Great American Rail-Trail In Ohio
Ohio’s Ohio to Erie Trail | Photo by TrailLink user epet4mail
Several iconic trails play host to the Great American Rail-Trail in Ohio—the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and the Ohio to Erie Trail.
The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail connects two major metropolitan areas and one of the country’s most-visited national parks—and comprises a major portion of the Cleveland-to-Pittsburgh corridor of the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition, one of RTC’s TrailNation™ projects, which will connect Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York via a developing 1,500-miles-plus trail network.
In Clinton, the Great American route branches off on the Ohio to Erie Trail, which—connecting to Cincinnati through Columbus—is composed of many trails that link the state’s diverse communities, including that of the largest population of Amish in the country. Along the route, commemorative sites pay homage to the state’s rich historical attributes, including the role that it played with the Underground Railroad and as an innovator in American aviation.
Ohio stories along the Great American Rail-Trail
The “Great American” Route Through Ohio
Several iconic trails make up the route across Ohio, which is already more than two-thirds complete. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail connects New Philadelphia to Cleveland, providing a rich history and unique experience along the way. Instead of following the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail all the way north to Cleveland, however, the Great American Rail-Trail will branch off at Clinton and head southwest on the Ohio to Erie Trail, which travels to Cincinnati through Columbus.
336.6
Total Miles242.7
Existing Miles93.9
Gap Miles72.1%
Complete
Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment (2026)
The Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment 2026 defined the preferred route of the Great American Rail- Trail as more than 3,700 miles—with 2,086 miles of existing trails and 1,674 miles of trail gaps.
Economic Potential of the Great American Rail-Trail Report (2022)
Investments could generate more than $229.4 million in visitor spending, $104 million in labor income, and $22.8 million in new tax revenue.
Trails Along the Route
Gateway Trail: Ohio to Erie Trail
While not quite stretching sea to shining sea, the Ohio to Erie Trail will connect two major waterways: the Ohio River in Cincinnati and Lake Erie in Cleveland. Cutting a diagonal across Ohio, the developing project offers some 326 miles of trail on the ground already. The Holmes County Trail, one of many gems in the route, is a bucolic beauty known for its use by one of the largest communities of Amish in the country. View trail map on TrailLink.
Conotton Creek Trail
The Conotton Creek Trail features 11.2 miles of rail-trail traveling from Jewett to Bowerston, Ohio. Once the corridor of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway, the trail now travels across Ohio’s countryside and includes five covered bridge crossings over the Conotton Creek. The trail was repaved in 2021, which will make this popular trail more accessible for the many seniors who are part of the surrounding community.
Zoar Valley Trail
The nearly 81-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail follows a historical canal where mules pulled boats from New Philadelphia to Lake Erie in Cleveland from 1827 to 1913. When the full towpath trail is completed, it will be 101 miles long and incorporate several trails, including the Zoar Valley Trail.
Ohio to Erie Trail
Starting at Fredericksburg, the Ohio to Erie Trail hosts the Great American Rail-Trail for more than 150 miles across the state, winding southwest through Ohio’s scenic countryside and bustling midwestern towns. The Ohio to Erie Trail is planned to span the state, eventually reaching a total of 326 miles. The Ohio to Erie Trail is formed by a collection of regional trails traveling across Ohio between Cleveland and Cincinnati. Included in the Great American Rail-Trail route are 16 uniquely named trails that fall within the Ohio to Erie Trail footprint but are often operated independently. View trail map on TrailLink.
Heartland Trail
Two portions of the Heartland Trail have been completed. In September 2019, Phase 1—a 2.7-mile segment of trail—was opened between Marshallville and Forrer Road in Orrville. Another 1.6-mile trail segment, Phase 2, is open in Orrville. Phase 2 makes use of city sidewalks and multiuse trail to travel through the center of Orrville, connecting parks, local businesses and homes. View trail map on TrailLink.
Holmes County Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Holmes County Trail, part of the Ohio to Erie Trail, is currently open in two disconnected segments, connecting Fredericksburg to Killbuck and Glenmont to Brinkhaven. Located in the heart of Amish Country, the Holmes County Trail was the first recreational trail in the country designed to accommodate Amish buggies. Holmes County Rails to Trails Coalition Inc. and the Holmes County Park District maintain and develop the trail. View trail map on TrailLink.
Mohican Valley Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
From the western terminus of the Holmes County Trail in Brinkhaven (also known as Gann), the Mohican Valley Trail travels 4.5 miles west to Danville. Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail, the Mohican Valley Trail follows an abandoned right-of-way of the old Penn Central Transportation Company on the eastern edge of Knox County. The Mohican Valley Trail features the Bridge of Dreams, a 370-foot covered bridge over the Mohican State Scenic River. View trail map on TrailLink.
