A Shutterbug’s Guide to Photo Ops Along the Ohio to Erie Trail
Tom's mile-by-mile collection of favorite views from Cincinnati to Cleveland
One of the things I love most about bicycle touring is that every ride tells its own story. The Ohio to Erie Trail is one of the best storytellers, 326 miles of chapters through river valleys, canal towns, Midwest farms, and city skylines. Each mile invites photographers to pause, look through their camera's lens, and capture the moment in a frame.
A bike trip becomes an easy photo journal with today’s mobile phones. Each snapshot reminds you where you’ve been and how it felt to be there. Taking photos does more than preserve the journey. It makes time on the bike more memorable when you notice the uniqueness of Ohio. These are some of my favorite photo stops that make me pull over and snap a picture.
Important Note: Distances are measured from Mile Marker 0 (MM-0) at the Roebling Suspension Bridge in Cincinnati as of April 2026. Mileage is shown in the 2026 Trail Guide, available through the Ohio to Erie Trail store and select bike shops along the trail. Most photos are on or near the trail. For off-trail locations, the listed mile marker shows where you leave the official route. Mile markers are approximate and reflect the nearest mile.
Southern Ohio
1. Cincinnati from Newport on the Levee (MM-1) - The Queen City glows from across the river. Take the Purple People Bridge to the Kentucky side for a classic sunrise skyline view.
2. Lucius (Lucky) Quinctus Pigasus at Smale Riverfront Park (MM-1) - A flying pig in a Roman toga honors Cincinnati’s “Porkopolis” past, a whimsical sendoff for riders headed north.
3. Milford Trailhead on the Little Miami Scenic Trail (MM-18) - The pale-yellow depot, marked with a bold “Milford Trailhead, signals that you are in the Little Miami River valley.
4. Trailside Loveland (MM-27) - Catch a photo sitting on the bench with Mr. Redlegs in this cyclist-friendly trail town full of amenities and historic buildings.
5. Xenia Station (MM-69) - This reconstructed trail depot, once a former rail hub and now the intersection of five trails, is an icon of Ohio’s rail-to-trail legacy.
6. South Charleston Trailhead (MM-88) - A bright red caboose welcomes visitors to small-town rural Ohio, making a perfect historic railway backdrop.
7. London’s Madison County murals (MM-99) - You will brake for the collection of murals on a historic building that sits behind a perennial garden of Ohio native plants.
Columbus
8. Columbus skyline at the confluence (MM-124) - From the bridge where the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers meet, you are treated to a dramatic view of downtown Columbus along the riverbanks.
9. Deer statues on the Scioto Mile (MM-125) - Three sculptures look toward downtown Columbus, with the most notable one on the Town Street Bridge, worth the short jaunt off the route.
10. Ohio Statehouse and Capitol Square (MM-125) - A short detour leads to the Ohio Statehouse and landscaped grounds surrounded by skyscrapers.
11. Topiary Park and Franklin Park (MM-126) - Two of the city’s unique green spaces, a living replica of a painting and a botanical garden, are on an alternate route through the city.
12. Alum Creek Trail boardwalk (MM-135) - A long wooden boardwalk crosses wetlands, surrounded by a lush forest, which is beautiful in every season.
13. Uptown Westerville (MM-142) - Historic storefronts and bike-friendly businesses make a good place to capture small-town charm and street scenes.
Central Ohio
14. Sunbury Town Square (MM-152) - A picture-book Ohio town centered around a large square with a historic town hall and statues that feel quintessentially Ohio.
15. Ohio to Erie Trail midpoint in Centerburg (MM-162) - The official halfway marker and an irresistible selfie frame to celebrate your ride across the state.
16. Ariel-Foundation Park and Rastin Observation Tower (MM-175) - Reclaimed industrial grounds transformed into a unique green space. Climb the tower for sweeping Knox County views.
17. Dog Fountain at South Main Plaza (MM-175) - Joyful water-splashing dog statues that make everyone smile. Look for the pony, bluebirds, apple, and cats that are often overlooked.
18. 0-6-0 Locomotive, Gambier (MM-181) - Historic train engine, flatcar, and caboose make a great photo, along with the iron bridges you cross on this trail.
19. Bridge of Dreams, Brinkhaven (MM-194) - One of Ohio’s longest covered bridges offers a perfect shot as you pass through. Take the trailhead driveway to the banks below for another view.
20. Baddow Pass on the Holmes County Trail (MM-199) - This stretch gives you a heavily wooded climb and descent of unspoiled nature that speaks to every nature photographer.
21. Millersburg Courthouse Square (MM-216) - Hipp Station is the gateway to a photogenic rural Ohio county courthouse square surrounded by century-old buildings.
