Ohio to Erie Trail
Encyclopedia
The Ohio to Erie Trail is a planned and in-use bike trail
system in the U.S. state
of Ohio
, spanning from Cincinnati
in the southwestern corner of the state to Cleveland
in the northeast. The trail was founded in 1991 when Ed Honton came up with the idea of converting unused canal
and railroad land to hiking and biking paths (see Rail trail
). Tom Moffitt is the current president of the Ohio to Erie Trail.
were the first to ride the entire trail unsupported. They rode EZ-Sport CX recumbent bicycle
s from Sun Bicycles and finished the south to north trek in five days. They stayed in Xenia
, Worthington
, Mt. Vernon
, and Massillon
.
or crushed limestone
). It is open to bikers, hikers, horseback rider
s (in some sections), and, in the wintertime, cross country skier
s.
The trail passes through regional parks, nature preserves, and farmlands, as well as other rural woodland. The trail is planned to be 453 miles (729 km) in length. Of that amount, 262 miles (421.6 km) are complete and in daily use, 54 miles (86.9 km) are under construction or in engineering design, and the final 137 miles (220.5 km) are awaiting final planning, acquisition of land, or funding to do so.
Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
system in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, spanning from Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
in the southwestern corner of the state to Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
in the northeast. The trail was founded in 1991 when Ed Honton came up with the idea of converting unused canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
and railroad land to hiking and biking paths (see Rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
). Tom Moffitt is the current president of the Ohio to Erie Trail.
First Unsupported Tour
In October 2007, John and Nancy Eilerman, a mother and son team from Marion, OhioMarion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
were the first to ride the entire trail unsupported. They rode EZ-Sport CX recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle
A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Most recumbent riders choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons; the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by back and buttocks...
s from Sun Bicycles and finished the south to north trek in five days. They stayed in Xenia
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Worthington
Worthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
, Mt. Vernon
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
, and Massillon
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon is a city located in Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately 8 miles to the west of Canton, Ohio, 20 miles south of Akron, Ohio, and 50 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 32,149 at the 2010 census....
.
Uses
The trail includes surfaces such as dirt paths, road paths, and paved trail (asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
or crushed limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
). It is open to bikers, hikers, horseback rider
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
s (in some sections), and, in the wintertime, cross country skier
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
s.
Path
The trail is divided into three separate sections:- Northern Leg: Cleveland to ClintonClinton, OhioClinton is a village in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,337 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
- Heart of Ohio: Clinton to Mount VernonMount Vernon, OhioMount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
- Southern leg: Mount Vernon to Cincinnati
The trail passes through regional parks, nature preserves, and farmlands, as well as other rural woodland. The trail is planned to be 453 miles (729 km) in length. Of that amount, 262 miles (421.6 km) are complete and in daily use, 54 miles (86.9 km) are under construction or in engineering design, and the final 137 miles (220.5 km) are awaiting final planning, acquisition of land, or funding to do so.