The Heart of Ohio Trail is currently opened from the Village of Centerburg to Columbus Road (near Parrot St.) in Mount Vernon. This trail, when completed, will offer 16 miles of walking, skating and biking trail. A horse trail will lie adjacent to the trail for three miles from Thayer Road to Patton Road, which places the horse trail close to the Knox County Horse Park and Thayer Ridge Park. The trail is maintained by the Heart of Ohio Trail group, a volunteer organization. The trail surface is comprised of railroad ballast, stone and fines, suitable for a hybric/comfort bicycle or mountain bicycle. Dry Creek cascades along several portions of the trail, offering the soothing sounds of a high quality stream.

Good News!

The paving of 3.7 miles of the trail is complete. The section paved extends from Bishop Road to the bridge west of Graham Road. View an updated HOOT map.

2011 brings the next phase of paving from Bishop Road to Updike Road. In 2011 or 2012, paving will occur between Updike Road west to North Clayton Street in Centerburg. Both of these phases of trail development are made possible through Ohio Department of Transportation grants, with required local match, in part, from the Knox County Park District levy.

In the fall of 2009, two bridges east of Thayer Road (closest to Mount Vernon) were rehabilitated, with financial assistance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. In the spring of 2010, the trail bed was restored between Henry Road and Thayer Road.

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the 3.7 mile paving project in Mount Liberty.

The newly paved portion of the trail.

An unpaved portion of the trail.

Scenic Dry Creek flows next to the trail.

Historic photograph of the now-razed Mount Liberty Depot