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Newsletter 75, Winter 2025 

Call for Board of Directors Applications

President, Ohio to Erie Trail Fund - 1/30/2025



The Ohio to Erie Trail seeks enthusiastic individuals to join our Board of Directors. This is a unique chance to play a key role in shaping the future of our 326-mile non-motorized trail, which stretches across Ohio, linking Cincinnati to Cleveland and enhancing the lives of residents and visitors alike.

Application Timeline
  • 02/01/2025 – Application submission opens
  • 02/28/2025 – Application submission deadline
  • March 2025 – Applications reviewed by the Board of Directors
  • 04/01/2025 – Applicants notified of application status


  • Visit the Candidates page to learn about this important volunteer opportunity. 

    Board Candidate Page

      

    Trail to the Future, Building on our Past

    Ohio to Erie Trail Office - 11/25/2024



    Our 2024 Year in Review letter is available online at this button Read Year End Letter 


    We know many of you have already donated or joined as a member this year and we are so grateful for this crucial support.   If you have not donated to the Ohio to Erie Trail yet this year, we kindly ask you to support our work.  We still have 10% of the 326 miles to go and we are working to convert the route sections from road to trail in the coming years. 


    Donations



     
    In the past thirty-three years since Ed Honton’s vision of a cross-state
    trail began, we've made steady progress with 90% of the trail route on
    dedicated trail. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our trail
    friends who help us work toward completing the remaining gaps in the
    trail. Together we are creating a brighter future for the Ohio to Erie
    Trail, please join us on this path forward!

    Thank you!


    Trip Planning Posts

    The Bicycle Tourists' Guide to the Ohio to Erie Trail Video

    Ohio to Erie Trail Office - 2/9/2025


    Video Guide and Resources



    This video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/gzJdw81AouM 

    Here are the main Trip Planning Website Links: 

    Home Page   https://ohiotoerietrail.org/

    Plan Your Trip:  https://ohiotoerietrail.org/planOTET 

    Interactive Map: https://ohiotoerietrail.org/interactive-map

    Ride with GPS Options:  https://ohiotoerietrail.org/OTET_RWGPS

    MORE HELPFUL PLANNING RESOURCES 


    CLICK EACH IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW THE ASSOCIATED RESOUCE


    2025 Plain Map Image






    POSTED: February 9, 2025

    Watch Videos

     

    2024 Rider Video playlist has over 100 videos:

    Rider Videos 2024


    Facebook Posts and News Articles

    Click each Image to Read the linked Facebook Post or visit www.facebook.com/OhiotoErie

    Question and Answer Section

    Shuttle

    equipment shuttle

    Why do more people go Northbound versus Southbound?


    • The trail name is "Ohio to Erie"
    • For first time visitors, the northbound route is easier to follow. For southbound, novice riders often lose the trail route in Massillon where it goes west.
    • The Ohio to Erie Trail is part of the Adventure Cycling Underground railroad route which is historically a northbound route.
    • A tailwind is more likely northbound, but not always the case.
    • Rider feedback has indicated the preferred end of ride photo opportunity is the Cleveland Script at the west end of Edgewater Park OR standing in Lake Erie dipping your front tire. Southbound riders have said ending at the Ohio River can be a let down, sometimes the river is too high or too low to get close.


    If you are a first timer going southbound, make sure you know the route in Massillon.

    Accordion Widget
    Trail Name and Local Names
    Trail Name and Local Names

    Q: I hear many names for the same trail, what is the overall name of the 326 mile trail?



    ANSWER:

    "Ohio to Erie Trail"


    Is the name for the trail spanning the state from the Ohio River to Lake Erie which has a distance of 326 miles.


    The non profit organization which has worked for 32 years toward the multi-decade effort is The Ohio to Erie Trail Fund and continues to find ways to convert the 10% on streets or roads into trail connections. 


    For content creators:  If you post videos, photos or articles about your experience, please DO use our trail name or tags.      

    While you WILL see signage in places that has the trail name with hyphens between the words, the preferred notation is the name without hyphens.  (Spell check sometimes incorrectly puts the hyphens back in.)


    When you travel the Ohio to Erie Trail, it will help your navigation if you know the name of the local trail segment you are on.   This is what makes the Ohio to Erie Trail different from the other cross state trail systems.  This larger trail system has been knitted together by joining with jurisdictions and friends groups to fill in the gaps.  Without the local trails, the Ohio to Erie Trail would not be 90% done, so please honor and appreciate these local trail names and their distinct identities.  Some of the larger trails are regional trails as well, like the Little Miami Scenic Trail south of Xenia and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath trail north of Massillon.  It is good to keep in mind, the Towpath ends in Canal Basin Park, but the Ohio to Erie Trail route continues north to Lake Erie.


    Hashtags: 

    #ohiotoerie

    #planOTET

    #hikeOTET

    #rideOTET

    #oh2erie

    #ohiotrails 

    #alertsOTET

    #shareOTET

    #326club


    Name: 

    Ohio to Erie Trail

    Accordion Widget
    Riding half the trail
    Riding half the trail

    Q: If you were only riding half the trail which would you choose?


    A:

    It depends on your preference, both have advantages. The trail mid point is Centerburg and it has a photo op frame

    (Location GPS 40.3061122909784, -82.6987444839939)

    there, it also a short distance to the Ariel-Foundation Park. 


