Ohio to Erie Trail – FMCPT

Ohio to Erie Trail

Ohio to Erie Trail sign and bike weeds

HontonCard

Ohio to Erie Trail runner bridge

11-07-10-OET-HontonBridge2

HontonCard02

Wood bridge

Ohio to Erie Trail plaque

Ohio to Erie Trail - bike and train

Ohio to Erie - Columbus Trail

OHIO bikers

Primarily an off-street recreational trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, the Ohio to Erie Trail (OET) spans the state of Ohio from Cincinnati to Cleveland. Following lands formerly occupied by railroads and canals, the collection of regional trails connects four of Ohio’s metropolitan cities, a dozen large towns and numerous small villages . Easily accessible, paved trails are almost exclusively separated from highways and automobiles. In 2017 the trail reached a total of 326 miles.

Ohio’s Green Corridor
The Ohio to Erie Trail is in place with 270+ miles of recreational trail. Users are able to travel the corridor linking Cincinnati, Columbus, Akron and Cleveland on a safe trail while enjoying the splendor of Ohio’s rural heartland. Along the way, users can re-live the history that shaped the state: Amish history, Revolutionary War history, Civil War history, canal history, railroad history — it all happened here along the OTET!

What You’ll See
Along the way, the trail passes through rural areas, farmlands, nature preserves, and regional parks giving the adventurous a hearty helping of nature’s finest. The small rural towns are a treasure of small shops, restaurants and history of Ohio. At the metropolitan perimeters, meadows and woods give way to exciting urban centers, affording the traveler a contemporary taste of Ohio’s culture and arts.

Everyone Welcome
The Ohio to Erie Trail is a collection of multi-use trails that provide exercise and adventure to anyone who’s willing to leave the automobile behind. Bicyclists, equestrians*, skaters, hikers, families with strollers, bird watchers, walkers and nature lovers are a common sight. In the winter, the trail becomes a snowshoe and cross-country ski path. And, for those with mobility impairments, construction designs call for full compliance with ADA guidelines so that everyone has the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Ohio as the trail weaves its way across the state.

Distances
In 2017 about 270 miles (83%) of the 326 total miles are on separated paved trails with about 50 miles on some city streets (7%) and rural roads (10%). The actual total mileage of separated paved trail changes monthly as more and more miles are taken off streets and routed onto new, separate, paved trails. As more miles of abandoned railroad beds are converted, the actual overall length of the OTET decreases.

*Currently the Madison County Park District does not allow horses on the Madison County trails.

Visit OhioToErieTrail.org

(Tons more trail resources!)

Top

Around 2009, an idea first developed during a conversation between Wayne Roberts with FMCPT and Van Viney, CEO of MATCO Services. It took a while, but in 2019 work began in earnest to begin construction of a "welcome" area on the east side of London. This was envisioned to compliment our beautiful "welcome" on the west side of town, the Prairie Grass Trailhead with its camping area, shelter house, and many other amenities. The original vision to create a multi-panel mural using the bricked-in windows of the old tile factory building that MATCO now owned was expanded upon to include a mini-park, a respite with benches, pleasant landscaping, and more.

Many local people have contributed many, many hours of brain power and sweat equity to bring this project from an old factory wall and overgrown grounds to the trail highlight it has become. We have kept costs extremely low though all of the in-kind donations and almost innumerable hours of donated labor. But also, we received great support support for the funding we required, all from Madison County-area companies and people. It was, and is, a true "community" project.

An added benefit was realized a couple of years ago when we found that we could easily create access to Roberts Pass for MATCO clients and employees. They previously had found handicapped-friendly trail access difficult if not downright impossible. For the first time, they are able to safely access their next-door neighbor, the Roberts Pass section of the Ohio to Erie Trail!

Further value was gained when Michele Bouquet and Sue Cline joined our efforts bringing the wisdom of the Madison County Master Gardeners with them. They, and many of their cohorts, contributed tons of time developing and implementing a gorgeous native plants garden in our mini-park, along with several pollinator plant zones. We hope to build on the value of this by adding educational kiosks throughout the mini-park. We also plan to work with area groups, including the OSU Extension Center, on educational opportunities for local schools, seniors, etc.