Ohio Erie Bike Trail Map

Ohio to Erie Trail welcomes you.

Ohio Erie Bike Trail Map Using mainly rail routes and canal paths, this picturesque 326-mile TrailTrail connects the Ohio River to Lake Erie. It crosses miles of idyllic scenery, numerous charming little villages, and four significant cities. Whether you want to take a little stroll or join the 326-mile club by biking, hiking, skating, or otherwise exploring the entire TrailTrail, this website is your resource for making the most of your trip. You may discover all the information you require right here, including maps, GPS files, hotel options, restaurants, attractions, events, and much more. Awaiting you on the TrailTrail!

The Trail Along The Ohio And Erie Canal

On the Towpath Trail, explore the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, whether riding a bike, running or simply strolling. Here, you may follow the exact route that mules used to pull canal boats carrying cargo and passengers traveled along the historic Ohio & Erie Canals. Numerous natural and historical sites, as well as the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, may be reached via the rail trail. You can continue traveling along the Ohio & Erie Canalway on the Towpath Trail after the park.

The Towpath Trail’s past

The Ohio & Erie Canal’s former path is followed by the Towpath Trail. Ohio was a thinly populated wilderness before the canal was built, making travel challenging and it practically impossible to carry products to market. Between 1825 and 1832, the canal was successfully constructed, connecting Cleveland on Lake Erie with Portsmouth on the Ohio River. The canal made Ohio accessible to the rest of the developed east of the country. Visit Ohio & Erie Canalway to find out more information on the towpath.
On the Towpath Trail, security
A shared recreational trail is the Towpath Trail. This implies that anyone can use it, including pedestrians, runners, bikers, and even horseback riders in some areas. Please follow some basic trail etiquette to guarantee that everyone who uses the route has a good time.
The speed restriction for bicycles is 15 mph, so ride safely and stay to the right unless passing someone else.
ALL users must yield to bikers.
Avoid putting your head at risk. When cycling, a helmet is a must.
EVERYONE gives way to the horses. Use caution because unexpected movements can shock horses. Make sure the rider is aware that you are passing before you do.
Give a loud warning before making a left turn.
When passing and being passed, move in a single file.
Pets must be kept on a leash; kindly maintain them on the right side of the rail trail and use a short leash.
Please refrain from crossing cross-country ski trails.
When you stop, leave the TrailTrail.

The Trail From Ohio To Erie

From the Ohio River in Cincinnati to Lake Erie in Cleveland, a cross-state cycling path known as the Ohio-to-Erie Trail runs. Even though it hasn’t been finished, the route is accessible. Wherever the 320-mile corridor’s trail gaps haven’t been filled up, road riding is necessary. On the Ohio River in Cincinnati, the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, or OTE as it is more often known, officially begins. The 320-mile TrailTrail travels via Xenia Station, Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland before coming to a terminus close to Lake Erie.
It’s crucial to realize that this lengthy route involves a variety of bikeways—many of which go by different names! Don’t be surprised if you periodically ride off course if you choose to ignore that fact and simply obey the Ohio-to-Erie Route 1 markers.

Knowing about these various parts can also assist you in locating hotels, water stops, and construction-related closures. (However, we do our best to include all long-term closures in the page’s ‘Latest Updates’ section.)
The VOTE was supposed to be finished by 2020, but it’s obvious that there will still be two significant gaps in the TrailTrail, adding up to about 25 miles, after that date.
Currently, the route has been finished to around 89% of its length.

A Brief History

The Ohio-to-Erie Trail was conceptualized by Ed Honton in 1991. The emphasis was on bridging gaps between existing trails by utilizing existing routes, such as the Little Miami Trail.

The tactic was effective. About 70% of the route had been finished by 2005. However, there were still 95 miles to be built throughout the state. Some of those components would need to pass through industrial areas, where creating trails is expensive and finding routes is frequently difficult. Fortunately, there were still some rail tracks along the route in several locations. However, in other cases, such as along the Alum Creek Trail, certain segments of a corridor either could not be converted any longer or did not even exist.
Early on in the project, there was a lot of hope, and the Trail’sTrail’s opening was initially anticipated for 2003. After that year had passed, it was clear that those early forecasts had been made to serve as a motivating factor. Who, after all, would have been enthusiastic about completion in 2020 in 1991? A project of this size required the enthusiastic support of trail proponents from all around the state. And some intelligent people know how to use the carrot technique, like Ed Honton.

The Path – Let’s examine the south-to-north route. The Purple People Bridge, which spans the Ohio River and enters Kentucky, serves as the river’s official endpoint.
This is the ideal endpoint for a path that uses some of Ohio’s top bikeways. Mind you, not a dead end but rather a link to another state!

