Miami Rivers Chapter

Chapter background

The Miami Rivers Chapter spans the Great and Little Miami River watersheds in southwestern Ohio, an area shaped by glacial history, early American industry, and rich cultural traditions. Volunteers in this region help preserve and share a section of the Buckeye Trail that winds through scenic river corridors, historic downtowns, and some of Ohio’s most beloved parks and bike paths. In the Dayton area, the Aviation Heritage Trail passes the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Wright Brothers Memorial Park, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and old McCook Field.

Natural features, history, and geography:

• Great and Little Miami River watersheds (southwest Ohio)
• Little Miami National Scenic River →
• Little Miami State Park and bike path
• Great Miami River Recreational Trail →
• Caesar Creek State Park →
• Historic Miami and Erie Canal paths and locks
• River valleys, hills, gorges, and glacial plains shaped by waterways
• Woodlands and diverse natural terrain
• Rich cultural and natural history layered throughout the landscape
• Twin Towers Park and Pearl’s Fen Parks
• Fairborn Oakes Quarry and Central Parks
• Bath Township Park →
• Xenia Shawnee Park →
• Tipp City Kyle Park →
• Troy Treasure Island Park →
• Troy Twin Arch Reserve →
• Miami County Farrington Reserve →
• Piqua Goodrich Giles Park →
• Piqua Fountain Park →
• Dayton Triangle Park. NFL fans, as you enter Triangle Park from the south, after 100 feet, look to the left and find a historical marker for the location of the first game of the American Professional Football Association, now the NFL. On October 3, 1920, the Dayton Triangles beat the Columbus Panhandles 14-0.
• Aviation Heritage Trail. You’ll hike by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Wright Brothers Memorial Park, the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and the location of old McCook Field, one of the first Army aviation facilities.
• National Museum of the United States Air Force. The largest aviation museum in the world offers free admission. A must visit!
• Great Council State Park. A two-minute hike from the main trail, this newer park is dedicated to the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and the Shawnee Nation. The state is building a paved side trail across U.S. Route 68 so hikers and bikers can access the park from the Buckeye Trail.
• Five Rivers MetroParks system, including the following five parks. The asterisk indicates primitive camping sites are available by permit through Five Rivers Metro Parks:
• Deeds Point →
• Eastwood →
• Island →
• RiverScape →
• Taylorsville →

Towns, villages, and cities on the trail:

South Lebanon, Morrow, Spring Valley, Xenia, Yellow Springs, Fairborn, Riverside, Dayton, Huber Heights, Vandalia, Tipp City, Troy, Piqua