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Camp Chase Trail

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Use
  
Multi-use

Camp Chase Trail igotabikecomwpcontentuploads201311igotabike

Length
  
15 mi (24 km) when completed

Location
  
Madison and Franklin counties, Ohio, United States

Designation
  
USBR 50 / State Bike Route 1

Trailheads
  
West of Lilly Chapel to Sullivant Ave. in Columbus, Ohio

Trail difficulty
  
Easy (fully accessible)

Camp chase trail darby creek metropark west to wilson rd at 4x speed


The Camp Chase Trail is a paved multi-use trail in Madison and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It serves as the Southwest Columbus segment of the 330-mile (530 km) Ohio to Erie Trail. Bicyclists, hikers, runners, rollerbladers, and other groups such as bird watchers and nature lovers can explore the natural beauty of Central Ohio, as the trail weaves across the Capital City region. The entire length of the Camp Chase Trail is part of U.S. Bicycle Route 50, a west-east bicycle route across Ohio connecting Indiana to West Virginia.

Contents

Map of Camp Chase Trail, Ohio, USA

Name

Camp Chase Trail is a "rail with trail" project, named for the Camp Chase Industrial Railroad it parallels. Camp Chase was a military staging and training camp for Union forces, and a prison camp for Confederates during the Civil War. All that remains of the camp today is a Confederate cemetery containing 2,260 graves, bordering Sullivant Ave. It was named for former Ohio Governor and Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. Four future Presidents passed through Camp Chase as Union soldiers: Andrew Johnson, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, and William McKinley.

Route

The Camp Chase Trail is done, when fully complete it is 15 miles (24 km) total, with 3 miles (4.8 km) in Madison County and 12 miles (19 km) in Franklin County. The Camp Chase Trail extends from West of Lilly Chapel (Roberts Pass Trail) to Columbus Holton Park, with the trailhead in Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park as the midpoint.r

Detailed route

The Camp Chase Trail is complete from the conjunction with the Roberts Pass trail at the Wilson Road Trailhead in Madison County, Ohio to the intersection with Sullivant Avenue in Franklin County. The newest segment from Galloway Road to West Sullivant Ave is complete and opened in October 2015. City of Columbus approved funding for the final 3 miles of the Camp Chase Trail from Georgesville Road to N. Eureka Ave on November 3, 2014. From Trail end at Sullivant Ave, the Ohio to Erie Trail follows Sullivant Ave (West) to Industrial Mile Rd (North and East) to Georgesville Rd (South) where the trail continues at approximately 480 Georgesville Road, the trail continues North to N. Eureka Ave where the Ohio to Erie continues on N. Eureka Ave (North) to Valleyview (East) becomes Highland/Harper. The trail crosses McKinley Ave and utilizes the Hilltop Connector bridge to connect to the Scioto Greenway Trail.

The Ohio to Erie Trail is marked on the short road route to the Hilltop Connector bridge, where it joins the Scioto Greenway Trail. For navigation, it is important to note that the completed Camp Chase trail will cross (or go under) two roads named "Wilson Road", one in each county. Mail inquires to Camp Chase Trail P.O. Box 106; Galloway, OH 43119-0106. For the most part Camp Chase trail is pavement, with the exception of the connector through Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, which is crushed, packed limestone.

Communities adjacent to the trail

  • London - Roberts Pass Trail
  • Lilly Chapel
  • Georgesville
  • Galloway
  • Cherry Creek, Columbus
  • Georgian Heights, Columbus
  • Holly Hill, Columbus
  • Hilltop, Columbus
  • Westgate, Columbus
  • Highland West, Columbus
  • Valleyview enclave of Columbus
  • Grandview Heights - Scioto Greenway Trail

    • Trailside amenities

  • Southern Trailhead: Roberts Pass Trail Wilson Rd London, OH 43140 [Restrooms, Bike Rack, Car Parking, No Water] 39°53′24″N 83°18′48″W
  • Trailside Shelter: [Covered 2-Sided Shelter, Picnic Table, Bike Rack]
  • Battelle Darby Creek Trailhead: 8465 Alkire Rd, Galloway, OH 43140 [Restrooms, Picnic Area, Canoe Access, Car Parking, No Drinking Water] 39°53′37″N 83°12′57″W
  • Northern Trailhead: Just North of Columbus Holton Park Columbus, OH 43204, approximately at 375 N Eureka Ave.39°57′42″N 83°04′02″W

    • Local attractions

  • Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. 8465 Alkire Road, Galloway OH 43119; 39°53′36″N 83°12′57″W
  • Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery 39°56′38″N 83°04′33″W
  • National Road Historical Marker
  • Columbus Rec and Parks: Big Run Park and Athletic Complex, Westgate Park, WestmoorPark, Holton Park, Glenview Park
  • Columbus Park and trailhead at Wilson Road (Opening Spring 2017)
  • Hollywood Casino Columbus

    • Milestones

  • March 21, 2012: Bridge Opens into Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
  • October 10, 2013: The Friends of the Camp Chase Trail held their first meeting at the Haydocy Automotive Community Room. Area citizens met with members of the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails to discuss creating a similar function for the Camp Chase Trail. The group continues to meet each month.
  • November 15, 2013: Trail segment completed east of Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
  • April 8, 2014: Friends of the Camp Chase Trail introduced the trail at the Westland Area Business Association Meeting at Darby Dan Farm.
  • July 14, 2014: WSA Studio presented to the friends of Camp Chase Trail and Community Stakeholders regarding the Wilson Road Trailhead at the Haydocy Community Room.
  • October 12, 2014: Camp Chase Trail partnered with the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails to host a table at Darby Creek Days at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park an event held annually in the Indian Ridge section of the park.
  • November 3, 2014: Columbus City Council approves funding to construct the Camp Chase Trail between Georgesville Road and North Eureka Ave.
  • November 13, 2014: Paving completed on the Camp Chase Trail between Alton Road and Galloway Road.
  • March 28, 2015: Camp Chase Trail Day was celebrated at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
  • October 30, 2015, Friends of Camp Chase Trail hosted the Opening Trail Ride on the newest 3 mile section between Galloway Road and Sullivant Ave, including the 100 Yard bridge over Interstate 270. 36 trail friends were in attendance.
  • December 5, 2015, The Camp Chase Trail Hilltop Action Team was established to monitor conditions in the trail corridor for the trail area from the I-270 outerbelt to N. Eureka Ave (approximately 3 miles).
  • December 1, 2016, The Camp Chase Trail is fully paved between Georgesville Road and N. Eureka Ave which represents the conclusion of the major construction of Camp Chase Trail.

    • Economic impact

    The west side of Columbus is poised for revitalization and the Camp Chase Trail will contribute heavily to the effort. Studies have shown a trail positively impacts single-family residential property values, for example the study showed sale prices increased by $7.05 for every foot closer a property was located to the Little Miami Scenic Trail and additional research suggests that location near nature trails could hold a financial benefit for homeowners and ultimately neighboring communities. A new study of trails in the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's region is in process to be completed in 2015. The study will include research on the Camp Chase Trail. The most recent trail count on Camp Chase Trail by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy determined the overall annual use was 22,786 in 2013.

    References

    Camp Chase Trail Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA