That’s how National Geographic referred to the Miami Valley Trail Network in an article published in August last year. It’s a story about recreational trails across the country booming with visitors, but the focus of the story is on the largest network of paved trails in the United States centered around Dayton.
In the three weeks following the March stay-at-home order in 2020, a 50-mile stretch of trail between an eastern Cincinnati suburb and the town of Xenia saw a 98 percent increase in usage, according to the article.
National Geographic commended the agencies that oversee the trail network, including Five Rivers MetroParks, on how they were able to keep open “one of the only ways residents have to escape the confines of home, while ensuring trails users stay safe and physically distanced.”
“To have National Geo travel to showcase Dayton as a go-to when they want to do a story about trails is a credit to our reputation as the outdoor adventure capital of the Midwest,” said Brent Anslinger, MetroParks Outdoor Recreation Program manager. “When you look back at the last few months, it has taken everybody doing their part to keep nature open, the trails open and everyone safe.”
The article cited that Miami Valley’s especially wide trails — sometimes 14 feet wide — is especially attractive in a time of pandemic.
Continuing to dote, the article described the Dayton area’s trails in the best light possible.
“Built largely atop abandoned railway lines and riverbanks, the network links more than a dozen post-industrial and rural Midwestern towns, including Dayton, Springfield, and Xenia. This almost entirely flat trail winds through endless fields of corn and spectacular woodlands, revealing a true sense of present-day life in America’s heartland.”
National Geographic concluded the feature by mentioning where the trail passes “Yellow Springs’ funky town center” and gets input from Bob Hartman, president of the Dayton Cycling Club.
“I personally avoided the trails for a few weeks and did most of my riding on rural roads,” said Hartman, who rides between 30 and 60 miles at various times of the week. “It’s great to see so many people discovering the amazing trail system we have in this area.”
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