Summer 2020
Ohio Ride – The Heartland
Spend six days cycling through Southern California’s beautiful desert landscapes
About the Ride
The event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic
Join the interest list for next time!
Columbus, OH
Join the interest list to help us bring it back! This new 4-day ride brings the excitement and impact of Climate Ride to the Midwest. The ride begins in Ohio’s iconic capital city of Columbus and meanders through the Buckeye State’s picturesque forests and farmlands to Amish country. Traveling the Ohio to Erie Trail, we’ll visit the verdant Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and end on the gentle shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland.
Event Details
Positive Planet Impact
Full Event Story
NEW RIDE! Climate Ride Ohio spans 250 miles and explores the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country on and off of the Ohio to Erie Trail from the Greek revival Ohio Statehouse via Cuyahoga Valley National Park to the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland. Dreamed up nearly 30 years ago, the Ohio to Erie Trail route consists largely of rail trails and other multi-use trails and eventually will span more than 325 paved miles (from Cincinnati to Cleveland). We’ll explore some of its best sections, as well as discover a number of hidden gems off-trail, such as the beautiful Mohican River watershed, Mohican State Forest, and Ohio’s Amish country.
From the exciting trip start in Columbus near the state capitol to the triumphant arrival in the Forest City, Climate Ride Ohio will challenge, inspire, and surprise as you pedal and connect with thought leaders, advocates, and like-minded people dedicated to advancing sustainability.
On Climate Ride Ohio, you’ll spend four days cycling on a scenic journey that explores the back roads of the Buckeye State. You’ll discover inspiring scenery, stay at comfortable retreats and classic summer camps, visit one of America’s 61 National Parks, and experience the thrill of touring by bicycle with a community united by their passion for sustainability, renewable energy, and bicycles – the ultimate carbon-free form of transportation.
During the trip, we’ll travel on some of Ohio’s multi-use trails (the state has more than 1,200 miles of trails!), riding past historic buildings, family farms, quaint villages, and verdant forests. We’ll also stay at an environmental education center right within Cuyahoga Valley National Park and spend the next morning exploring this surprising Park on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Evening programs and dynamic speakers combine with world-class cycling to make this charitable event exciting, informative, and fun.
Our professional Climate Ride staff takes care of all the details, so you can focus on riding the 50-70 miles per day of carefully-planned routes on scenic roads. It’s challenging yet achievable, and you have all day to make it to the next rest stop. Meals, snacks, bike support, luggage transport, and all of the logistics are included when you reach the fundraising commitment. On the road, the Climate Ride support team is always nearby to assist you, keep you happy and healthy, and make your ride worry-free and memorable. Bike rental options are available in Columbus.
Photo Gallery
Itinerary Overview
Itinerary subject to change, your Ride Guide will include full details.
Bike 54 or 74 Miles | Elevation Gain 1,503 ft
Climate Riders will depart from Columbus, OH on the paved Alum Creek Trail, and pedal along this meandering creek with a morning water stop along the way. After another quick 20 miles, we’ll enjoy a plentiful picnic in Centerburg (the geographical center of Ohio!) and then hop on our bikes and pedal through several small towns to a local ice cream shop before heading into a verdant forest. Small roads and bike paths lead to tonight’s destination –a summer camp on one of Ohio’s many lakes. In the evening after a hearty dinner, we’ll gather to hear from our first speakers of the week before returning to our bunks or tents for a well-deserved rest.
51 Miles or 76 Miles | Elevation Gain 2,664 ft
Today’s exceptional ride showcases Ohio’s Amish country with small villages, rural farming country, and verdant fields of crops basking in the sun. We depart from our lodge, heading east through a scenic Ohio State Forest and then along the Mohican River to cross over Ohio’s longest covered bridge – The Bridge of Dreams. Then, we’ll jump on the Holmes County Trail until we reach Millersburg the County seat of Ohio’s Amish Country, where we’ll enjoy a tasty picnic lunch at a local park. After lunch, our route follows the official Amish Country Scenic Byway and the forests open up to bountiful fields of corn and soybeans, tended to by Mennonite farmers. Here we’ll have the opportunity to visit a classic Amish farmstand, a delicious cheese factory (which just won an award for the 2019 Swiss Cheese US Champion – it’s amazing!), and a bustling Amish market with more snack items than you’ll believe. After a few more scenic miles, we’ll arrive at our camp for the night – a former farm with several historic wooden barns dating from the early 1800s. After a well-deserved dinner, we’ll hear from informative speakers before settling into sleep at this classic summer camp.
