Touring - UGRR route crossing of Ohio river?

Greetings,

We are planning to ride from Cincinnati to Lake Erie - mostly following the ACA UGRR route. We bought the map for the section from Milford, OH to Erie, PA.

We would like to start at the Ohio river, rather than in Milford, to do the River-to-Lake thing properly. If it is a good crossing point - we would buy the UGRR map and take that route from where it crosses the Ohio River to Milford. If the UGRR route crosses too far from Milford we will choose a different starting point.

Does anyone here know where the UGRR route crosses the river?

Thanks,
Steve & Linda
Dayton, OH

Maysville, KY to Aberdeen OH on 62/68
to Ripley on 62/68 (52)
to Georgetown on old US68
to Walsburg on 68
to Williamsburg on back roads
to Owensville on back roads
to Stonelick on 50
to Milford on back roads

You'll need the maps for the back roads section or do what I did and just take the "major" roads in the area. Although there's more traffic, the scenery isn't much different. Many people in my 2007 ACA ride cut the course to avoid most of the back roads in the area which were circuitous and steep. Good luck.

The UGRR route crosses the Ohio River near Ripley, OH roughly 50-60 miles east of Cincinnati. That crossing, as well as the Cincinnati spur are not part of the Milford to Erie map section.

I work in Northern Kentucky and live about 8 miles from the UGRR route north of Milford, and have significant experience cycling between the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (including river crossing) in Cincinnati and Milford. If you had to start in Kentucky near Cincinnati I would begin in Covington by crossing the Roebling Suspension Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Roebling_Suspension_Bridge) then proceed east as follows:

Begin at Freedom Center
R - 2nd Street
L - E Pete Rose Way
East Pete Rose Way becomes Riverside
L - Delta Ave.
R - Eastern Ave.
Slight R on Airport Rd.
L - Wilmer Ave.
L - Beechmont Circle
L - Wooster Pike
R - Dragon Way
R - Wooster Pike
R - Avoca Trailhead - parking for Little Miami Scenic Trail
Continue North on trail to Milford.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=50+East+Freedom+Way,+Cincinnati,+OH+45202-3414+(National+Underground+Railroad+Freedom+Center)&daddr=US-50+E%2FWooster+Pike&hl=en&geocode=FRqUVAIdHnb2-iGPUZUVI89gwQ%3BFWo5VQId5An5-g&mra=ls&dirflg=b&sll=39.13735,-84.346805&sspn=0.011734,0.020857&ie=UTF8&ll=39.117276,-84.406929&spn=0.186724,0.33371&z=12&lci=bike

The following is my own opinion on the route, but please understand that I almost always travel this segment during peak PM rush hour. If you travel at other times traffic will be light.

This 12 mile route differs from the UGRR Cincinnati spur by skipping the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and other residential areas, but is generally a bike-friendly ride. Riverside Drive where you'll be spending much of your time is a delight, even during rush hour. It's a 4-lane road with time-controlled parking in the right lane - drivers usually keep to the left travel lane allowing cyclist a nearly car-free right lane (parked cars need to be negotiated on a few occasions, but traffic levels make this manageable). You will likely encounter other cyclist at all times of day.

Wooster Pike north of Beechmont Circle ranges from a 2-lane Rd. with no shoulders to a 3 lane road with super wide travel lanes (still no marked shoulders). Generally worry-free after the first mile north of Beechmont Circle.

Wooster Pike between Dragon Way and Madisonville Rd. is a heavily traveled commuter corridor. It's generally a 4 lane roadway with speed limits around 35mph. No shoulders for much of it's length. The 1st mile between Dragon Way and Madisonville Rd (Mariemont) can be avoided by meandering through the neighborhood streets on the north side of Wooster.

Wooster Pike between Madisonville Rd. and Avoca Trailhead is 4 lanes wide, no shoulder, but mostly downhill allowing you to travel at the same speed as traffic. Manageable even in heavy traffic.

Traffic and street conditions will be comparable between this route and the official UGRR "Cincinnati Spur" route, and avoids any significant climbing. This particular route is best described as "manageable" during rush hour and pleasant any other time.