Northeast Ohio
22. Wayne County Amish Country (MM-226-242) - You will see buggies, wagons, and scenes of everyday Amish life. If you photograph here, do so with care and respect.
23. Nostalgic Dalton Dari-ette (MM-242) - Sometimes memories are made with a soft-serve cone or coney at a nostalgic roadside dairy stand. This is one of those places.
24. Ohio and Erie Canal at Canal Fulton (MM-262) - Canal Fulton is a charming canal town with a watered canal, towpath, and reconstructed canal boat that make it a perfect photo op.
25. The Portage Indians (MM276 & 287) - These bronze statues at the Manchester Road trailhead and in the Merriman Valley mark the Indians’ portage between the Ohio River and Lake Erie.
26. Summit Lake floating towpath (MM-279) - Riding over Summit Lake on the floating boardwalk with many views is a unique gateway to downtown, complete with a nature center.
27. Lock 3 Park in downtown Akron (MM-281) - Akron has reimagined this park with a mix of public art, downtown buildings, and canal exhibits with easy trail access.
28. Mustill Store on the Towpath (MM-282) - Historic remnants like the Mustill Store and house sit beside a canal lock as a reminder of the canal era that shaped this 19th-century passage.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP)
29. CVNP Beaver Marsh (MM-292) - The boardwalk over wetlands and wildlife is a photogenic place on the trail. You might be lucky enough to capture the CVSR train across the marsh.
30. Szalay’s Farm Market (MM-293) - Just off the towpath sits a large farm market famous for its corn, along with views of Ohio’s harvest, people, and the unique store.
31. Lock 29 and Peninsula (MM-296) - You pass over and can also walk into this deep lock at Peninsula. It offers a view of the village with plenty to love.
32. Boston Mill (MM-298) - The Boston Mill store, with its iconic rockers on the porch, is a must-capture scene. The nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park visitor center is worth a shot or two.
33. Brecksville Station (MM-302) - The CVSR depot, Cuyahoga River, and Route 82 bridge make for a great photo. When the CVSR train approaches, the scene is timeless.
34. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) (MM-282 308) - Catch the train at any of the eight stops for another perspective on the valley, on a ride that allows bikes onboard.
35. Cleveland Metroparks winding trail (MM-313) - Two suspension bridges and a curvy, shaded path along the river pass through Standard Oil’s original refinery lands, linking nature with industry.
Cleveland
36. Cleveland Flats and Steelyard Commons (MM-315-318) - Steel still lives in the land lining the Cuyahoga River, offering a view of industry with Cleveland’s skyline in the background.
37. Tremont’s Lincoln Park (MM-318) - Churches, coffee shops and cafés, and shady streets surround the park, inviting you to discover one of Cleveland’s rediscovered neighborhoods.
38. A Christmas Story House (MM-317) - A small detour for pop culture fans, where you can snap a selfie with the famous leg lamp in the living room window.
39. Cleveland Script sign at Abbey Avenue (MM-319) – A block ride on Abbey Avenue is a postcard shot, framed against the downtown skyline, just a block off the official route in Tremont.
40. West Side Market, Ohio City (MM-319) – Follow Abbey Avenue to the historic ethnic market hall from the upstairs gallery, along with the unique market stalls and the life in motion below.
41. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (MM-321) – Follow Detroit Avenue to downtown and streets to the Rock Hall in a beautiful lakefront park, with a close-up view of downtown.
42. Wendy Park and the Coast Guard Station (MM-321) - Lake and river views meet Art Deco architecture and the downtown skyline from the entrance to the Cuyahoga River.
43. Edgewater Beach (MM-323) - The trail’s epic start or finish, with a tire dip in Lake Erie from the beach.
44. Edgewater Park, Cleveland Script sign (MM-324) - Just up the hill from the beach is another skyline gem and a joyful end-of-journey photo with the city skyline and Lake Erie.
The Shots You Didn’t Plan
As much as I admire a well-composed postcard photo, some of my favorite pictures are spontaneous and not so curated. A flat tire repair, a sudden downpour, fog rising over the river, a place you discovered on a missed turn, and an unexpected view of nature are just some of those moments.
These are the personal scenes that capture your own take on the photo ops I listed above. That’s the beauty of bicycle travel. You find the big moments and the smaller, unexpected images that stay with you.
This list is just a sample of my favorite people, places, and scenes that speak to me. You may choose different subjects or a different angle on these. I urge you to capture your own version of Ohio.
Just remember to take time to look up, pause, and click.
My favorite is not on your list, but it's right on the trail. The Columbus Union Station Arch is the last remaining architectural remnant of the city's historic Beaux-Arts train station, which was designed by renowned architect Daniel Burnham in 1897. Saved from a wrecking ball just moments before demolition in 1976, the 4-ton landmark now stands in the Arena District.