Ohio to Erie Trail - Self-Supported Bike Camping
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- In June 2021, I traveled, self-supported, along the 326 miles of the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET), stretching from Cincinnati to Ohio, as well as an additional 56 miles after to reach my home in Huron, Ohio. In this video, I share the different sections of the trail, trail surfaces and conditions, lodging options I chose and a description of the trail and my journey. By the end, I covered 397 miles over six days through heat and, in the end, rain.
GPS of the Route: ridewithgps.com/routes/37827679
Ohio to Erie Trail www.ohiotoerietrail.org/
Cuyahoga Valley National Park www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
Gear:
Insta360 One X2 Camera www.insta360.com/product/inst...
Surly Midnight Special - Custom surlybikes.com/bikes/midnight...
Arkel Rollpacker Bags www.arkel-od.com/rollpacker-2...
Lodging:
Old Town Reserve, Green County Parks, Xenia www.gcparkstrails.com/parks/o...
Kokosing Valley, 25860 Coshocton Road, Howard kokosingvalley.com/
Hampton Inn, Massillon www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mslo...
Heritage Farms, Peninsula www.heritagefarms.com/camp-si...
Music obtained through CZcams Studio
00:00 Day 1: Cincinnati to Xenia
04:48 Day 2: Xenia to Columbus
08:35 Day 3: Columbus to Howard
13:19 Day 4: Howard to Canal Fulton
18:00 Day 5: Massillon to Peninsula
21:40 Day 6: Peninsula to Cleveland
25:22 Cleveland to Huron
I enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing. The background music was a little too loud for my pleasure. The scenery was great.
The level of the background music is something I have struggled with. I get it to sounding to my taste on my software but after I upload it to CZcams, it sounds differently. I think each video has some improvements as far as that goes.
I have same ZPaks tent! Good choice!
this is great thank you for bringing us along on your trip. Nothing compares to travelling by bicycle.
Nice Vid. I also traveled the OTET trail in June 0f 2021. I may of passed right by you. Started in Ashtabula took the Greenway to Warren and cut over to Akron, eventually into Indiana all the way to ALbuquerque NM.. This brought back so many memories. I recognized most of the spots. The cool campground in Xenia, the Amish and all the road apples. LOL, strange town of Killbuck. Rain and sun and rain and sun, happy for the shaded trails but enjoying the country roads. Columbus was a maze so glad to get out of there. Akron was a pleasure to bike thru. You nailed it and covered all the bases. And you were right that most of the drivers were polite. Ohio is light years ahead of any state when it o come to bike trails.
Excellent video Brian, very well done. Thank you for sharing!
Fun trail for sure
Enjoyed the travel footage. I found the background music a little distracting though. Thanks for sharing.
Getting the right balance of audio volumes is always a bit of a struggle for me. Thanks for your feedback.
I'm in Akron Ohio and I love the towpath!
It is great
I couldn't help but notice the tune "resting in the everlasting arms" at 24:30. thank you.
Thanks for sharing your trip, Great to see it in a concise but yet informative format!
This is very helpful Thanks! I’m surprised how much of the trail is not trail.
Thank you! It is a mix, but all felt safe.
Through your videos I'm learning so much about America and the trail systems and routes. But more than that I can get a vision of America for ordinary folk. I think when a country portrays themselves on mass media they miss that for the unfortunate propaganda and nationalism that comes over. I like to see ordinary folk as they are. Nice town you live in, even in the rain it looks nice. 326 miles is very respectable for a short ride. Thank you for sharing with us all.
really great narration and information
Thank you!
Looks like my kind of ride. That's what I do. Nicely done video, enjoyed watching. 👍🙂
Hey Brian, looks like a great adventure! Thanks for the footage :)
Gorgeous and well told.
Nice bike tour . Good job on your video .
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing with us. I have rode the Columbus to Cincinnati section in pieces over the last 3 years. When you came through South Charleston(between London and Xenia) you were 20 min from my house. Again, thanks for taking the time to make a wonderful video.
Thank you! You are so lucky to live close to a great trail
Awesome video, Brian. Thanks for sharing your journey. Brings back fond memories of my 2021 OTET tour.
Great video! I’ve been thinking about this ride. Cheers!🙏🏼😎🚲
Brian, your videos are great! Thanks for sharing your content and trips. Greetings from Spain.
Enjoyed the video. Lots of good information. Thanks
I really want to do this one day love this video amazing quality
Thank you!
Awesome video! I rode the OTET just a month before you uploaded this video. First time traveling it and I'm already excited to go again next year!
Nice editing and narration.
Thank you.
Great video! It checked all my boxes for what I like to watch while waiting for a snow storm to come in.
Thank you!
I enjoyed your video. Thank you!
Thank you!
Great video of your trip. i’ll be doing my first bike adventure in September with the GAP/C&O. I have a midnight special as well and have been enjoying it very much.
Really well done video. I’ll keep a link as a second-hand souvenir of my own Cincinnati-Cleveland thru ride this summer. Thank you!
Same here!
