Little Miami State Park: SR 350 to I-71 Bridge (Blog Hike #912)

Trail: Little Miami Scenic Trail
Hike Location: Little Miami State Park
Geographic Location: north of Morrow, OH (39.40784, -84.09930)
Length: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2022
Overview: An out-and-back on paved bike trail that passes under the tallest interstate bridge in Ohio.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/little-miami-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924275
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: Northeast of Cincinnati, take I-71 to SR 123 (exit 32).  Exit, go east on SR 123, then almost immediately turn left on SR 350.  Drive SR 350 east 2.9 miles, descending into the Little Miami River gorge on the way, to the signed parking for the Little Miami Scenic Trail on either side of the road.  Park here.

The hike: Rail trails make for terrible hiking.  The long, straight, flat stretches that characterize rail trails cause the scenery to change mundanely slowly when you travel at hiking speed.  Bikes whiz by at scary speeds, and usually noise from nearby highways ruins any solitude.

            Yet rail trails also have their advantages, and occasionally a good hike will be had on a rail trail.  The asphalt surface means that the hiking remains pleasant in the winter when dirt trails are too snowy or muddy, a fact I took advantage of many times when I lived in Ohio many years ago.  Also, not every segment of every rail trail stays close to a highway, so some peace and solitude can be had if you choose your rail trail hike carefully.

            Possibly the best rail trail in southwest Ohio is the Little Miami Scenic Trail, part of which is maintained by the State of Ohio as Little Miami State Park.  The trail stays close to the scenic Little Miami River for most of its distance, and it has several rural segments that see minimal bike traffic.  One of those segments is the segment described here, which follows a narrow strip of land between the Little Miami River and a steep hillside.  Even better, this hike takes you under the highest interstate bridge in Ohio: I-71's Jeremiah Morrow Bridge over the Little Miami River.

SR 350 trailhead

            Starting from the SR 350 trailhead, head north on the asphalt Little Miami Scenic Trail.  A sign at the trailhead tells you that the community of Oregonia is 3.3 miles ahead.  The trail travels through some nice forest, which is dominated by maple trees.

Hiking the rail trail

            At first the Little Miami River stays out of sight to the left.  Near 0.5 miles, the gorge tightens and the trail is forced into a tight corridor between the river on the left and a steep 150-foot bluff on the right.  The trail is the only way to access this portion of the gorge, so the setting is serene and pleasant with a decent amount of solitude.

North bridge support

Jeremiah Morrow Bridge

Bridge over Little Miami River

            As you approach 0.9 miles, I-71's Jeremiah Morrow Bridge comes into view above you.  Named for the 9th Governor of Ohio, who held the office from 1813-1819, the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge consists of two concrete box girder spans that were built between 2010 and 2016.  The bridges tower 239 feet above the river, and they make an impressive if man-made sight that most people only see from above.  The trail continues for many miles past the bridge, but I chose to turn around here and retrace my steps to the SR 350 trailhead to complete the hike.