Ohio to Erie Trail Day 3: Columbus to Mount Vernon (52 Miles)
Urban Tourism, Small-Town Flavor, and Trail Camaraderie
This tour has been blessed with something rare for September in Ohio: perfect weather. Each morning begins in the crisp mid-40s, warming to the mid-70s under nothing but blue skies. For a state known for unpredictable weather, this week has been a gift.
Becoming Urban Tourists
Most Ohio to Erie Trail cyclists I read about online stick tightly to the route, often pressed for time. I get it. Vacation days are precious. But sometimes it’s worth stepping off the Ride with GPS route, even if just for a few hours.
That’s how our 52-mile day to Mount Vernon began with an urban tourist detour. Years ago, I designed a best of Columbus cycling tour for friends, and I’ve since folded pieces of it into my own OTET rides. This morning, about half of our group joined me on that urban adventure.
We rolled onto the Scioto Greenway just as the city was waking with runners, walkers, and commuters along the riverfront. Our first stop was the bronze stag statues in Franklinton, overlooking the downtown skyline. The Town Street Bridge stag is my favorite, and of course, everyone stopped for photos. Jim planned a loop to see the other two stags near COSI, so we did.
Stagged out, we crossed the Broad Street bridge heading to the Ohio Statehouse to capture shots of the capitol surrounded by downtown towers. Continuing pedaling, we passed the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Behind it lies one of the city’s park gems, Topiary Park, a living recreation of Georges Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. This was the stop my companions had been waiting for.
We continued east along quiet neighborhood streets of historic homes in revitalized blocks, and almost no traffic until we reached Franklin Park Conservatory. We enjoyed a short stroll through its gardens before we connected to the Alum Creek Trail. This scenic section of the trail wove us through parks in Bexley and eventually back to the official OTET route at I-670.
North Through Westerville
The Alum Creek Trail carried us along and across countless Alum Creek bridges. Each has its own style. The OTET exits this scenic trail with a brief climb up Schrock Road into Uptown Westerville.
This is where many OTET riders stumble, as the trail briefly gives way to city streets. With some careful navigation (and a little GPS guidance), we threaded through Uptown Westerville, then crossed the busy Maxtown Road business area and into the quiet shade of the Genoa Township Trail.
Here, the Preservation Parks of Delaware County trails ushered us into Galena. Stuart, Gary, and I couldn’t resist stopping at the Galena Diner, a classic small-town spot with friendly service and plenty of character. Being a “true tourist” on the trail means saying yes to places like this.
After a wrong turn, we found ourselves cycling through Sunbury before the trail opened into Ohio farmland. The trail rose slightly uphill as we exited Delaware County and entered Knox County.
Coming Home on the Heart of Ohio Trail
Back on familiar ground, the Heart of Ohio Trail, I knew Mount Vernon was close at hand. I paused in Centerburg for a selfie at the OTET midpoint marker and frame, a little tradition for riders passing through.
Just beyond Centerburg sit two notable landmarks. The geographic center of Ohio is marked by a boulder in Memorial Park, and a few miles farther north, the highest point of the Ohio to Erie Trail is commemorated by a monument. And no, despite what you might think, it’s not all downhill from there.
The final stretch into town did have a descent. I rode past Ariel-Foundation Park, where most of my companions stopped to climb the Rastin Observation Tower, and continued to Mount Vernon. At the historic CA&C Depot, I crossed the street onto the steel viaduct that carried me up Gay Street to my overnight stop at The Grand.
Evening Camaraderie
One of the best parts of a group tour is the shared meals at day’s end. About fifteen of us gathered at The Alcove, Mount Vernon’s historic fine-dining spot. Some opted instead for a sports bar, but wherever we landed, the laughter was loud and the stories even louder.
After dinner, we wandered to Mount Vernon’s dog fountain on South Main Plaza, a local landmark and one of the most photographed spots in town. Lit at night, it made the perfect backdrop for more photos and more camaraderie.
Tom’s Reflections
Today reminded me why it’s worth wandering beyond the prescribed route. Cycling through downtown Columbus, pausing at Topiary Park, and walking through Franklin Park gardens offered a calm, unexpected entry into the day. Lunch in Galena gave us a taste of small-town Ohio, the kind you might miss if you just stick to the trail.
We closed the day with joy, laughter, and community in Mount Vernon. It was a fitting end to one of the most memorable rides of this tour so far.
Tomorrow, we head deeper into familiar territory: the scenic trails of Knox County and on toward Holmes County, home to one of Ohio’s largest Amish communities.
