Ohio to Erie Trail
Included in these categories:
5 DaySelf-Guided Tour
What’s included
For Double Occupancy |
For Solo Riders |
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Tour and Shuttle^ |
$850 per person |
$1,445 per person |
Tour, Shuttle and Luggage Transfer |
$1,175 per person |
Request quote for accurate pricing |
Groups must have 5 riders or less.
^A discount can be added if one-way shuttle is not needed at start or end of tour.
Our Ohio to Erie Trail bike tours utilize the best in local B&Bs and hotels to ensure a comfortable and refreshing stay each night. All lodgings are located along the trail or within easily bikeable distance.
We choose only rooms with private bathrooms, and most have one queen bed. Some lodgings offer rooms with two separate beds, and some have suites which allow up to 3 guests (typically these rooms have a queen and single bed or air mattress).
A one-way shuttle between Cleveland and Columbus is included in all tours, but can be removed. Drive time is approximately 2.5 hours barring unusual traffic. The shuttle can run at the start or the end of your trip; and your trip can start in Cleveland or Columbus.
Shuttling may not be available on weekends.
Daily luggage shuttling is available.
Some breakfasts are included in our OTET tours (all included meals will be noted on your tour quote). For non-included meals we provide daily suggestions and a list of recommended restaurants. Those with significant dietary restrictions, please advise us at the time of booking so that we can communicate this to your B&B correctly.
In smaller towns, some restaurants will close one day a week and often that will be on a Sunday or Monday.
Vegetarian and vegan options are relatively accessible along the trail and can be accommodated by all B&Bs we book.
All riders will receive access to our Ride with GPS Trip Experience created just for this itinerary. You do not need to have a personal account to use the premium features included. The Experience provides you with a daily itinerary, including where to eat each day, trail highlights, and any specific instructions, all easily accessed on your phone.
It also includes digital mapping with offline voice cues and other premium features. Mapping can be downloaded for use on Garmin and other devices, as well.
Itinerary
Start your tour of the northern half of the Ohio to Erie Trail in the state capitol – Columbus. You’ll bike along a series of trails out of Columbus and then through a mix of regional parks and residential areas. The 17-mile Heart of Ohio Trail leads into the small city of Mount Vernon at the end of the day.
*If shuttling from Cleveland on Day 1, your shuttle can start you closer to Mount Vernon at another trailhead – Westerville, for example – for fewer miles on this Day 1.
Meals: On own
Overnight: Mount Vernon
Today is a day rich in biking variety. You’ll start the ride out of Mount Vernon on the Kokosing Gap Trail, once part of the Pennsylvania Railroad line. Ride through tunnels and see old railroad history. Beyond Danville the route takes the short but lovely Mohican Valley Trail which features the “Bridge of Dreams”, a covered wooden bridge. The last half of the day is spent in the heart of Amish country in Holmes County. The trail section here is a climb to a fun descent, then you’ll be on a trafficked highway shoulder between Glenmont and Killbuck (approx. 7 miles). The end of the day is spent back on the rail trail into Millersburg, which you’ll likely share with horse and buggy traffic.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Millersburg
Leaving Millersburg, the OTET follows the Holmes Country Trail for several more miles before transitioning onto paved and gravel secondary roads. You’ll ride through gradual hills along rural roads for several miles before rejoining bike trails. At the small city of Massillon you’ll pick up the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
Meals: On own
Overnight: Massillon
You’ll enjoy the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail on your way to Akron today. The towpath is a mix of paved and crushed gravel surface, with scenic beauty the entire way. This is a gorgeous section of the route to enjoy.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Akron
You’ll be biking on the towpath trail for almost the entire day today as you leave Akron and enter Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath is a joy to ride and worthy of a bike trip all on its own. It’s a great way to spend your last day of biking, as it travels all the way to Canal Basin Park in Cleveland. The last part of your ride today will take you directly to Edgewater Park at the shore of Lake Erie and the northern end of the Ohio to Erie Trail!
Meals: Breakfast
Meet your shuttle in Edgewater Park to return to Columbus, or spend time in Cleveland before returning on the shuttle. (Riders can also choose to shuttle at the start, rather than the end, of their trip.)
Riding the Ohio to Erie Trail
The trail can be ridden between May and October, as dictated by weather and trail conditions.
Spring on the OTET is a wonderful way to restart your cycling season. May can have periods of rain followed by periods of gorgeous spring sunshine. Spring flowers are found all along the trail and add a special color to your trip.
Summer can be a great time to ride for those who do not mind the heat. A good portion of the route is unshaded and the heat can be a factor, so those who prefer cooler riding temps should plan for spring or fall dates.
September and October is peak season on the trail. Fall foliage occurs generally in early to mid-October, although exact dates do vary each year.
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A deposit is required to secure your reservation; amount is based on the total price of your trip. |
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Total Trip Cost |
Deposit |
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Up to $500 |
$300 |
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$501-$1,500 |
$600 |
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$1,501-$2,500 |
$800 |
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$2,501-$3,500 |
$1,000 |
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$3,501 and above |
30% of trip cost
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Excepting the listed cancellation fees, all payments for travel services not provided to the traveler shall be refunded; this does not include any non-refundable charges.
Applicable vendor fees – Some vendors charge a percentage of their cost upon cancellation, the amount often determined by how early the cancellation is made. Any non-refundable charges will be assessed if a trip is cancelled IN ADDITION to our cancellation fee outlined below.
Cancellation fees
UP TO 90 DAYS prior to departure –15% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
90-21 DAYS prior to departure – 30% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
Within 3 WEEKS of departure – 50% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
Cancellations can be made at any time; if you must cancel your trip, you must do so in writing or via email.
Our full list of terms and conditions can be found here – https://www.nobleinventionbiketouring.com/refund_returns/
Many riders book 4-8 months in advance, that said, you’ll have the best chance of booking the dates and rooms you need the earlier you book – so we recommend 8-10 months in advance. Groups requiring more than two rooms are also best served to book well in advance to insure availability.
We require at least 2-3 weeks prior to start date to book a trip.
OTET: We do not book pre or post hotels for this route, but there are many options for riders to choose and we recommend the following:
Cincinnati – For those parking a vehicle we recommend the hotels at Newport on the Levee (there is a Hampton Inn, Aloft, and Fairfield there) which is on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. Riders can use the Roebling bridge which has a sidewalk to reach the Ohio side and the start of the route. Those who don’t need long-term parking may also consider the many hotels in downtown Cincinnati which are near the riverfront/stadiums.
Cleveland – We recommend any of the downtown Cleveland hotels, particularly those close to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame or near to the baseball stadium. Riders will use city biking infrastructure to reach the OTET route.
Columbus – We recommend any of the hotels around the Arena District/Convention Center, where the route crosses the city.
All accommodations are personally vetted by our staff and must maintain an excellent rating from our riders. Preferably lodgings are locally-owned/operated; easily and safely accessed by bike from the trail; and located near restaurants.
Our trail phone is answered daily between 7:30am-7:30pm at 844-424-5347. We can be reached via voice or text. In the case of a medical emergency riders should always call or text 911 first.
Have a question about this tour?
Our professional team members are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our tours. Please reach out to them for trail tips and to plan your next adventure.
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