...I have ridden and walked this trail several times finding it to be an excellent trail for individuals or families. ...We have road bikes with very skinny tires, 3 speeds, and they're about 35 years old and we have no problems going the distance of the trail and back. The entire trail can be ridden both ways in about 2 1/2 hours. Scio at about the half-way point has a grocery store and a small dairy that we find hard to resist stopping at!
Wildlife is in abundance with geese, rabbits, squirrels, snakes, and we've had to stop a few times for deer crossing or walking on the trail. This trail is also wide enough to ride side by side or let the kids feel free to ride ahead a little way.
At this time repairs are being done 3/4 mile from Scio towards Conotton, these seem to be going very slow but there are planks to cross this portion.
The only other negative comment is in Jewett at the covered bridge start/end point, the small creek could be cleaned out and the bridge itself is covered more with graffiti than wood! We have ridden several trails and find this one to be one of the best no matter what kind bike you have or if you like to walk. I think you will enjoy this trail.
At the time of my visit, August 2000, the trail was completed from Scio southeast to Jewett. (This review only covers that section of the trail.) I started my ride in Scio, Ohio.
The trail parallels an existing railroad track which lies a stone's throw to the west. You pass a small wetland area on your way to Jewett along with a couple of creek bridges. There are 1 or 2 road crossings where you may encounter large, loose gravel on the roads. Be sure to use caution.
Though much of the trail is built on the former Norfolk & Western Line, some small portions of the corridor are no longer as flat and straight as a typical railway bed. Perhaps earth had been moved onto the former rail line and the trail simply was constructed over top of it. In any event, it serves the purpose of breaking up the monotony of a perfectly flat, straight trail.
Most Ohio trail projects start as local community-based efforts in areas where the trails are to be built. This means that these local trail groups have a lot of say as to how their trails will look, where and how far they will go, what amenities are developed, etc. And this is how it should be with each community overseeing and sculpting their own particular trail project to suit their needs.
This can, however, lead to a wide variety of trail surface grades and types. So if uniformity is your cup of tea, you may stumble onto a surprise now and then while visiting Ohio trails. Such was the case on my visit to the Conotton Creek Trail.
The surface of this new trail is quite unusual. The trail is paved, yet rough. Apparently a rough base coat of asphalt was first applied. Then a tar & chip technique was used to fill in the small holes and imperfections on the asphalt surface. This was done using liquid asphalt and a very fine pea-sized gravel. The end result is a fairly rough, permanent asphalt based surface.
I recommend using a fat tire bike on this trail. A mountain or cross bike with wide tires will have no comfort problems. However, skinny-tired road bike riders will find the going varies from relatively smooth to very rough along the trail. Rollerbladers are out of luck; this surface definitely isn't for you.
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