jpescatore

A friend who lives in Columbus and I (who live in MD) plan to do a 4 or 5 day ride from Cleveland to Columbus or Xenia OH in May. We've got the maps from the Ohio to Erie Trail organization but also want to download digital map info to our Wahoo Elemnt bike computers.

I've found a 2014 RideWithGPS file by someone who did the trail back then but I think there have been significant changes since then. Anyone know of .gpx or other standard downloadable digital versions of the Ohio to Erie Trail?

Thanks, John P.

motorapido

I don't have a current gpx file and I share your frustration, since I'm planning to ride the entire route, solo, this summer, and like you, all I can find are older gpx files that include whatever detours the file uploader might have taken. I'll have the current paper maps as backup, but I hate fiddling with maps. Also, the route might have changed a bit since last printing. I suspect that various rail trail organizations choose not to offer gpx downloads since they need money raised by selling paper maps and paper trail books, which include paid advertisements. The paper trail book and paper map paradigm must change to address tech-oriented riders' needs.

motorapido

The lack of responses to the OP's question and to mine from last year make me think that nobody has a current GPX file to share. This is baffling. If a branch of Ohio government oversees this trail, or if a private organization is in charge, they would benefit by freely sharing a GPX file, to promote bicycle tourism on the trail. This seems like a major unmet need.

Tandem Tom

My wife and I rode from Kettering to Kent last Spring as a shake down ride. I have that route on Ride with GPS. Send me a PM if interested.
I have ridden it before in both directions and the paper maps from the trail organization worked well.

Karmajack

I know there's some construction in a few places. Just north of downtown Akron is detoured briefly. It's not well marked though. I also just learned of bridge work being done north and south of lock 29/Peninsula area til June. I'm unaware of the detour status on that section.

fishboat

The Rail-to-Trails Conservancy (Traillink) also has gpx tracks downloadable with a membership. Doesn't cost much & supports rail-trails in general.

https://www.traillink.com/trail-maps...to-erie-trail/

Tandem Tom..I assume your track is the one that's 357.8 miles long?

motorapido

Anybody know if the traillink gpx is kept current? I suppose detours and temporary road closures are probably pretty well marked, but I'd hate to attempt to follow an out-of-date GPX file since the route seems to be undergoing continuous tweaks and minor revisions.

jpescatore

I'm not Traillink member, but what you can see of that map shows big gaps from Dalton to Fredericksburg and Killbuck to Gann.

I'm interested in the date of the .gpx file and if it really has those gaps before I pay $30 to join - anyone know?

I queried the Ohio to Erie Trail associations about online map files, they replied they were not aware of any.

fishboat

Tom's track on Ride with GPS looked pretty good and complete. Why not go with that?

The traillink track looks the same as what google-maps "bicycling" option shows. The gaps look to be where dedicated trail dumps on to local-rural roads..the "bicycle-friendly" road-route is also shown in the google maps "bicycling" option...and I'd guess what Tom did.

Toss in maps.me offline maps for a reality check from your phone...or open your route in maps.me for real-time updates.

The trail association probably knows if there are any major issues. Minor issues are..well..minor.

Seems pretty well nailed.

If there's any major hurdles..that's where the good stories come from.

jpescatore

Our ride is still on for mid-May. I have Tandem Tom's route but since we will be starting in Cleveland, I have created a RideWithGPS route for Cleveland to Akron from the latest info I could find - you can see/download it here.

Weather could still postpone the ride, but once we do it I'll upload the entire Cleveland to Columbus route to Strava and RideWithGPS.

John P.

fishboat

Looks good John...it's going to be a nice ride. The weather is finally starting to get normal-ish. I use RideWithGPS quite a bit with either searching for routes or creating-adding my own routes in. You might want to put 'Ohio Erie Trail' in your RWGPS map title as others searching for a route will find it easier with a keyword-search. I look forward to your update on the experience.

jpescatore

Good point on naming the routes, will do that.

The CycleBlaze jounal I've started can be viewed here. We'll probably upload pictures and captions during the ride but won't do the text until after.

chas58

Is your route similar to the buckeye trail route (Cincinnati to Cleveland)?
Buckeye Trail Bicycle Route - BIKEPACKING.com

there is a GPX and interactive map on that link.

rm -rf

That's originally a hiking trail, that partially uses roads.
Heh, rated (for them) :Sarah and Tom Swallow like epic unpaved tours.

Their Trans America Trail report.

More offroad routes here!

jpescatore

I think that is more of a hiking/mountain bike route and goes well west of Columbus, we will be on the Ohio to Erie Trail which is paved rail trail and some paved roads.