I lived in Ohio for 50 years but now live in northern Kentucky. I know about the hot muggy Ohio summers and feel for you trying to ride in that kind of heat.
Nice video and narration. In that same June I did a four-day ride that ended up at Castalia, not so far to the west of you. In 2019 I was on bits of that Ohio to Erie Trail south and north of Millersburg and at our hotel in Millesburg talked to some riders who were doing the whole thing. It's good to get your take on it. My preference is usually for riding on the roads, for the same reasons you gave, but sometimes on hot days the shade is too good to pass up. And sometimes the traffic and hills away from the trails are too much. It's good to have these trails, too.
Great video. BTW, people from Xenia pronounce it Zeenyah.😊😊 Hopefully you were able to stop by Pied Piper when arriving home.
Thank you! The Pied is a great motivator to get my children on their bikes!
I so enjoyed this. I lived in Lakewood for several years and now live in Canton, OH. I'm a cycling enthusiast and have been on much of the towpath and even Holmes County Trail in Millersburg. It was fun to see so many area where I've ridden. Nicely done and thank you for posting this! I'd love to one day do something similar. Also, I didn't realize there are places to camp off of these trails. That is good to know. Thanks again! Blessings to you!
Thank you! I hope you do someday do such a trip. Each that I have done has been a great time and there are some great trails.
Wonderful video, Brian.
I watched it all. There was great music, soothing commentary, and beautiful cinematography and editing. I could only hope to ever make a video like this.
You also have a very pretty bike.
Thanks for the video. I will share.
How kind! Thank you
Loved this
Thank you
Great video
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing... 👍
Starting this trip next week! May 25, 2023😂❤
It is looking like it will be great weather for you. I hope that holds true. Enjoy!
Great video! I live in Cincinnati and have family near Dayton so I make the ride from the Ohio River up the little Miami River trail to xenia a lot. Furthest I've gone is to Columbus.
Same
But I haven’t gone from cincy to Dayton yet mainly do Milford to Loveland and back or a different variation of that any suggestions?
Thanks for sharing. I plan to make a self-supported trip later this summer. It's good to know what surfaces to expect and driver tolerance of cyclists on non-trail sections.
I think you've completely captured the essence of traveling through the landscape during bike traveling. Beautiful images. As a resident of the continent of Europe, it shows me what beautiful cycling routes there are in the USA. Thanks for that.👍
-sorry I guess I was wrong about all of what I was going to say there are plenty of trails like this all Over the us I just never really look it up thanks for making me aware of the other good trails in the us
(Not to throw shade at the rest of the us but this is quite unique to ohio yes I am from there so I could be wrong but to my knowledge ohio has the only trail like this)
@@duskmoss As an enthusiastic cyclist I am always on the look out for new routes and possibilities and I am also curious about the experiences of other cyclists. It surprised me that quite a some cyclists from the US upload their cycle tours on CZcams. In my mind, perhaps biased, the US didn't seem to have a bike-friendly infrastructure. That's why I was surprised by the very bike-friendly and beautiful Ohio to Erie Trail and yes I understand that this route is unique in the US. Liked it very much. 👍
Thank you! There are several great routes in the US
Awesome. I do wonder why no helmet?
Because they are uncomfortable.
I really like the cadence of your dialog, not one of those people who talk at 300mph.
Enjoyed the video, have been watching videos of that trail recently. Like your video it was just right. You stated June 2021, was wondering a good time of year to ride. I'm from south Texas so the heat is tolerable for me but wouldn't mind getting out of it! I prefer no rain but am equipped for it. Anyway any recommendations on time of year, and prevailing wind is appreciated. I would think Cincinatti to Cleveland would be preferred. Thanks, also appreciate the ridewithgps file link!
Thank you Richard! I'm no meteorologist, but the prevailing winds are typically from the West. The wetter months of the year are May, June and July. The muggier months are July and August. My preference is to do this trail from Cincinnati to Cleveland, but many prefer the other direction. I don't think there is a strong weather related reason to go one direction or the other. I'm glad to hear you are planning to make the trip. I'm sure you will enjoy it!
Excellent video. Thank you! I want to ride this and camp but wouldn’t want to go as many miles per day as you. It seems camping options are quite limited along the trail though.
Camping options are available, but it does take some planning. Many options can be found here - www.ohiotoerietrail.org/plan-your-trip/
I've enjoyed all of the cycling adventure videos you've provided on youtube Brian! I plan to ride the C&O and GAP from DC to Pittsburgh in June, 2022. Since the Ohio to Erie trail runs from Cincy to Cleveland it got me wondering whether there are any bike trail(s) that also connect Cleveland to Pittsburgh? Thought you may know since you're from Ohio. Thanks again for providing so many enjoyable videos! Your knowledge and expertise are appreciated & the information you provide is certainly helpful!
There is a trail that would get one from Pittsburgh to Weirton. Then there is the Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath that one could take from Massillon to Cleveland. There is also an Ohio Bike Route 62, that would seem to link much of the way between those two trails. At least that is how I think I would start with planning. www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/active+transportation/resources/state-us-bike-route-system
@@briansadventures Thank you for the follow-up Brian which is greatly appreciated! Ride on my friend!