54 or 74 Miles | Elevation Gain 518 ft
After a filling hot breakfast, we’ll head out for an exciting day of cycling mostly on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath. We leave our camp on well-paved roads before jumping on the Towpath in Navarre, OH. Built between 1825 and 1832, the historic Towpath provided a successful transportation route from Cleveland to the Ohio River and opened up a large portion of wilderness to the more settled eastern US (the Towpath was originally built for mules to haul boats in the adjacent canal). Along the way, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on a small lake before continuing on the Towpath through forests and fields. Our route takes us through bustling downtown Akron – the former “rubber capital of the world’ and the state’s fifth-largest city. The Towpath Trail is well-marked through this vibrant city before returning to a quieter location along the Little Cuyahoga River north of the city. In the afternoon, we’ll enter Cuyahoga Valley National Park with its leafy forest canopy and arrive at our camp for the night – an environmental education center where schoolchildren from all over Ohio learn more about our natural world. We’ll also offer a long option to get in some extra miles and take a short hike to must-see Brandywine Falls if you’d like. On our final night, we’ll gather to enjoy a special presentation that recaps our epic adventure. But there’s more to come!
29 Miles | Elevation Gain 171 ft
Our final day is a scenic one! We’ll start out from our retreat, and pedal north to ride on the Towpath through the National Park with its many trails, rolling hills, forests, and waterfalls. Cuyahoga translates to ‘crooked river’ – referring to the many turns and sharp banks of the Cuyahoga which runs through the park. After refueling at a morning water stop, we’ll begin to see signs of civilization again as we approach Cleveland – the “Rock and Roll City” – named for the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We’ll pedal the last few miles to a park on the shores of Lake Erie where we’ll enjoy a farewell picnic. Then we’ll meet up with our support vehicles, reclaim our gear, and say our goodbyes before shuttling back to Columbus or departing from Cleveland.
Ready to get started?
Where does the ride start and end?
The ride will start in Ohio’s Capital city near downtown Columbus. After four days of riding, we’ll finish in Cleveland, Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie. After a picnic lunch, we’ll offer shuttles back to Columbus or the Cleveland Airport. More detailed information about the ride start and shuttles will be available in the Ride Guide which you’ll receive after registering.
Transporting Your Bike
If you are traveling to the bike ride with Amtrak, you may be able to bring your bike onboard! Learn more here.
More information on traveling with your bike or where to rent a bike for this charitable event will be made available once registered.
Accommodations & Meals
We will be staying in, cabins and dorm-style rooms at full-service summer camps on this trip with dining halls and conference facilities. At two of the camps, tent camping is optional but is not allowed at our third camp, and we also have hotel and hotel-style options available at our overnight locations. Amenities at our overnight locations include hot showers, a first-aid station with 24/7 ice, clean restrooms, and shared rooms with vinyl mattresses. You should bring a sleeping bag and a fitted sheet.
Private hotel-style rooms are limited and are first come first served at an additional charge.
All dietary restrictions will be accommodated on this trip by our staff and caterers. There will be a variety of hot breakfasts, picnic lunches, hearty dinners and plenty of snacks in between to fuel you for multiple days of riding.
On Climate Ride Ohio, we bring together a dynamic community. Each evening after dinner, we’ll gather for our Evening Program which features speakers, roundtable discussions, and other events.
Fundraising Beneficiaries
Cyclists can choose from the more than 100 incredible beneficiary organizations in our network! One of the things that make Climate Ride such an effective charitable event is that you can select the organization(s) you wish to benefit through the Climate Ride grants program. Our beneficiaries were selected for their work on the environment, conservation, sustainability, climate education, and active transportation advocacy. At the end of the year, Climate Ride grants the proceeds from our events to these hard-working organizations.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Fundraising Deadlines:
| $500 to be raised by: | TBD |
| $1,400 to be raised by: | TBD |
| $2,800 to be raised by: | TBD |
Transfer Deadline:
30 days before the final fundraising deadline.
Learn more about deadlines and transfers on our Policies page.
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!