The Un-official Trans-Ohio Trail (TOT) Thread

While technically it doesn't cross all of Ohio, the Totally Awesome Trail Rider's Trans-Ohio Trail (TATR-TOT) loops through the southeastern half of Ohio in 11 segments comprising roughly 1000 miles of tarmac, gravel and dirt roads. There are a few additional challenge sections for more experienced riders.

Huge credit goes to @swingset for assembling the original version before he abandoned us for the lovely state of Texas - he did a tremendous amount of work to put this together. @FireDog45 and I (@Rudderfeet) are now the uber-stewards of the route, but we're actively looking for riders who can check a section two or three times a year to provide ride reports and edits.

Before you download and use this route, PLEASE consider these few words first. Most of this route covers public roads, but there are several "grey areas" near remote residences and private property. PLEASE be respectful with your speed, abeyance of property rights, watch out for children, pets, livestock and crops and generally just don't be a butthead.

IMPORTANT: This is NOT an official route, sanctioned activity or guaranteed track - if you use it, it's at your own risk, accepting the consequences of misuse. No warranties are expressed or implied and no refunds will be given.

If you would like to adopt a section, please reply to the thread and Steve and I will gladly add you to the list. Thanks again and enjoy some of the best Adventure riding Ohio has to offer!

• Section 1: East Liverpool to Glenmont
  • Steward: @625SXC
  • Distance: 134 miles
  • Notes: V28 changes: Removed connecting spur from Mt. Vernon. Removed Stone Quarry challenge section due to permanent road closure. Added Turkey Ridge as challenge section.
• Section 2: Glenmont to Walhonding
  • Steward: @mpenner
  • Distance: 23 miles
  • Notes: Clear as of 4/09/2023. Removed Mt. Vernon dogleg in V28 to be consistent with the TOT's loop concept. Big Hill Road is posted as closed, but it's easily traversed on an ADV or DS motorcycle. Note that the slightly more technical roads near Walhonding can flood after heavy rains, so mind the recent weather.
• Section 3: Walhonding to Zanesville
  • Steward: @Brett Berisford
  • Distance: 100 miles
  • Notes: From @mpenner, mid Feb 2023, Section 3 Wills Creek Challenge section is now gated and posted on both ends. The rest is in good shape.
• Section 4: Zanesville to Glouster
  • Steward: @oldgezzer
  • Distance: 155 miles
  • Notes: Road closure, but don't panic! - see track for easy bypass. Essentially Newburn Rd between Wood Rd and Goshen Run Rd (close to the village Chesterhill) has been closed by Marion Township (Morgan County) and there is a cable across the road. The area from Zanesville to Portersville doesn't have any issues or new closures as of 8/2/2020. SR555 is newly paved. Another report from @Back2Dirt said confirmed the same. Note that one may want to consider the mile stretch just east of the Musky Bucket - it's an AEP road that includes a handful of water crossings through man-made water leveling troughs. Just note it's a seasonal road which is closed in the winter.
• Section 5: Glouster to Zaleski
  • Steward: @oldgezzer
  • Distance: 33 miles
  • Notes: 2/20/2023 report from B. Wiler says Kimberly to Zeleski looks great.
• Section 6: Zaleski to Nelsonville
  • Steward: @oldgezzer
  • Distance: 48 miles
  • Notes: 2/20/2023 report from B. Wiler reported everything looks good.
• Section 7: Nelsonville to Laurelville
  • Steward: TBD!
  • Distance: 85 miles
  • Notes: Free and clear as of 3/4/2020
• Section 8: Laurelville to Oak Hill
  • Steward: TBD!
  • Distance: 70 miles
  • Notes: Bridge on Antioch Rd is open again but hadn't been incorporated into the latest TOT revision - stay tuned.
• Section 9: Oak Hill to Proctorville
  • Steward: @Jakeadv25
  • Distance: 50 miles
  • Notes: All clear as of 6/27/2020
• Section 10: Proctorville to Marietta
  • Steward: TBD and @XMtnman02193
  • Distance: 167 miles
  • Notes: Permanent reroute around Coal Hill Rd as of V21
• Section 11: Marietta to East Liverpool
  • Stewards: @Wyocrawler and @XMtnman02193
  • Distance: 197 miles
  • Notes: Most of it is clear as of 3/27/2020, but Davis Hill Road is pretty rutted out badly - in the wet, one might want to avoid it on a big bike. V21 added two possible challenge sections. Please provide feedback on these as well; until confirmed assume they are NOT big bike friendly.