Kokosing Gap Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Kokosing Gap Trail travels 13.5 miles from Danville to Mount Vernon. The trail is rich in railroad history, which is displayed throughout the route. Once the corridor of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the rail-trail features two railroad bridges, each more than 250 feet long, over the Kokosing State Scenic River, as well as restored train cars in Gambier. View trail map on TrailLink.
Downtown Connector Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The 1-mile Downtown Connector Trail connects the Kokosing Gap Trail to the Heart of Ohio Trail through Mount Vernon. The trail begins at the western terminus of the Kokosing Gap Trail on Mt. Vernon Avenue. The trail travels west along the Kokosing River to the restored CA&C Railroad Depot, where it connects to the Heart of Ohio Trail.
Heart of Ohio Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Heart of Ohio Trail travels 18.5 miles from Mount Vernon to Centerburg. Along the trail in Mount Vernon, Ariel-Foundation Park proudly displays Ohio’s industrial past in the form of a 250-acre adaptive reuse project. Once the site of a glass-making factory, this space now features sculptures, lakes, an observation tower and walking trails. The western terminus of the Heart of Ohio Trail was extended 1.3 miles in 2022 to connect with the Meredith State Road Trail at the Knox–Licking county line. View trail map on TrailLink.
Meredith State Road Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The western terminus of the Heart of Ohio Trail was extended 1.3 miles in 2022 to connect with the Meredith State Road Trail at the Knox–Licking county line.
The Sandel Legacy Trail consists of two trail sections totaling 7.8 miles of trail. The first section, formerly known as the Meredith State Road Trail, travels from the Licking–Delaware county line to the unincorporated community of Condit.
Sandel Legacy Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Sandel Legacy Trail consists of two trail sections totaling 7.8 miles of trail. The first section, formerly known as the Meredith State Road Trail, travels from the Licking–Delaware county line to the unincorporated community of Condit. The second section travels through the village of Sunbury. Once an abandoned railroad bed, the trail was donated by Walter and Kathy Sandel with funding for trail conversion provided by a NatureWorks grant. The trail is formerly known as the Big Walnut Community Trail, and it continues to serve as a community hub, with a picnic area and former depot that houses the Delaware County Model Railroaders Group.
Thomas W. Hopper Legacy Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The 1.5-mile Thomas W. Hopper Legacy Trail, formerly known as the Galena Brick Trail, is the section of the Ohio to Erie Trail that goes through the village of Galena. The latest section of the trail, which opened in late 2019, begins at County Road 104/Dustin Road and follows a former railbed northward to Sunbury. Largely wooded, it includes a bridge over Little Walnut Creek and travels through Miller Park, which contains a small playground.
Hoover Scenic Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Hoover Scenic Trail winds 0.8 mile through the Hoover Nature Preserve area. The trail begins south of the village of Galena and runs along the shore of the Hoover Reservoir within the Hoover Nature Preserve. The trail heads west to cross South Old 3C Road via a bicycle and pedestrian bridge. Trail users continue west for a short way on Plumb Road to connect to the Genoa Trail.
Genoa Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The 4-mile Genoa Trail parallels state Route 3 from south of Galena to Westerville, Ohio, but is separated from the highway by trees and vegetation. Once an abandoned railroad, the corridor now features a multiuse asphalt trail and amenities for trail users, including benches and a bicycle repair station.
Westerville B&W (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Westerville B&W (Bike & Walk Route) is an extensive system of paved multiuse trails forming many loops throughout the city of Westerville, a suburb of Columbus. The Westerville B&W will host the Great American Rail-Trail for 2.5 miles. The spine of the Westerville B&W was built on a former rail corridor and connects 23 miles of trail throughout the city.
Alum Creek Greenway Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Alum Creek Greenway Trail winds alongside the picturesque Alum Creek for 25.2 miles and hosts the Great American Rail-Trail for 12 miles between Westerville and downtown Columbus. The Alum Creek Greenway Trail celebrates active transportation by honoring important figures with plaques and bridges along the trail.
Downtown Connector Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Downtown Connector Trail parallels I-670 for 3.5 miles from Ohio Dominican University to Clinton Middle School and Columbus State Community College. The fully paved Downtown Connector Trail serves as an important link between neighborhoods on the city’s east side and downtown Columbus. A 1.5-mile segment of the Downtown Connector Trail is largely on road, utilizing lower-volume roads and bike lanes with clear signage, and is described as “easily navigable.”
Scioto Greenway Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Scioto Greenway Trail is a 12.2-mile trail that traverses the banks of the Scioto River, connecting several parks and offering scenic views of downtown Columbus along the way. The first greenway built in Columbus, the Scioto Greenway Trail serves as the spine of the Scioto Mile, a string of prominent parks and landmarks in downtown Columbus. View trail map on TrailLink.
