The weather is warm, the sun is shining and the masks are off. What to do? Dust off that bike or tie up your sneakers and head down to the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail for fresh air, exercise and vitamin D. And if should you get hungry or thirsty, these three scenic stops are perfect for taking a break, meeting up with friends, and seeing where the day takes you.
Cartridge Brewing
Once a powder factory that made ammunition for the Spanish-American War and World War I, Cartridge Brewing has brought this historic building back to life—now a community hub, brewery and restaurant.
North on the trail from downtown Loveland, make this brewpub a stop for dinner, weekend lunch or afternoon drinks on the patio or in their large indoor dining space. There’s ample bike parking—simply enter from the main drive just around the corner from the trail.
This summer, owners Kyle and Lindsey Hackbarth say they are expanding the patio to accommodate more guests with built-in rail seating and lights. They’ve also refreshed the menu—offering lighter, seasonal fare as well as wine, craft cocktails and 20 brews on tap, including a Mexican-style lager and a Paloma version of their 1890 that tastes like a grapefruit margarita.
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Conveniently located along the trail, just 7 miles from downtown Loveland, the ride to Cartridge is scenic and serene—and the “old Powder Factory” makes a great stop.
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Cartridge prides itself on brewing traditional-style beers like lagers, pilsners and dunkels alongside their IPAs and other small-batch experimental beers. “We’ve really leaned into lagers, which is uncommon currently,” Lindsey says. “We have IPAs and they’re great—but we want to make beer that tastes like beer. So we’re pulling the vast majority of our beer back from flash-in-the-pan to making traditional beer styles with different variations ... they really show the talent of our brewer.”
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The establishment is a family-friendly, full-service, from-scratch brewpub featuring high-caliber chefs and a big menu all inside a historic landmark. They also offer tasting tours—behind-the-scenes on the brewdeck, stories about the factory’s past, plus a guided beer flight.
The Monkey Bar & Grille
While the Monkey Bar & Grille may take its moniker from Sam, a chimpanzee that lived at the location in the 70s and 80s, owners Mark and Amy Altemeier aren’t monkeying around when it comes to the improvements they’ve made in the past five years.
Manager Amber Olbrot explains that Mark started renovations in the basement, then worked his way up to the Lincoln bar and the kitchen area, then tackled the patio. By year four, he was building the upper balcony with a view of the river—year five, he had constructed the porch wraparound and more restrooms, eventually adding 5,000 square feet.
The Altemeiers are adding a full kitchen in the near future, but their current food truck offerings will remain. Amber says they love the community, variety and atmosphere the trucks bring to the bar.
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The Monkey Bar has a unique history—while, sadly, several fires ruined most of the original building, some of the square brick is original. Plus, they also have a historian on staff who can tell you about Sam, Foster’s Crossing or the train that used to carry passengers from downtown on the weekends.
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In addition to stopping along the bike trail, patrons can also kayak or canoe right to the bar, or fish off the bridge.
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You can pick your own bar, from the basement bourbon cellar to the patio featuring live entertainment, or from the riverside balcony to the indoor balcony—all with more than 20 different beers on tap. Spaces are also available to rent for parties and special events.
Miamiville Trailyard
Although located in a brand-new building, the Miamiville Trailyard is no less historic. Three families set out to build the Trailyard on two acres and 500 feet of frontage on the bike trail—the same land that once witnessed Civil War battles and President Lincoln passing through on a train on his way to his inauguration.
The land was purchased in late 2017, and planning and design began immediately. Construction started in fall 2019, took a “COVID pause” in April 2020, and was finally completed in this spring.
The space features a large amount of both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a second story loft for semi-private gatherings and a great view of the trail.
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Just 6 miles south of downtown Loveland, sitting directly along the trail, the outside patio and garden area is huge relative to many along the path—but still has an intimate feel with custom-built stone firepits.
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Known for their great food and environment, you can choose from among 20 taps featuring local brews, or order bottled or canned beer as well. They also offer a large wine selection, a full bar and a menu of “comfort food done right.”
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The Trailyard is dog-friendly, has spots to park 100+ bikes and even welcomes horseback riders. “We poured lots of love, time, energy and research into the creation of the Trailyard—all focused on delivering a satisfying customer experience,” say the owners.