Chicago to Cincinnati?

[Gypsea]

Having finished my Missouri tour recently, I'm starting to think about next year.  Has anyone ridden from Chicago to Cincinnati then up to Cleveland?  I have come across several bike trails that I might be able to link together, but if you've done this route, any information is helpful. Also camping options?

Thanks!

[aggie]

I just rode from Cincinnati to Cleveland on the Ohio to Erie trail.  The trail is easy to follow from Cincinnati to Columbus.  The trail markings become infrequent at trail intersections in Columbus so you may need a map program (google maps) on your phone to help keep you on the right trail.  The trail marking are horrible in Sunbury and then from Fredericksburg to Dalton.  It will also put you on some of the worst chipseal I’ve ever ridden.  (Be prepared for new fillings afterwards).  Trail marking becomes spotty again once you enter Cleveland.  The Fulton Canal route can be muddy if it has recently rained.  Check out the website for camping info.  You may also want to use it to guide you through the sections that are terribly marked (20/20 hindsight).

[John Nettles]

The Cincinnati to Cleveland back to GAP/C&O is on the bucket list after the wife retires.  That said, as Aggie suggests, I would definitely use a GPS track to help guide me.

As far as the Chicago to Cincinnati, I would just follow ACA's route to Richmond, IN, then create my own route to Cincinnati.

Tailwinds, John

[Gypsea]

Thanks for the great information!  I'll look into ACA route and will be using some form of mapping and routing details uploaded to my Garmin 830. Maybe by next year the chip seal will have smoothed out a bit!

[ray b]

Has anyone ridden from Chicago to Cincinnati then up to Cleveland?  I have come across several bike trails that I might be able to link together, but if you've done this route, any information is helpful. Also camping options?

Thanks!

Though now in St. Louis, I spent 20 y in Toledo and have followed a lot of the efforts toward formally linking locally established trails in Ohio. As noted above, the links are more or less coming together.

That said, which bike trails did you have on your list. One thing we know from good ACA mapping - the direct route is not always the most fun.

As regards camping - OH and Indiana are not as well developed in the way of community park bicycle camping as they should be. I guess, first get the trails linked, then get the communities and landowners on board. E.g., as an older trail, the Little Miami Trail has some good opportunities for camping ranging from excellent group camping through Morgan Canoe Livery to state park and community sites. See https://www.miamivalleytrails.org/camping