The Ohio to Erie Trail Connection

Newsletter: September 2026

From the Director's Saddle

As the calendar turns toward September, autumn's crisp mornings and changing colors make it one of the absolute best times of the year to experience the 326-mile corridor. Recently, I had the pleasure of checking out the CROWN Trail Expo at Fifty West Brewing Company, which highlighted the incredible momentum of Cincinnati's local trail networks and our growing regional connections.

Riding regularly across our state reminds me just how vital local biking infrastructure is to our communities. Whether it is a quick neighborhood connector or a major regional spine, these paths rely on continuous support, community advocacy, and strong partnerships. Speaking of major hubs, this month we are thrilled to spotlight Columbus as our featured Trail Town—offering riders an incredible mix of history, food, sports, and seamless trail-side access right through the heart of the capital city.

Stay safe, enjoy the autumn foliage, and I hope to see you out on the trail!

-Alan Weinstein, Executive Director

Enjoy the ride? Support the trail!

As a nonprofit organization, we rely entirely on your generosity to add signs and navigation, help local organizations keep the trail maintained and repaired, and our interactive maps updated.

Important Update on Funding: As federal and administrative funding sources continue to be put in jeopardy, community support is more critical than ever. Please support our efforts to keep things going, protect our infrastructure, and ensure a safe, scenic, and well-maintained trail for everyone.

Every dollar directly supports ongoing infrastructure projects and trail community initiatives. Please consider making a contribution today to help support our ongoing mission across these 326 miles.

Donate now

Trail Town Spotlight: Columbus

The Ohio to Erie Trail rolls right through Columbus, Ohio’s capital city and one of the state’s most bustling destinations. With the trail traversing downtown and through vibrant neighborhoods, riders can easily turn a day on the trail into a day of exploring the city. From riverfront parks and historic landmarks to great food, breweries, sports and entertainment, Columbus offers plenty of reasons to stop, stay awhile and enjoy the ride.

Ride the Scioto Mile: Cruise along the edge of downtown on the Scioto Mile, enjoying parks, fountains and skyline views along the Scioto River.
Explore downtown: There’s plenty to see just off the trail, from the events at Columbus Commons, to COSI, North Market, the Columbus Museum of Art, the historic Ohio Theatre, and Franklin Park Conservatory. The Ohio Statehouse also does free guided tours daily.
Take the Olentangy Trail—and maybe catch a game: The Olentangy Trail offers an alternative route through Columbus and passes some of the city’s biggest sports venues, including Ohio Stadium, Scotts Miracle-Gro Field (Columbus Crew), Huntington Park (Columbus Clippers), and Nationwide Arena (Columbus Blue Jackets). Time your visit right and catch a game along the way.
Hang out in the Short North: Just north of downtown, the Short North Arts District is packed with restaurants, breweries, galleries, shops, public art and nightlife. It’s an easy detour for riders looking to experience one of Columbus’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Looking for additional bike friendly ways to get to attractions around Columbus? Check out MORPC’s Columbus Metro Bike and Trail User Map. And find more things to do in the capital city through Experience Columbus.

Experience Columbus

From the President: Tom on the Trails

Hello trail supporters! As our statewide network continues to grow, exciting things are happening in central Ohio. The Central Ohio Greenways initiative is making fantastic strides with its Trail Towns program, creating a wonderful blueprint for connecting local municipalities, boosting regional tourism, and integrating vibrant pathways like the Alum Creek and Camp Chase trails.

To read more about these regional efforts, community impacts, and ongoing trail discussions, check out my latest posts on the Tom on the Trails Substack.

Tom on the Trails

Game Day Bike Valet

Planning to catch an Ohio State football game or Columbus Crew match? Ride your bike, and skip the traffic and parking hassle. Franklinton Cycle Works provides bike valet service at both Ohio State and Crew home games, giving cyclists a convenient place to leave their bikes while they enjoy the game. The service is free, although tips are appreciated and help support Franklinton Cycle Works and its community cycling programs.

Rider Spotlight: Kristin Uhoda

Finishing right at home in Cleveland

Meet Kristin Uhoda, who finally checked the 326-mile Ohio to Erie Trail off her bucket list! Starting from Cincinnati, her journey was packed with unforgettable stops and incredible trail hospitality.

