with stops in small towns like Corwin and Oregonia. Canoe liveries appear along this stretch for anyone who wants to swap wheels for a paddle mid-trip.
Fort Ancient, a major earthworks site, and Kings Island amusement park both sit near the trail through this section, an odd but fun pairing of prehistoric history and modern thrill rides within a few miles of each other…