Marion Tallgrass Trail

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Address: 2093 Holland Road W., Marion, OH 43302 

Phone: (740) 223-4161  

I will guess that many people may have never heard of the Marion Tallgrass Trail. The Tallgrass trail is part of the developing rail to trail, which will extend from Marion, Ohio, westward on the former Erie Lackawanna Railway corridor. The line was once part of the railroad's mainline that once stretched from northern New Jersey to Chicago. However, this section was abandoned by Conrail soon after it acquired it. The trail reached the Harding County line in late 2017. The trail is about 12 ½ miles (25 miles for a round-trip or 8 ½ hours walking) from the eastern trailhead site.  

Within the first mile, you may have the opportunity to spot trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and even a beaver lodge. This park of your journey follows the shore of a 53-acre lake. The trail then crosses an open area before crossing SR 203 and entering the Big Island Wildlife area. Following the path past the small village of Espryville, the trail travels through a beautiful, wooded corridor and eventually crosses ST. Rt. 37. You will pass under the Riley Road tunnel and will have just about a mile and a half to the county line. If you would like to spend time just sitting, relaxing, or reading a book, an observation deck overlooks the 53-acre Marion Community Foundation Lake near the midpoint of the first mile. There is also a playground available at the Holland Road Trailhead.  

This is one of the five park districts located in Marion County. The trail is excellent for birding, hiking, biking, and wildlife watching! The park does allow dogs as long as they are on a leash.  Parking and Trail Access Parking can be found at the trailhead just west of Marion at 2093 Holland Road. There is also a paved parking area at 1001 Decliff Rd N., La Rue, and another further west at 774-1096 Twp. Hwy 16, La Rue. 

The photos below are from Easter Sunday 04-17-2022. There were only a few hints of spring.