The Trail From Ohio To Erie Information

Ohio to Ohio Erie Bike Trail Map is a massive undertaking for both the state of Ohio and the nation as a whole. This path, which was originally envisioned more than 25 years ago, will eventually link the Ohio River in Cincinnati with Lake Erie in Cleveland. More than 270 miles of the 326 intended miles of the TrailTrail have already been built. Now, trail enthusiasts from all over the world may visit the Buckeye State and either take in the full route (with a few on-road connectors) or one of the many finished trails that make up this corridor.

The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail begins in Cleveland and travels more than 80 miles south to the community of Bolivar, passing through the stunning Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the energetic metropolis of Akron. The Towpath Trail in Massillon connects to the Sippo Valley Trail as it nears its southern terminus. The Sippo Valley Trail continues west from there into Wayne County before coming to an end in Dalton. There are around 17 miles of on-road riding between Dalton and Fredericksburg, but once there, you can join the Holmes County Trail, which is known for its nearby Amish buggy trail and offers a special shared-corridor experience for everyone. One of the greatest Amish communities in North America is found in Holmes County.

You will enter Knox County from Holmes County and come upon the Bridge of Dreams, the second-longest covered bridge in Ohio and quite the trail experience. Before reaching its conclusion in Danville, the Mohican Valley Trail passes by the bridge and a few magnificent viewpoints. The popular Kokosing Gap Trail, which passes through Mount Vernon, the county seat of Knox, is right on the other side of town. The Heart of Ohio Trail, a recently developed path that continues to connect many small communities on its way into suburban Columbus, is crucially connected to the Downtown Connector Trail, which runs through the center of Mount Vernon and is only one mile long.
The fittingly named village of Centerburg is located in Ohio’s geographic center, which is traversed by the Heart of Ohio Trail. It is connected to the Heart of Ohio Trail as it travels southwest into Delaware County. Up until it meets a mile-long pathway named after the town’s historic Galena Shale Tile and Brick dating back to the 1890s, there are two brief on-road segments in Sunbury that cover the gaps in the TrailTrail. You can join the Hoover Scenic Trail, a lovely little paved route with fantastic views of the Hoover Reservoir on the south side of Galena. The TrailTrail comes to an end at Plumb Road, where you can cross over to the Genoa Trail on the opposite side of the street. This 4-mile paved trail winds through a variety of environments, including some beautiful residential neighborhoods, before coming to an end at the Westerville boundary. The Westerville B&W trail system, offered by the town, is first-rate, and as you ride along it, Franklin County will come into view.

The Towpath Of The Ohio Erie Bike Trail Map

The 90.5-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail offers biking, hiking, running, equestrian riding, and historical displays through a variety of landscapes, from urban to tranquil wilderness. More than 2.5 million people visit this famous path that runs between Cleveland and Bolivar, Ohio, every year. Along the journey, there are more than 50 trailheads that offer parking and other conveniences. The canal had a significant role in the history of transportation by connecting Lake Erie and the Ohio River across a distance of more than 100 miles, making it a National Heritage Area. Exhibits along the route recount the story of the 1827–1913 period of operation. Ohio to Erie Trail, which runs 326 miles from Lake Erie in Cleveland to the Ohio River in Cincinnati, includes the Towpath Trail.

The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath On Bicycles

The Cuyahoga River, Little Cuyahoga River, and Tuscarawas River are all mostly paralleled by the Trail Trail. Although some sections of the canal have been lost to development, this generally follows its path. Old locks and canal sections remain evident. In Cleveland and Akron, the TrailTrail is paved; the remaining portion is made of crushed limestone, dirt, and some boardwalk. On unpaved areas, hybrid or mountain bikes work well. Bring water, and it’s advised that you wear a helmet. Other well-liked hobbies include watching wildlife and birding (more than 250 bird species have been discovered).

Ohio’s Heartland Trail

Knox County started looking into the possibility of turning the abandoned rail beds into multipurpose recreational trails in the late 1990s. Ohio to Erie Trail, which stretches 326 miles from Cincinnati to Cleveland, includes Knox County routes such as the Heart of Ohio Trail, Kokosing Gap Trail, and Mohican Valley Trail. As a result, the project is almost finished.

Nearly 20 miles of walking, inline skating, geocaching, and bicycling are available on the Heart of Ohio Trail. The Heart of Ohio Trail group, a 501c3 volunteer board, and organization, maintain the TrailTrail. High-grade asphalt is used to create the Trail’sTrail’s smooth surface. A number of the path’s sections feature the beautiful, high-quality Dry Creek stream, which cascades and provides trail users with calming sounds. The Heart of Ohio Trail crosses Dry Creek on 19 different bridges as it meanders and switchbacks its way to the Kokosing State Scenic River. Wildflowers, including Dutchman’s Breeches, Squirrel Corn, and Skunk Cabbage, can be seen in the spring. Visitors to the walk may also encounter numerous bird species, including the Red-headed Woodpecker and Northern Mockingbird.

