May 22nd, got a late start, nearly 1 PM. Today’s ride is the Western Reserve Greenway. The WRG, located in Ashtabula and Trumbull Counties (very northeast corner of Ohio) is a rails-to-trails course running north-south nearly 43 miles. The northern trail-head starts in the town of Ashtabula, only a few miles from Lake Erie and runs south to Warren. The route follows the old Pennsylvania Railroad line, which supported Ashtabula’s once bustling port on Lake Erie. The trail is part of the planned 110-mile Great Ohio Lake-to-River Greenway that will run from Lake Erie to the Ohio River in East Liverpool.
Today, I started from the Austinburg trail-head. Nice little town; little general store and an outdoor sandwich stand cooking Italian sausage and dogs. Having rode from the northern trail head on previous rides, I decided to start here (about 7 miles south) and extend my ride deeper into Trumbull Co. as have never gone that far south before turning off. Patchy clouds and 75 degrees, let’s ride.
Along the route there are several signs noting NE Ohio’s role in the Underground Railroad. Cool!
As you enter the town of Rock Creek, there is a short section of on-road riding. (right-left-right, back on the trail – signage)
This bridge, just south of Rock Creek, features bump-outs that give a bird’s-eye view of the creek and scenery below.
The next trail town to the south is the village of Orwell. Good place to look for fuel & fluids. Skies were turning ominous.
I roll up to the border marker of Ashtabula-Trumbull County and stop for a photo opp. It begins to rain.
I rode another 5 miles south until the rain intensified and a full roars of thunder were heard. The bad weathers was all south of me so, I did a 180 and headed north. As I continued to ride, the weather improved so I rolled past Austinburg with plans to go to the northern trail-head in Ashtabula. In previous rides, I have jumped on the trail at Rt 84, which is a few miles south of the trail-head.
I make it to ‘Bula and stop for a few pictures.
Heading south, I cross the historical King Bridge, a steel trestle built in 1897, and 3 newer underpass/tunnels.
In years past, on road by-passes were needed to navigate around several major highways like I-90.
I roll back into Austinburg, a near perfect 62 mile, metric century. Pretty ride, just want to get the southern Trumbull Co. section checked off my list soon 🙂
YouTube Video of Ride: Western Reserve Greenway – Ashtabula
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