Marietta Lunch Loop

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

This ride starts and ends in Historic Downtown Marietta along the Muskingum River. Enjoy a handful of flowy downhills, a view of the city and the Ohio River, brick streets and historic architecture along this route!

This ride is a great option for a quick "lunch loop," a short beginner/intermediate ride or an addition to another route to add mileage. The terrain is challenging enough to be fun for any level of rider.

Parking at Armory Square is limited to two hours. There is a visitor center and public restrooms located inside the Armory. A level two electric vehicle charger is located in the back. All day parking for a nominal fee is available in the Saint Cloud Lot located on the corner of Front and Butler Street. There are lots of dining and shopping options downtown if you need to refuel after your ride!

From Armory Square, turn right on Front Street and take an immediate left on Butler Street. Stay on Butler Street until it dead ends on the other side of 7th Street.

The Old Walnut Trail begins with a short, steep switchback then traverses the hillside eventually crossing a large set of steps (continue straight across) then empties onto the school's entrance road. Continue up the hill a few hundred feet. The trailhead will be on your left. Stay on the Old Walnut Trail until reaching the Moon Trail. Turn Left on Moon Trail.

Next, you'll turn right on the Ray Lang Trail, following it to Glendale Road. Turn left on Glendale Road, immediately turn right on Gross Street and right on Clifton Avenue. Turn left into the gravel parking lot off of Clifton Avenue. North Hills Trail begins at the back the lot. Stay on the North Hills Trail (crossing Hillcrest Drive), then bare right onto the Frontier Loop Trail. Stay on Frontier Loop Trail then turn left on Chimney Trail.

At the far end of Chimney Trail, turn left on Frontier Loop Trail then turn right on Upper Frontier Trail. Upper Frontier Trail returns you to Frontier Loop. Stay right and follow Frontier Loop back to North Hills Trail, climbing up to Glendale Trail. On Glendale Trail climb up to Lookout Loop. Follow Lookout Loop to the high point on the hill behind the water tower for a view of Downtown Marietta and the Ohio River.

From here, head back to the Glendale Trail and turn right. At the end of the trail, turn right onto Glendale Road (watch for oncoming traffic when entering the roadway). Take Glendale Road to the stop light. Cross 7th Street and follow Putnam Street to Front Street. Turn Left on Front Street and Armory Square will be on your right.

Founded in 1788, Marietta was the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory but has a much longer history of human habitation dating back to 100BC with the Hopewell Culture. Marietta was home to a Hopewell ceremonial center with prehistoric earthworks that remain today. To view one such earthwork, at the finish of this route while on Putnam Street, turn right on 5th Street. The Conus Mound is one block up on your right located in Mound Cemetery. Mound Cemetery is the resting place of more Revolutionary War soldiers than any other graveyard in the United States.