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Bellefontaine Trailhead, Simon Kenton Trail
4.4 ★★★★☆ 52 Google reviews · Running trail in Bellefontaine, Ohio · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Bellefontaine Trailhead, Simon Kenton Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Bellefontaine Trailhead, Simon Kenton Trail
“The menu is currently limited due to COVID-19 and we ate outside; a perfect choice on such a beautiful day!”
“Very little shade mostly gravel running parallel to a rr track.”
Nice wide and well-kept biking trail that goes for a looong way. We rode 50 miles south, then 50 miles back north and had around 1200 ft of elevation, so it's very flat. The trail at first is small gravel for the first 16 or so miles and could be rough on a road bike.
A challenging bike trail. Rode 30 some miles on a 90 degree day. Very little shade mostly gravel running parallel to a rr track. In the process of making many improvements to the trail in the very new future.
This is the northern terminus of the Simon Kenton Trail. Located off a nondescript residential street. Looks to be well-lit and safe enough. Free parking lot, porta-potty, and info board with map are available.
This could not have been a better idea a safe way for walkers and bikers to get in a really good bike or walk without having to worry about any traffic whatsoever. You really did something right by placing this trail down
Trail conditions & character
“We'd all prefer pavement, obviously, however the "chip and seal" surface is light years ahead of plain gravel.”
“The first bathroom from this starting point is in Springfield, so be sure to go at the trailhead port-a-pot.”
“The first bathroom from this starting point is in Springfield, so be sure to go at the trailhead port-a-pot.”
“Very little shade mostly gravel running parallel to a rr track.”
“We'd all prefer pavement, obviously, however the "chip and seal" surface is light years ahead of plain gravel.”
Plan your run at Bellefontaine Trailhead, Simon Kenton Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Bellefontaine
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Southview Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 208 reviews
Park offering baseball diamonds and soccer fields, plus basketball courts, a track and playgrounds.
Bellefontaine Parks & Rec Department
4.1 ★★★★☆ 50 reviews
Children-friendly park good for taking a walk.
Kaliedoscope Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 223 reviews
Recreational area with a playground, picnic tables, basketball and tennis courts, and disc golf.
Fred Carter Park
3.6 ★★★★☆ 48 reviews
Trail-lined park (though some say overgrown or trash-strewn) by a pond for picnics and fishing.
Logan Hills Community Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 51 reviews
Park featuring a playground and baseball fields, plus a track for walking.