    The northern half will have more elevations and varied surfaces, plus rural roads, Amish Country scenery, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Cleveland. 


    The southern half has more smooth paved surface, large stretches of flat, open trail in rural areas.  Includes 2 large cities, State Park, Metro Parks, mostly linear rail trail or closely follows Rivers. Loveland is a highlight.  Minimal road route.


    The middle half is a blend of the options, Xenia to Clinton is the route of the Great American Rail-Trail and includes Ariel-Foundation Park, Battelle Darby Creek MP and Columbus. 

    Zoom in on the Interactive Map


    ohiotoerietrail.org/interactive-map


    Centerburg Selfie Station on Google Maps:  

    LINK


    Distance in Miles:

    Cincinnati to Centerburg 161

    Centerburg to Cleveland 162

    Xenia to Dalton: 171

    Accordion Widget
    Changes due to Trail Construction
    Changes due to Trail Construction

    QUESTION:

    Why isn't there a signed detour for every trail construction closure?


    ANSWER:

    We do share your frustration when closures occur during the busy Trail season.  Unfortunately if the area surrounding the trail does not have an equivalent trail experience nearby, there will not be an official marked detour.


    The Ohio to Erie Trail board puts a lot of thought into the designated trail route.  We use it to create the paper maps, the interactive map and the GPS files. We gather information about lodging, restaurants and camping along the way.  During trail construction and maintenance events, we want minimal deviation from the Ohio to Erie Trail route. 


    In an ideal scenario, the entity doing the work will designate a project detour route for bicycles and pedestrians. If there is not a detour, our organization will make an effort to provide a workaround, bypass or major reroute option. These won't be signed detours, but we will give an update on the interactive map and alerts pages.


    The Enthusiasts facebook group is the best place to ask for advice on the current situations for the various construction zones along the trail.


    Ask Trail Questions

    Accordion Widget
    Construction Alerts
    Construction Alerts

    Q: How do we know if there is a trail closure because of construction? 



    A: The trail does have closures at times, some are brief, but some last longer periods. When a signed Detour is provided by the project lead, we will communicate it on our alerts.   


    If no official detour is defined by the work crew, then we will do our best to post a bypass or workaround, but it won't be signed. 

    ohiotoerietrail.org/alerts



    Accordion Widget
    RWGPS File Updates
    RWGPS File Updates

    Question

    Do the downloadable GPS files show the closures and alerts?  When are the RWGPS routes updated? 



    A:

    The RWGPS routes are updated as needed. It is best practice to download new files when you are ready to begin your ride. 

    When there are construction or maintenance projects that close the trail and a designated detour or reasonable bypass is available the RWGPS route is modified to use the detour or bypass.


    OTET Trail/Route Alerts on the website and Interactive Map should always be checked before you start your journey. 

    Any detour or bypass that appears as a RED line on the Interactive Map will be part of the current RWGPS files, now on their own page:


    https://ohiotoerietrail.org/OTET_RWGPS

    or GPS LINKS


    MORE


    Looking for the Interactive Map? ohiotoerietrail.org/interactive-map


    Accordion Widget
    Camping
    Camping

    Q:

    Where are camping areas and do you have to make a reservation?   


    A:

    There is a layer showing some of the camping areas on the interactive map. Click on the slider in the upper left corner to see all the layers and click the OTET camping layer name to get it to display.  

    On the camping page, we provide a chart with the camping places that we know of, some are along the trail and some are farther away. Some are first come first serve and some take reservations.  To view the full detailed chart, go to the area marked "View complete chart" then click "View in Google Sheets". Look at the notes section for each listing for details.   

    Hikers may want to supplement overnight options with hipcamp because there are not always camping areas in a hikeable distance. 

    There are no camping areas in the big cities (Cin, Col, Akr and Cle), so you may want to use the lodging list there.

    ohiotoerietrail.org/camp



    ohiotoerietrail.org/interactive-map


    Lodging and more at

    ohiotoerietrail.org/planOTET


    Accordion Widget
    Printed Trail Guide
    Printed Trail Guide

    Q:

    Can I navigate the trail without the printed trail guide map?



    A: People have certainly traversed the Ohio to Erie Trail without the detailed map guides, but they have to do a lot of decision making along the way.  While we do admire the folks that choose to experience the trail without devices and navigation technology, these are also the people that say the trail is hard to navigate in the cities.  Even with all the resources, there will be times of ambiguity and uncertainty. 

    The trail route is not a continuous straight line and having multiple tools will help you in navigating through the tricky spots.  Do research ahead of time, especially in Cincinnati, Columbus, Akron and Cleveland, you will be more confident in the turns if you have extra tools in the cities.  


    For those that want to have more confidence about making the proper turns along the way, you will probably want to have the printed guide, the RidewithGPS files and and the link to the interactive map for quick checks while on trail.

    Order a trail guide (map).  

    ohiotoerietrail.org/shop


    Available in Northbound or Southbound version. 


    Maps are in a clear pouch and come as a set (all 4 sections). We do not sell the section maps individually.


    Recent Articles
    Newsletter 75, Winter 2025

    Bright Green Cycling Jersey



    Our Primal Prisma jersey has a full zip front with back pockets.

    It is sold in men's and women's versions.

    If the online store is out of your size, check back soon, we replenish supply regularly.


    For SIZING read this detailed post: JERSEY DETAIL


    OR Buy Online at District Image


    SCAN THE CODE FOR JERSEY DETAILS


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