eBiking Zoar Valley Trail - OH

Zoar Valley Trail started a bit muddy for us due to storms the previous evening, and we had a false start by attempting to begin on the hiking only section south of the dam, but we had a great time after we found our footing. We went from narrow trails dotted with lock ruins from the heyday of the canal system, all the way to Ohio’s only Revolutionary War battlefield - now Fort Lauren’s Park and museum. Since Zoar was a shorter distance than we typically ride, we continued on the Towpath (in eBike playlist) through Ft. Laurens/Bolivar up to Clinton, OH.

Length:
Zoar Valley is 20 miles total; however the first 10 between Schoenbrunn Village and the Zoar Valley Trailhead is really only for hiking and horses. The northern 10 miles starts at the Zoar Valley Trail off of Route 800 and ends in Fort Laurens, Revolutionary War Park in Bolivar, OH. From Fort Laurens, you can continue on the Erie to Ohio Towpath all the way up to Cleveland! We traveled another 30ish miles from Fort Laurens, to Clinton, OH.

Recommended Trailhead start:
Option 1- If continuing on to the OH-Erie Towpath in Bolivar:
It was a rugged start, but I would suggest the Zoar Valley Trailhead. It was a bit difficult due to muddy conditions, but if you go when it hasn’t rained in a while, it would be excellent!
6922 OH-800, Zoarville, OH 44656
Option 2: If traveling just the Zoar Valley Trail
It is best to park north at Fort Laurens since there are facilities there.

Trail map:
Zoar Valley Trail:
https://www.tuscazoar.org/wp-content/...
Ohio to Erie Towpath/Canalway from Bolivar-Cleveland
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Facilities:
There are parking areas at Zoar Valley Trailhead, Route 82 Bridge, and Fort Laurens in Bolivar. The only facilities are in Fort Laurens where there is power, bathrooms, and water. The town of Bolivar is a quick ride north of Fort Laurens to access groceries or restaurants.

Bike Shop:
There are no bike shops along the Zoar Valley Trail, nor close to it. The only other bike shop is Ernie’s in New Philadelphia. They can repair the mechanical components of all ebikes, but are only certified to service the electronic systems of the bikes that they carry. (which would be Bosch, Hyena, Hydrive, Bafang, and EBT)
Ernie’s 1103 4th St NW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Hours: Closed Monday; Tue-Fri 10-8pm, Sat. 8-6; Sun 12-5.

Trail Condition:
This was a more rugged trail than I typically ride, but as long as care was taken and you go slower than normal, it is pretty cool! I was thankful again for my fat, knobby tires, and felt very accomplished when I finished the trail! The entire length of Zoar Valley is rugged, but when Zoar ends, and if you continue North on the Towpath, it is more easy going.

Flood levels:
The trail does flood at times, and is muddy and slick after rains. The Army Corps of Engineers recommends that folks stay away from the trail when the water levels at the dam reach 875’ You can check the flood levels at the below link:
https://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wm/...

Food:
Bolivar is a great spot to stop for lunch/dinner. The Towpath Tavern has a wide array of food choices, and right on the Towpath route while going through town.
225 Canal St, Bolivar, OH 44612
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11-9; Friday-Saturday 11-10; Closed Sunday

Best picnic spot: Fort Laurens at the northern terminus

Hotel:
We are Choice Hotel members to gain the free nights as we travel, so we typically stay at one of their options. We also try to find locations that have hot breakfast in the morning so we can fill up on protein, and grab a piece of fruit for the road.
Quality Inn, Dover, OH
2024 OH-39 W, Dover, OH 44622
Clean, professional, and great breakfast!

ebike regulations for trail:
Class 1 ebikes are permitted on the trails, and class 2 are allowed if they are considered a mobility device for you.
Class 1: ebikes that are pedal-assist, with no throttle, and have a maximum speed of 20MPH
Class 2: ebikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted

Resources used in creating this video:
Google Earth
Stocktune

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