Favorite Stops Along the Way: Ramseys Trailside in Loveland made for a great lunch stop right on the trail, while the super gracious hosts at The Hearthstone Inn in Cedarville offered a wonderful, bike-friendly stay just 50 yards off the path. She also loved grabbing an iced coffee at The Nook Coffee Bar in London and climbing the tower in Mt Vernon.
The Scenery: From the emotional sight of Columbus coming into view and the beauty of Kenyon’s campus to the glorious downhill stretch to Glenmont, every mile brought something special. She loved the serene countryside of Fredericksburg, Apple Creek, and Dalton before hitting Massillon and catching the familiar Towpath.
The Finish: Kristin called the Cuyahoga Valley one of her favorite places on Earth. Coming through Tremont to see the Cleveland skyline brought tears to her eyes, capped off by watching lake freighters navigate the Cuyahoga River.
Planning Tools: Kristin utilized our full suite of resources, including our Ride with GPS maps, and OTET Trip Itineraries.
Kristin's Take: Dipping her front tire in Lake Erie was one of the proudest moments of her life. "The sense of accomplishment in thinking, 'my gosh… I just rode my bicycle from Cincinnati to Cleveland' was a little overwhelming."

Have a great trail story to share? Complete our post-ride feedback form for a chance to be featured—and enter to win an OTET bike jersey in our November drawing!

Trail Markers: The Little Miami Railroad Marker & Rail History

Rich railway history lines the Ohio to Erie Trail (Little Miami Scenic Trail) in southwest Ohio, commemorating the state's pioneer transit roots. Located along the trail at Beech Road in Loveland, this marker details the line's 1836 charter from Cincinnati to Xenia.

Pioneer Beginnings: Chartered as Cincinnati's first railroad, the line reached Milford in 1841 and Loveland in 1844 and began Loveland's peak era as a busy commuter hub with 40 daily passenger trains.
National Significance: President-elect Abraham Lincoln rode the Little Miami Railroad to his inauguration in February 1861, and the route later transported vital Union troops and supplies to nearby Camp Dennison.
From Rails to Trails: After operations ceased in 1962, the defunct corridor was successfully transformed into the popular recreational Little Miami State Park bike path we enjoy today.

2026 OTET Photo Contest

Capture the Spirit of the Trail! Submit your favorite shots through October in our two new categories:

Trail Town Spotlight
Best of the OTET

🍁Fall is the perfect time to capture the trail in all its autumn color. From vibrant foliage to crisp morning rides, show us what makes the OTET special this time of year.

Winners receive an exclusive OTET merchandise package!

Submit a photo

Quick links and reminders

Tag Your Rides: Riding the trail end to end? Don't forget to tag us @ohiotoerietrail and use hashtag #Ohio2ErieFinisher on social media.
326 Club: Registration is active! Use our form to provide details, share photos, and get a chance at winning an exclusive OTET biking jersey. Join 326 Club
OTET Jerseys: Keep cool with our lightweight and breathable OTET jerseys. Visit Trail Shop

⚠️ September Trail Alerts ⚠️

Bank Street Closure (Northern Segment) — Bank Street in Apple Creek (Wayne County) will be closed to through traffic between US 250 and Apple Creek Road for 120 days for a bridge replacement project.
Little Miami Scenic Trail (Southern Segment) — CLOSED: The trail is closed in South Lebanon for a major sewer infrastructure project. This closure affects the LMST from Stubbs Mill Road south to the Lebanon Spur.
Boston Trailhead to Lock 29 in Peninsula: (Northern Segment) — CLOSED: The Towpath Trail between Boston and Peninsula will be closed August 24 – November 20 to replace the Stumpy Basin boardwalk..
Kokosing Gap Trail (Central Segment) — Milling and repaving of the KGT is to begin Wednesday, Sept 2nd at the Mount Vernon terminus. The entire trail will be resurfaced and sections of the trail will be closed as the work progresses east.

View Maps + Alerts

SUPPORT THE OHIO TO ERIE TRAIL

As a nonprofit organization, we rely entirely on your generosity to add signs and navigation, keep the path maintained and repaired, and our interactive maps updated. Every dollar directly supports ongoing infrastructure projects and trail community initiatives, ensuring a safe, scenic, and well-maintained trail for everyone. Please consider making a contribution today to help support our ongoing mission across these 326 miles.