Want to get out of town? For me and many local – and even international – cyclists, one of the most enjoyable adventures is the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET). Known as “Ohio’s crown jewel,” the OTET, starting in Wendy Park on the shores of Lake Erie, stretches 326 miles through the state – including the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail and the Little Miami Scenic Trail with some additional overlap – through Akron, Millersburg, Columbus, Xenia, Loveland and Cincinnati, with numerous cities in between.
The OTET, also known as State Bicycle Route 1 (parallel to USBR 21), is a unified network of interconnected multi-use greenways and trails consisting primarily of hard, flat surfaces. A gateway to many of Ohio’s other adjacent trails, it winds through some of the most scenic parts of our heartland. Along the OTET corridor, history buffs can learn about Ohio’s role in the Revolutionary and Civil War, the early days of the railroad and canal, and how the Amish first made our state their home.
Whether you challenge yourself with a quick ride to Cinci in three to five days, or take it easy and spread the ride over seven to ten days, you’ll return home with stories and memories that will last a lifetime! As a proud board member of the OTET, I’ve ridden the trail both ways with friends, one of whom, Mark Looney, wrote a book about exploring our state by bike:
“A Trail Through Ohio: A Bicycle Diary” by Mark J. Looney
I found a wealth of trip planning information on the OTET website, including “Ride with GPS” files, where to get trail guides and merchandise, and other tools:
ohiotoerietrail.org/planOTET
Enjoy your summer by driving safely and legally and have fun driving with the OTET!
Ken Knabe, Greater Cleveland bicycle attorney, advocates for bicycle safety and represents cyclists injured by careless motorists. 14222 Madison Avenue Lakewood, OH 44107 (216) 228-7200.
