Moraine lies on the Great Miami River south of Dayton. There are several distinct points of interest to consider during your stay: a section of the Great Miami Valley Recreational Trail, sites connected to Johnny Appleseed’s story, a woodland walk, and activities on the water. The history of the Wright Seaplane Base is another highlight. When choosing where to go, you can first decide whether the river, nature, history, or water activities matter most to you.

River, Trail, and Activities on the Water

A 4.5-mile section of the 37.1-mile Great Miami Valley Recreational Trail runs through Moraine. Access is available via the Main St. Bridge Bikestairs, East River Road, and Carillon Boulevard. You can use these three access points as landmarks when choosing where to join the trail.

At East River Landing on East River Road, at the intersection with the Miami Valley Recreational Trail, there is a ramp for jet skiing, water skiing, and tubing; fishing is also possible on the Miami River. Here, the trail and water activities come together at a specific, named location. If you are weighing trail use against water sports while planning your trip, East River Landing is a clear point of reference for the latter.

Johnny Appleseed and Nature

Appleseed Park is the historic site of an apple orchard planted by Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman in the 1820s. The Johnny Appleseed Park & Hiking Trail features a memorial plaque renewed in 2010 and four second-generation apple trees descended from the original trees planted by Johnny Appleseed. The history therefore includes both the orchard and a later generation of trees.

The 0.6-mile Johnny Appleseed Hiking Trail begins at Johnny Appleseed Park and is rated easy. Compared with the 4.5 miles of the Moraine section of the Great Miami Valley Recreational Trail, it is considerably shorter, giving you two different route lengths to consider. Another nature option is the Nature Preserve at Pinnacle Road and Main Street, where you can take walks in the woods. This woodland setting differs from the historically themed Appleseed Park: at the Preserve, walking in the woods is the main draw, while the orchard, memorial plaque, and second-generation trees define Appleseed Park. This lets you choose a focus on scenery or history, depending on your interests.

Aviation History and Independence Day

The Wright Seaplane Base, on the waterfront in Miami Shores near the southeastern end of the Moraine Airpark runway area, was one of the world’s first seaplane bases. While the Appleseed sites recall an apple orchard, the base points to the early history of seaplanes. Moraine therefore offers a choice of distinct historical themes.

Moraine’s Independence Day Celebration features rides, games, and fireworks. If you would like to include this celebration in your stay, check the event dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Brookville, Miamisburg, Englewood, Centerville, Germantown, Dayton, Huber Heights, Vandalia

For the main travel overview: Montgomery.