Your Next Great Bike Ride is in Belmont County!
The popularity of cycling in the United States continues to grow. During the COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantine, bicycle sales skyrocketed, much like they did during the energy crisis of the early 1970s. Biking is an eco-friendly, social-distancing approved way to exercise, travel and sightsee. Unlike many forms of recreation, bike riding is accessible to all ages.
Whether it’s a leisurely paved bikeway or a challenging dirt trail, cycling enthusiasts will find a great ride in Belmont County. Barkcamp State Park and Zion Retreat and RV Park offer mulched trails. The National Road Bikeway offers a pretty and paved ride. Mountain biking through Egypt Valley Wildlife Area offers a beautiful view of fishing ponds and wildlife.
Check out this video to see the great bike trails in Belmont County.
Barkcamp State Park, 65330 Barkcamp Rd., Belmont has four trails, ranging in difficulty. A paved trail also winds through the Pioneer Village, providing access to the historic barn that was built in the 1800s by Solomon Bentley, a noted apple producer in the area. (There was even a species of apple named the Bentley). The barn is now home to summer naturalist activities and historic displays. Interpretive signs highlighting the culture and history of the area can be found along the trail.
Egypt Valley Wildlife Area is a popular place for mountain biking, fishing, and hunting.
Egypt Valley Wildlife Area, off I-70 and State Route 800, Piedmont, is a popular place for mountain biking, fishing, and hunting. It is situated in both Belmont and Guernsey counties. The primary access through the area is Interstate 70 and Stare Route 800. Morristown is located three miles east of the wildlife area. For directions and more information, visit http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/egyptvalley .
National Road Bikeway, 100 N. Market St., St. Clairsville, is a 2.5-mile asphalt paved trail that features a gazebo, and a tunnel. You can get a bird’s eye view of the trail by climbing a series of stairways that reach a viewing platform atop the National Road tunnel at its northern entrance. There is also a separate nearby nature trail. Directions: At the I-70 Exit 215 travel east on Rt. 40 to St. Clairsville. Turn left at 2nd light onto N. Marietta St. Turn right at stop sign onto Newell Ave. Turn left at stop sign onto N. Market St. Follow N. Market St. to ball fields.
Newlin Falls Nature Trail, located in the northeast corner of St. Clairsville Memorial Park (200 Walnut Ave. St. Clairsville), is an approximately one mile long, wide, hilly, mulch-lined trail. Features of the trail include two small waterfalls, a new bridge, and plenty of wildlife. The trail is open dawn to dusk and is not suitable for strollers.
To locate the trail, enter the park and make a right at the flagpole. As you round the bend you will see the entrance to the trail on your right-hand side. It is marked with a map. Parking is located by the trail entrance.
Zion Retreat & RV Park, 334 E. High St., Flushing, OH 43977 (main office entrance). Zion is an 800 + acre retreat and nature center with a 27-acre lake surrounded by a trail. Zion Trail is a very scenic, well maintained 1.85 miles around the lake. Several wildlife viewing areas are available for you to take pictures. This is all entwined within a cattle farm where calves and mothers can be seen grazing. The trail is open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk. Zion also has various small fishing ponds, rustic and luxury cabins, full hook-up RV camping, stand-up paddle board and kayak rental, swimming area, playground, beach, sand volleyball.
Epworth Park, 211 Virginia St., Bethesda is a unique place to bike on a paved trail past 61 quaint Victorian cottages nestled among a grove of majestic oak trees. You’ll feel as though you have traveled through time to a simpler place. There is also a paved trail around the lake. Epworth Park is open April 1 through November 1.
Barnesville Memorial Park, 130 Fair St. features both a paved trail at the top of the park and a mulched trail encircling the 12-acre Rotary Park Lake. A variety of wildlife can be seen from the trail which includes several challenging hills.
Visit our website for more information about biking in Belmont County