Change Log:

• V28
  • Section 1 renamed to “East Liverpool to Glenmont” and direction changed to match name change (now E to W).
  • Section 2 renamed to “Glenmont to Walhonding” due to it now starting at Sect. 1 terminus. Removed connecting spur from Mt. Vernon. Removed Stone Quarry challenge section due to permanent road closure. Added Turkey Ridge as challenge section.
• V27
  • Reroute due to Fox Hunter Rd closure on Sections 4 and 4 alternate (Zanesville to Glouster sections both original and alternate)
• V26
  • Sect 6 and 6 Alternative reroutes due to closure at 2 Mile Creek bridge
• V25
  • Section 11: Re-route due to permanent road closure
  V24
  • Section 3: Moved the main track back to Wills Creek Rd and made the short hill climb a challenge section. This ascent and descent now shortcuts the main track so it meets back up a short ways down the track. This challenge isn’t really very challenging but in wet conditions the descent on the western end could be tricky for inexperienced riders, especially on big bikes. Mid-size and small bikes with decent tires should have no issues in any conditions.
  V23
  • Added section notes to the GPX, thanks to Rob McMillan. This might be handy when you're enroute and don't have ready access to the advrider thread
  • Note that colored tracks from v22's enhancements may not show up on different devices and programs - seems this isn't a universally recognized feature
• V22:
  • Overall notes:
  • This version now has “Side Trips” and Alternate tracks included. A side trip is exactly what the name implies: a track off the main track that will show some interesting sights of the area. An alternate track deviates from the original track but begins and ends at the same points. They have some interesting sights and scenery on it so we decided not to replace the originals to give you the opportunity to choose which one you’d like to take.​
  • Because of these additions we’ve used the following color codes to designate the different tracks: Main track - Teal; Alternate tracks - Green; Side Trips - Yellow; Challenge sections - Red; Temp detours - Purple.​
  • We’ve amended all POI’s to include which section they’re associated with as well as started adding informational notes to give some history when appropriate. That is still a work in progress so if you see something worth noting lets us know and we will update it.​
  • Section Changes:
    • Section 4: Alternate track added (155 miles)
      
    • Section 4: Side trip. “Locks and Covered Bridges”. A 79 mile track that starts near Lock #7 on the Muskingum River and takes you past some locks and numerous covered bridges. We’ve added information to the POI’s to give a bit of a history so check those out.
    • Section 4: Shinn Bridge bypass: Shinn bridge had barricades up that appear to be there to stop cars from crossing but there’s a sizable gap that may be there to allow bicycles and pedestrians to cross. When we were there last fall there was a group of people on the bridge so we elected to turn around. Use your discretion if you choose to cross.
    • Section 6: Alternate track added (56 miles)
  V21:
  • Section 3: Will’s Creek Challenge is now a dead end, Only accessible from the eastern end (Coshocton Rd (83)). It is impassable from the western end now. See notes attached to that section as well. Also, see LodiRider’s video and pictures in post #254
  • 
    
  • Section 5: Scenic Loop added, please provide feedback as to making it permanent
  • Section 10: Permanent reroute around Coal Hill Rd
    