Camp Chase Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Camp Chase Trail travels 15.9 miles from Columbus to West Jefferson, Ohio. The trail, named after the railroad with which it shares a corridor, serves as a shining example of a well-constructed rail-with-trail. The trail was built by Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks and the Columbus Recreation & Parks Department. View trail map on TrailLink.
Roberts Pass Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Roberts Pass Trail runs 6.5 miles from Wilson Road in rural Fairfield Township to London, Ohio. The paved trail passes through farmland for its entirety and is shaded by tree canopy throughout. Local volunteers secured the right-of-way and a work lane for construction of the trail. The Roberts Pass Trail is named after Wayne Roberts and Gene Pass, the leaders of Friends of Madison County Parks & Trails. A memorial plaque near Maple Street in London records the history of the Roberts Pass Trail.
Prairie Grass Trail (Part of the Ohio to Erie Trail)
The Prairie Grass Trail travels 27.8 miles from London to Xenia, Ohio, and is one of four rail-trails that radiate from Xenia Station. Once a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad freight yard, Xenia Station now includes a local history museum that features information about the three railroads that once ran through the town: the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Wellston Subdivision and two lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Prairie Grass Trail marks the western end of the Great American Rail-Trail’s journey along the Ohio to Erie Trail.
Creekside Trail
The Creekside Trail travels 15.1 miles northwest to Dayton through the town of Beavercreek, Ohio. The Creekside Trail is a rail-trail and is part of Miami Valley Trails—a network of more than 340 miles of trails that travel throughout Ohio’s scenic Miami Valley. The Creekside Trail is also one of several trails that radiate from Xenia Station.
Mad River Trail
The scenic 7.1-mile Mad River Trail follows the Mad River into downtown Dayton. The Mad River Trail will host the Great American Rail-Trail for a 3.2-mile section that begins in Dayton’s Eastwood MetroPark and travels to RiverScape MetroPark. The paved trail is relatively flat and is accessible for cyclists, skaters and pedestrians of all ages. View trail map on TrailLink.
Great Miami River Trail
The Great Miami River Trail runs alongside the Great Miami River for 86.2 miles from Piqua down to Fairfield. The Great Miami River Trail is the backbone of Ohio’s paved Miami Valley Trails network, spanning 340 miles throughout Ohio’s Miami Valley. There is a 7.6-mile loop around downtown Dayton on both sides of the Great Miami River. From the connection to the Mad River Trail, the Great Miami River Trail breaks off in two directions, giving trail users two options to cross the Great Miami River. Both trail options meet up at the Wolf Creek Trail. View trail map on TrailLink.
Wolf Creek Trail
The Wolf Creek Trail is currently open in two disconnected segments and travels northwest for 13.8 miles from Dayton to the Montgomery–Preble county line. Part of the Ohio Miami Valley’s 340 miles of off-road trails, the Wolf Creek Trail is a well-maintained asphalt route that winds alongside Wolf Creek. The Wolf Creek Trail is currently divided into two segments of existing trail with one gap (Trail Gap 14) between them:
Segment 1 – 2.9 miles of trail heading west from Dayton to the unincorporated community of Stillwater Junction.
Segment 2 – 10.9 miles of trail between Trotwood and Preble County Line Road in Brookville.
Listen To Oral History:
Route Reveal Celebration
Completing the Great American Rail-Trail: Catalyst Initiatives in Ohio
In every state along the preferred route of the Great American, needs for completing the trail vary. To spur trail completion, RTC has identified initial catalyst initiatives—projects or challenges that would most benefit from RTC’s national breadth of resources. (View the complete list of catalyst initiatives and criteria here.) Through these initiatives, RTC will support local and state partners, investing time, expertise and organizational resources in specific projects that are critical to the ultimate completion of the Great American Rail-Trail.
Statewide Trail Network Funding
Great American Rail-Trail Gaps #14 (Wolf Creek Trail Extension—Dayton to Trotwood), #15 (Preble County Line to Ohio-Indiana State Line) and #16 (Ohio-Indiana State Line to Richmond)
RTC will work with local partners—Preble Trails, Five Rivers Metroparks, the City of Richmond and the Preble County Park District—to provide the expertise and resources necessary to complete the combined 31.8-mile trail gap. Activities will include identifying local match funding for the Wolf Creek Trail Extension and coordinating with Preble County and the City of Richmond on activities including a corridor feasibility study, cost estimation, trail design and engineering, local stakeholder engagement, funding strategy and ultimately construction of the cross-state connector project.
Great American Rail-Trail Preferred Route