Karmajack

Keep in mind the bridges that are out in the Peninsula area until June. I haven't been over there yet to know of posted detour signs. I just watched a recent YT video of someone doing the similar Cleve-Akron trip, and they mentioned having to backtrack for the detour that he wasn't aware of. I would imagine you would have to take Boston Mills RD (West) to Riverview Road (South) for about 5 miles to Bolanz Road to get back on the Towpath. To my knowledge Riverview Road is "bicycle friendly".

Below is from Cuyahoga Valley National Park Services about the closures.
Trail Closures:
Sections of Towpath Trail Closed For Replacement of Four Bridges

1. Boston Store Pedestrian Bridge, just south of Boston Store Visitor Center

• No south-bound traffic from Boston Store
• No access to Boston Store from Lock 29
• No through traffic. Anyone heading northbound will need to turn around at the closure.
• There will be not access from the overflow lot as construction equipment will be stationed there.
• No through traffic on the Valley and Buckeye Trails

2. Trail Bridge #4 , just south of Deep Lock Quarry

• No south-bound traffic from Deep Lock Quarry

3. Trail Bridge #5 , between Deep Lock Quarry and Furnace Run at Hunt House.
4. Furnace Run Bridge, just north of Hunt House

• No northbound traffic from Hunt House

I've been wanting to get to the Towpath to do certain portions, but I'm waiting for this all to clear up in June.

BTW Most of the towpath south of Rockside road til at least Akron is crushed limestone.

Enjoy your ride. Look forward to reading about your experience.

jpescatore

Wow - thanks for that info. The OTET site had an item about 4/15 flooding of the Cuyahoga Valley systems, but nothing about the bridge closures!

Update - found a YouTube video (maybe same one KarmaJack saw) of a guy who just did Cleveland to Akron and looks like the road detour is not too bad, but he also found another detour just outside of Akron.

Also, found the Ohio Bikeways map here that seems to have the best information on closures and other relevant trail information for a lot of the OTET route.

Looks like we'll have another 10 miles or so of road vs. trail.

Karmajack

No problem. While not as scenic, taking Riverview Road should shave off just a bit of time, as well as being a smoother surface. That trail is one of my favs in the region. Mostly for it's length and scenery. I've only done from Harvard Ave to Lock 3 in DT Akron so far. I plan to explore more southern reaches this season. I'm anxious for the phases up near Cleveland to get finished as well.

Right before you reach DT Akron, there's construction and a detour there, but it looks like you got that part mapped out fine. There's a nasty couple hills there on that detour on Hickory Street.

Are you taking a pitt stop at that Hilton in Akron? Near to that, there's a Courtyard Marriott that's a quarter mile off the trail from the Beech Street Trailhead. It's shortly after that Hickory Street detour. Pricing seems similar to the Hilton. There's a bike shop basically right across the street from there. As well as restaurants. I only mention it because it's closer to the trail. Seems more convenient.

Karmajack

Also, here's an interactive map that might be of use to you. Not sure if you know of it or not. It's handy for finding restrooms, water, nearby attractions, shops, restaurants, and lodging that are on (or not far off) the trail.

jpescatore

My friend Rick did the lodging reservations - the Courtyard Marriott in Akron was our first choice but there was some reason why we ended up at the Comfort Inn. Does seem like the Comfort Inn is only close to fast foods!

I had found that CanalWasy interactive map, thanks - it had the best information of any of them.

MKahrl

The gap between Killbuck and Gann (also known as Brinkhaven) is much smaller now. The trail is now paved from Glenmont to Brinkhaven and it's one of the most scenic parts of the route. It follows a railroad right-of-way and if you're wondering how trains managed to go up and down the hills it was by having pusher engines to assist . The 7.4 miles on rt 520 between Killbuck and Glenmont is flat, in a scenic valley, and you'll be able to count the number of cars on one hand. Use the other hand to count Amish buggies.

jpescatore

Thanks for the info! Years ago (more than 20) Rick and I did a 2 day charity ride in that area, I think we stayed the night at Kenyon College outside Mt. Vernon. I remember the Amish area and beautiful cycling.

jpescatore

Rain Delay - a stationary front moved into the OH/PA region, changing the weather forecast to rain and thunderstorms pretty much every day of our planned trip. We have the flexibility to try again another time, so we've postponed the trip.

We'll still try to get some bicycling in during the weekend in the Dayton/Xenia area, when the weather may clear. If the front decides to move one way or the other, I might still drive out earlier and we'll add more biking but right now the score is Weather Gods 1 Wimpy Tourist Cyclists 0...

jpescatore

We salvaged one day of the trip, the Mt. Vernon OH to Columbus leg - write-up here.

JodyBikes

Ohio to Erie Trail has the GPX files as of September 2018. It is on the ohiotoerietrail dot org website under CycleLifeHQ resource. (I am new, so I am not permitted to post the direct link.)