  • Section 11: Two possible challenge sections added. Please provide feedback on these as well. Until confirmed assume they are NOT big bike friendly.
• V20:
  • General housekeeping:
    • Changed temporary waypoint icons to red triangle
    • Added 2 digit number prefix to temporary and challenge tracks as well as POI waypoints to better reflect the tracks they’re associated with
    • Added notes to some POI’s with historical information (will be adding more in the future)
    • Cleaned up a couple of tracks that contained extra points that may affect converting to routes
    • Added intro and disclaimer to each track's notes section
  • Section changes:
    • Section 1 - Added bypass around Pravo to reflect bridge out on main route, Added Supermart in Burgholz to list of convenience stores
    • Section 2 - Removed temporary closures
    • Section 3 - Removed temporary closures
    • Section 4 - Added bypass for Newburn Rd closure
    • Section 8 - Added bypass for Antioch Rd closure
    • Section 11 - Marked Davis Hill Rd with warning for big bikes (Heavy rutting that may be an issue in wet conditions)
• V19:
  • Changed Peggy Sues to Newcastle Farmhaus
  • Incorporated previous Wills Creek Bypass into main route (section 3) and converted previous section to Challenge - Wills Creek
  • Added road closure on section 4

First post!
I can commit to the Walhonding to Cochocton section, its only 10 - 15 minute ride from my house to any point on that section. I’m on sections of it often and can easily ride it twice a year or more. There are a few other inmates here that are on it as much or more than me, so no feelings hurt if they want it.
I realize the official segment doesn’t stop at Coshocton and goes to Zanesville, I just don’t find myself on the section south of Coshocton that much, but can run it once a year if needed.

Thanks for taking this on, much appreciated.
Count me in for the Amesville sections 4,5 and 6...

Do we post road/route problems, closures here? Or send you a "direct" post...

I'd say post them here so all can see in case we're a bit slow in getting the file updated. At least that's my thought...

First, thank you! I think road/route posts here would be fine, that way others can track changes a little more in real time while we edit the file and get it posted.

Thanks! I just updated the file to reflect a re-route in the Wills Creek area. The former bypass is now on the main route and the section that was bypassed is labeled as as a challenge. Locals have been going around the bridge at the west end but I didn't want to make that the main route.

*road closure*
Section 04 Zanesville to Glouster....
Waypoints 4124 to 4143...Newburn Rd between Wood Rd and Goshen Run Rd (close to the village Chesterhill) has been closed by Marion Township (Morgan County) There is a cable across the road.

I can keep an eye on section #1.

do I get a badge... or a sash or anything?

I can take the southern half of section 11, Marietta to I-70 if someone can take the north, I-70 to east Liverpool.

The new version has road closed markers at each end. When you get a chance can you confirm I got it right

Beat me to it [emoji23] i can help that section some also. I ride to Woodsfield often in the summer to the fiancés house. Comes within two miles of her house.

Gotta be faster than your elders [emoji2957]

The Goshen Rd end flag is correct...you have Wood Rd closed at SR550? Newburn is closed at Wood, about 1/4 mile down Wood from SR550. Newburn is about a half mile long...I know...clear as mud...

SR550 onto Wood Rd to (R) onto Westland then (R) onto Goshen then (R) to Hoffman...bypassing Newburn...a workaround

I can take 7 and 8, I'm on them somewhat regularly anyway

Musky Bucket H3 Service rd. Gone?

I intentionally moved the west marker to the intersection of 555 and Wood Rd in the hopes that it would pop up before the turn. That way you could continue on 555 and pick up the route further south at Wolman Rd.

Help me out, I'm not familiar with that.

BTW I added the Muskie Bucket to the file but it won't be put out until there's more updates. If you've never been to it and you follow the section 4 track you won't miss it (I know you've been there B but wanted other less grizzled folks to be aware )

Good idea and it makes sense....that's why your doing what your doing and get the big money. (I didn't even have the correct state highway number...duh...)
Thanks for ignoring my ignorance