Holmes County Ohio Rails to Trails

September 21, 2017 Mike Rudd

Have you done the Rails to Trails in Holmes County Ohio that allows horse carriages?! Sometimes travel takes us to the past. Or at least it might seem like time has stood still in Holmes County, Ohio. Holmes County is located in Northeast Ohio (about two hours from Columbus) and features the largest concentration of practicing Amish in the entire world! This article is about biking the uniquely cool Holmes County Rails to Trails Bike Path!

A weekend there is a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of today’s world. Great cheese, horse and buggies lining the street, tours of Amish farms/homes, and a chance to catch up on good books and conversation with family or friends await you in Holmes County. This path is the only one in the world that allows only runners, bikers, and horse and buggies. It extends for 15.5 miles from Fredericksburg to Killbuck Ohio and passes through amazing farm lands, towns, and wildlife sightings.

I rode the 31 mile round trip trail on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon and it was a ride I will never forget!

This is just a great reminder to me that adventure is everywhere if you search for it and seek it out. It’s also important to note that the so called “Flyover States” of the Midwest are simply not Flyover States. Mountains and beaches get the rave reviews but anyone who lives in America and fails to see the beauty and takes a visit to each of the 50 states is truly missing out on the uniqueness of the country. Holmes County Ohio’s Rails to Trails is ones of the reasons why!

Living in an Eyes Wide Shut mode has never served me and I’d encourage anyone choosing to skip states like Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa to think twice prior to making that decision.

Flyover? More like Fly To!

What to bring on the Holmes County Rails to Trails Ride:

Your bike
Your Helmet
Water
Snacks
A camera
Time to enjoy it!
A sense of adventure

What you will see:

Farms with beautiful horses!
2. Other Bikes
3. Beautiful sweeping views of the sky
4. Horses, Buggies, and Amish Drivers!
5. Wildlife (I saw the biggest concentration of turtles I have ever seen in my life and also saw a deer, amazing butterflies, cardinal birds, and a few slugs :)!)
6. Small Towns

Rails to Trails Must Do:

Give yourself time to ride the whole trail! It gives you a real sense of the area and the towns and it’s a great workout.

Rails to Trails Holmes County Ohio Biggest Surprise:

It had to be the amount of turtles…or maybe the amount of people out there on bikes riding with seemingly nowhere to be and no rush to get there!

And MY Biggest Takeaway:

Oh easily the sore butt. I did my 31 mile ride on a mountain bike so it took me a shade over two hours in the seat. I took that sore butt home with me and it hung out all day! Funny huh :?!

Cowabunga Dudes...Turtle Power!