You said you were not able to stay at the Bridge of Dreams. What did you do? Great, inspiring video.
That is right. They have it as only one campsite and it was reserved. I planned my trip around it, camping at Kokosing Valley Camp and Canoe in Howard, and then planning to ride to Canal Fulton to camp there.
I have to try this sometime. I love ohio!
It is a great way to see Ohio - rural landscapes and towns as well as the better part of a few Ohio cities.
Your right about akron being nice to ride thru , but you have to be careful , some sketchy characters. I ride it every weekend weather permitting.
Excellent journey. When I was a kid, my dad and I biked from Columbus to Mohican State Park for an overnight round trip adventure. Wondering about your custom Midnight Special build... Can you let us know what you created?
I made it a 1x with a carbon fork and Industry 9 wheels. Here is most of the setup:
SRAM Force 1 crankset with a 42 tooth chainring
Sram Rival Type 1 3.0 long cage rear derailleur
Garbaruk 11-46 cassette
Chris King ThreadFit 24 Bottom Bracket
Whiskey No.9 CX Disc 12 Tapered carbon fork
Chris King Inset 7 Headset
Industry Nine Trail 270 TRA 650b wheels
SRAM Centerline XR 160mm rotors
Pro 2Bliss tubeless tires
@@briansadventures Thanks for the info. Great setup!
Great video! Thoughts on the insta360 camera? Looking at that and the GoPro.
I would be interested in finding out as well
Great video. I plan on doing a very similar route as yours in 2024, except finish in Sandusky where I grew up and my parents live. My biggest question for you is about tires. I'll do it on my steel road bike. Can I get away with 30mm road tires on the "unpaved" portions of this route? They would be more endurance tires with puncture protection than race tires. I can't imagine doing all of this on my carbon gravel bike.....I wouldn't be able to walk for a week.
I think 30mm should be fine, especially if it is dry. The area with the most gravel is through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is hard packed. Not too far for a day trip to check it out if you haven't already.
Is this mostly the Buckeue Trail?
Very nice video.
I believe the buckeye trail is a hiking trail but this is the (Ohio to Erie trail)
I’m planning to ride the O2E in late May. I would prefer to camp the entire route. I made it to Mt Vernon last year before my riding companion developed heat exhaustion and we called the trip. How did you find/choose your campsites? I found it difficult to find them at my projected stops and ended up ‘stealth camping’ except at London where the city has a rest station camping area right along the path. Thanks for your video and any advice!
This webpage is a great resource and has a pdf of campsites along the trail. www.ohiotoerietrail.org/plan-your-trip/
Very inspiring! I wonder what was your average speed?
Thank you! It looks like it was about 14.5 mph
Hey Brian nice video. Hoping to do it in the fall when it’s not so hot! Do you think it would be feasible, or a good idea, to camp outside of the official camp sites? Just whatever you could find? May not be worth the trouble but... I love Huron!
If you mean stealth camping, I know the trail organizations discourage that out of concern with the impact that can cause on their relationships with the neighboring communities. There are several reasonably priced camping options along the route. Here is a list - ohiotoerietrail.org/assets/uploads/2021/06/Campsites-06_30_21.pdf I would probably consider stealth camping as a last resort for those reasons and because along several sections it might not be feasible to find a good location to do so.
@@briansadventures Yeah, makes sense. Thanks for the list.
Really enjoyed your video! I’m flying from AK to StL to ride Katy Trail in April. My first bike tour. How did u film ur ride, go pro?
This past year I used an Insta360 One X2. www.insta360.com/product/insta360-onex2
I am also thinking of doing Katy Trail in Missouri this fall. Looks great!
Hey Brian, thanks for the video. I’m going to be riding the OTET this year and wondered what tent you were using?
I hope you have a great trip. I'm considering riding this route again myself. During this trip I used a Zpacks Duplex tent, link to follow. I also enjoy using a Big Agnes Cooper Spur tent. zpacks.com/products/duplex-tent
www.bigagnes.com/collections/ultralight-tents/products/copper-spur-hv-ul1?variant=42837132706041
Thanks again for the info Brian. My Grandson and I are super excited about the ride!
I noticed that you are riding a Brooks saddle. I just purchased one and I’m wondering if you needed to wear padded shorts?
@@rickster6.0 I'm sure one could get comfortable enough to ride without the padded shorts. But getting a sore area can make the rest of the ride difficult. I use them to help prevent that from happening. Good ones are also made to wick away moisture and dry quickly.
Enjoyed the trip and want to do the same.
Question. I know you stayed at a couple hotels, but are campsites readily available along the way?
One could camp through the entire trail, but it does take some planning. The Ohio to Erie Trail web page has a list of several. www.ohiotoerietrail.org/plan-your-trip/
Thanks for this video! How did you figure where to camp along the path?
Thank you! This website has lists of campsites, lodging and attractions along the trail. www.ohiotoerietrail.org/plan-your-trip/
@@briansadventures thanks SO much!
wait, the Ohio-Erie goes down Rt. 104, doesn't it? that's down the center of Ohio I thought?