Ohio to Erie Trail

The Ohio to Erie Trail is a rail trail in the state of Ohio, spanning from the Ohio River in Cincinnati in the southwestern corner of the state to Cleveland in the northeast. The trail is 85% completed as of December 2014. You can follow the progress of construction and view a map of the trail on its website.

Understand
The trail is sometimes called State Bike Route 1.

Prepare
What you should prepare for depends on what part of the trail you intend to use.

Single Metro Only

 * Any bike, ideally road or electric.
 * A bike helmet, reflectors, and lights.
 * A water bottle

Full Length List

 * A road bike that you're comfortable riding on mostly flat roads. Electric bikes may have difficulty making some stretches.
 * A Bicycle Helmet, reflectors, lights, and spare batteries if not using a dynamo.
 * Water Bottle and a snack (Refill when possible)
 * Co2 cartridges or a portable pump, a patch kit, and spare innertube.
 * A cell phone and charger to call for help if needed.

Depending on how much of the path you want to travel, it's wise to budget some money to pick up spares along the way. Major cities have dedicated bike stores, small cities may only have big box stores for bike parts, and villages may only have food and water, with smaller hamlets often having no shops at all.

Get in
The trail is ideal for foot and cyclist traffic. Some sections permit horse and buggy traffic as well.

Greater Cincinnati

 * From here to Xenia the trail merges with the Little Miami Bike Trail
 * From here to Xenia the trail merges with the Little Miami Bike Trail

Greater Dayton

 * End of the Little Miami Bike Trail and a major area bike hub.
 * Small college town.
 * Small college town.
 * Small college town.

Greater Columbus

 * - Drinking Fountain, Portable Restroom, Lighted Picnic Area, Bike Repair Station and tire pump, Parking Lot - 275 S. Wilson Road, Columbus
 * - Restrooms, Picnic Area, Canoe Access, Overnight Car Parking - 8465 Alkire Rd, Galloway
 * Passes through the southern end of the city, the downtown core, The Ohio State University, and the Northeastern end of the city.
 * A northern suburb of Columbus.
 * a small village and the geographic center of Ohio.
 * Passes through the southern end of the city, the downtown core, The Ohio State University, and the Northeastern end of the city.
 * A northern suburb of Columbus.
 * a small village and the geographic center of Ohio.
 * a small village and the geographic center of Ohio.
 * a small village and the geographic center of Ohio.

Camp Chase Trail
The Camp Chase Trail is total, with  in Madison County and  in Franklin County, Ohio. The Camp Chase Trail is a segment of the Ohio to Erie to Trail and the US Bicycle Route 50.

Communities adjacent to the trail

 * Lilly Chapel
 * Georgesville
 * Galloway
 * Cherry Creek, Columbus
 * Georgian Heights, Columbus
 * Holly Hill, Columbus
 * Hilltop, Columbus
 * Westgate, Columbus
 * Highland West, Columbus
 * Valleyview, Ohio (enclave of Columbus)
 * Grandview Heights, Columbus
 * Grandview Heights, Columbus

Trailside amenities

 * Southern Trailhead: Roberts Pass Trail Wilson Rd, London — restrooms, Bike Rack, Car Parking, No Water]
 * Trailside Shelter: — covered 2-sided shelter, picnic table, bike rack
 * Battelle Darby Creek Trailhead: 8465 Alkire Rd, Galloway — restrooms, picnic area, canoe access, car parking, no drinking water
 * Columbus Wilson Road Park, 275 S. Wilson Road, Columbus — drinking fountain, portable restroom from spring to fall, lighted picnic area, Bike repair station and tire pump, parking lot]
 * Northern Trailhead: N. Eureka Ave north of Columbus Holton Park Columbus

Local attractions

 * Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. 8465 Alkire Road, Galloway;
 * Historic National Road
 * Columbus Rec and Parks: Big Run Park and Athletic Complex, Westgate Park, WestmoorPark, Holton Park, Glenview Park
 * Columbus Rec and Parks: Wilson Road Park and Camp Chase Trail head
 * Hollywood Casino Columbus
 * Hollywood Casino Columbus

Amish Country

 * The county seat of Knox County.
 * a small college town.
 * a small village with a branch library you could rest at.
 * a small village that is also known as Brinkhaven.
 * a small village.
 * the county seat of Holmes County.
 * a small village.
 * a small village. north to Wooster, a nearby city.
 * a small village. northwest to Orrville, a small city.

Greater Cleveland

 * (Passes through Peninsula, then back into the park)

Stay safe
Some sections of the trail share a road with motorists. Area motorists don't always share the road, so it's important to maintain awareness during these sections.

While Ohio itself does not have a bicycle helmet law, local cities along and nearby the trail might. Night riders are required to use front and rear lights and reflectors. Using this equipment will keep you out of trouble with local police, in addition to improving your visibility.