Trail Advice: Cincinnati to Cleveland by Bike
There are not too many places in the world where you can go from a major metropolis to Amish county in a day by bike, let alone on a rail-trail. The Ohio to Erie trail does just that. The story of this trail goes back 27 years to when Ed Honton put together the first trail-group to start developing this trail. Today, as it stands, the route stretches 326 miles, 280 of it being car free rail-trail. The 50+ miles that are not rail-trail are connectors in cities and rural areas. The Ohio to Erie trail is actually made up of a bunch of little rail-trail projects that connect. Each trail is mentioned below with links to their sites. This is a trip where a rider will truly see it all. One day you might be riding by farmland, the next day spending some time in a nation park, and the following day you may end up in a museum or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Consider adding a couple of "rest days" to your trip, so you can explore. The Ohio to Erie trail is definitely a ride to add to your bucket list.
Surface:
The majority of the route is paved; however, there are parts that are crushed limestone. Public roads are used as well, so don't forget your lights and visibility apparel.
Recommended Duration:
4-7 days
*Before you leave make sure to check the
Route Updates
Ohio Climate Stats:
Average High:
- May 73 | June 82 | July 85 | Aug 84 | Sept 77 | Oct 65
- May through September are the driest months
- Humid Continental Climate
Trails that Connect to Make the Ohio to Erie:
- Sippo Valley Trail
- Holmes County Trail
- Mohican Valley Trail
- Kokosing Gap Trail
- Downtown Connector Trail
- Heart of Ohio Trail
- Galena Brick Trail
- Hoover Scenic Trail
- Genoa Trail
- Alum Greenway Trail
- I-670 Downtown Connector Trail
- Scioto Greenway Trail
- Camp Chase Trail
- Roberts Pass Trail
- Prairie Grass Trail
- Little Miami Scenic Trail
- Lunken Airport Bike Path
- Ohio River Trail
As you can see, there are quite a bit of trails to look out for. Not all meet up where one ends. That’s where the extra 50+ miles of on road biking occur. Some reviews report that signage can be limited in places which can make navigating a little difficult. However, good planning should eliminate most concerns.
Major Cities and things to do there:
- Cincinnati
- Cincinnati Fire Museum
- Carew Tower Observation Deck
- American Sign Museum
- Columbus
- Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden
- Short North Art District
- Visit COSI, the #1 science museum in the U.S.
- Cleveland
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Internatioional Women's Air and Space Museum
Support Towns and Cities (North to South)
- Akron
- Canal Fulton
- Massilon
- Fredricksburg
- Millersburg
- Killbuck
- Danville
- Mt. Vernon
- Columbus
- London
- Xenia
- Loveland
- Cincinnati
On Trail Camping Spots (more camping available off trail) North to South:
- Summit Metro Park Big Bend Trailhead (Akron)
- Summit Metro Park Franklin Trailhead (Akron)
- Rivers Edge Campground (Massilon)
- Prairie Grass Trailhead (London)
- Greene County Parks and Trails (Xenia)
- Morgan’s Riverside Campground and Cabins (Oregonia)
To wrap up the Ohio to Erie trail, it's easy to see why this is a summer adventure that would be one to remember. The diversity of the landscape that you'll see on this ride has to be one of the most unique features. If you do end up going on one of the rides we've mentioned in the last few weeks, please share some photos with us. We would love to see them!
Have fun and ride safe!