The C. A. & C. Depot, located at 501 S. Main St. in Mount Vernon, Ohio, 43050, is the starting point of the Heart of Ohio Trail, which continues to Centerburg. The “High Point of the Trail,” which is marked by a sign and is located at an elevation of 1285 feet on the section between Mt. Liberty and Centerburg, has been established. In 2016, the Heart of Ohio Trail’s most recent stretch was finished. The former location of the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge is now home to a 182′ prefabricated pedestrian bridge. Three bridge spans of sixty feet each were placed on the highway using two cranes. Workers then bolted and welded the components together. The route crosses the bridge at Lytle Road and US 36/State Route #3. This project was made likely by a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, with the Knox County Park District providing the necessary local match.

Ohio

The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and Ohio to Erie Trail are two famous paths that host the Great American Rail Trail in Ohio. The Cleveland to Pittsburgh Trail Nation, which connects Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, a growing 1,500-mile-plus trail network, connects two significant metropolitan areas and one of the nation’s most popular national parks. Ohio to Erie Trail, which splits off from the Great American Road in Clinton and connects to Cincinnati via Columbus, is made up of numerous routes that connect the state’s different towns, including the one with the biggest concentration of Amish in the nation. Throughout the route, memorials honor the state’s significant historical contributions, including its work on the Underground Railroad and as an early pioneer in American aviation.

The Erie Canal Bicycle Trail

From Buffalo to Albany, the Erie Canalway Bike Path covers more than 350 miles of upstate New York. Utilize these maps and planning tools to organize your trip.

Despite some sections using local roads, the majority of the Erie Canal Trail follows gravel trails that follow the path of the Erie Canal. The route will take you through numerous little villages and the stunning New York countryside, as well as practically the entire state of New York, including the cities of Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica. The ambitious Empire State Trail, a 750-mile multi-use trail system that connects to the Erie Canalway at Albany and runs from New York City to Canada, is made up almost entirely of the Erie Canalway.

Ohio and Erie Canal: from Bolivar to Navarre

In the vicinity of Navarre, Ohio, explore this 24.6-km out-and-back TrailTrail. It typically takes 4 hours and 34 minutes to make this trip, which is thought of as being simple. It’s doubtful that you’ll run into many other hikers, mountain bikers, or runners while exploring this TrailTrail. The route is lovely to examine at any time of the year and is open all year. In some places, dogs are allowed off-leash.

The Erie Canalway Trail By Bicycle

Ride a few miles or the entire 360! All ages and abilities are welcome to use the 87 percent off-road Erie Canalway Trail between Albany and Buffalo. The Erie Canal’s active and historical sections are closely paralleled by the path. The Canalway Corridor offers excellent cycling conditions as well as convenient access to localities, points of interest, and amenities.

The Erie Canalway Trail is a section of the 750-mile Empire State Trail and constitutes its east-west spine. Bicyclists and hikers are invited to discover New York State’s remarkable experiences, people, and places on this multi-use Trail Trail. The TrailTrail travels east-west from Albany to Buffalo and north-south from New York City via the Hudson River Valley to Lake Champlain. It is simple to connect off-road and on-road segments by following the route and using navigation signs and markers.

An Overview Of Ohio To Erie Trail For Cyclists

The book A Path Through Ohio details a cyclist’s journey through Ohio’s main bike route. This diary and guide will help you get ready for a tour across Ohio’s bustling cities of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati via the bike path, together with official Ohio To Erie Trail (OTET) maps—sold separately. A ride on the OTET can be planned with the aid of the 3rd Edition’s updated maps and charts. The 326-mile TrailTrail provides access to historic canal towpaths and paved rail tracks, giving riders a front-row seat to Ohio’s rich cultural diversity, beautiful landscape, and centuries of history. A Path Through Ohio will provide you with a memorable taste of what Ohio has in store for you, whether you’re planning a day trip, an out-and-back, a multi-day, or the entire OTET. The OTET has been named State Route 1 and is known across the country as USBR 21, which extends to Atlanta, Georgia.

Commonly Asked Questions

Where does the towpath along the Ohio-Erie Canal begin and end?

At the Cuyahoga River, which is close to Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail will begin. The proposed Canal Basin Park, which will be close to Detroit Avenue, will be the northern terminus.

How far is the bike path from Ohio to Erie?

Three hundred twenty-six miles – Using mostly rail routes and canal walkways, this picturesque 326-mile TrailTrail connects the Ohio River to Lake Erie. It crosses miles of idyllic scenery, numerous charming little villages, and four significant cities.

Exactly how paved is Ohio to Erie Trail?

Except for the section of the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail that passes within northeast Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio to Erie Trail is entirely paved.