PRO TIPS

Difficulty    

Easy to Moderate. Predominantly flat. 

General Overview of Route

This 52-mile route begins and ends amidst Plain City’s historic charm and modern vibe. The route follows the Big Darby Creek Scenic Byway and surrounding country roads to maximize your enjoyment of Union County’s agricultural and historical scenery while minimizing traffic interactions. The route includes numerous century family farms, protected prairie remnants, historic homes and cemeteries, four historic covered bridges and two modern covered bridges. Car enthusiasts- don’t overlook the nearby Honda Heritage Center and the (seasonal) Thursday evening cruise-in at Der Dutchman in Plain City. 

Ride Tips

Selected to minimize traffic engagement and maximize sight lines for safety, this route travels public roads of state, county, and township oversight, and experiences periodic commuter, commercial, and agricultural traffic. In general, but not always: our state roads are smoothly paved and lined two-lane roads with shoulders suitable for bicycles; county roads are lined and two lanes, may not have shoulders, may be smooth paved or chip-sealed; county roads are typically narrower, unlined, chip-sealed roads without shoulders. Bicyclists must be prepared and proficient to ride public roads. Note that cornfields can block lines of sight around bends and intersections. 

Navigation

Download this map to your Ride with GPS mobile app for turn-by-turn guidance during your ride. Click “Send to Device” at the top of the map on this page. Or simply print the map and cue sheet.

Start / Finish

This route begins and ends at McKitrick Park on the eastern edge of Plain City. There is also a newer park on the south side of RT161 about ½ mile east of McKitrick Park at the entrance to Darby Station Blvd. Another possible start-finish option is the Der Dutchman area.

Special Segment

This route has many special segments, beginning with downtown Plain City’s eclectic shops and eateries, to the quiet miles amongst the Darby Plains. The serene Smith Cemetery State Nature Preserve and Bigelow Cemetery State Nature Preserve, with tall growing primitive natural grasses, offer a unique glimpse of what these plains looked like before European settlement, as does the Milford Center Prairie State Natural Area. The bucolic western area, surrounding the Buck Run, Spain Creek, Pottersburg, and North Lewisburg covered bridges is where you can observe century family farms, bald eagles, the Big Darby Creek, and of course, both historic and modern covered bridges. For bicyclists, or if you want to take a leisurely stroll, the North Lewisburg Trail is a paved 2-mile path from the Pottersburg covered bridge to North Lewisburg where you’ll find (seasonally) Junebugs ice cream and treats.

Eat & Drink

Plain City offers numerous dining options including The Grainery, Red Hen Cafe and Bakery Bluescreek Market, and Clocktower Kitchen to begin and end your adventure. Slightly off the route, the villages of North Lewisburg and Woodstock have refreshment options. 

Restrooms

Aside from restaurant and convenience store locations in Plain City and Milford Center, there is a porta-john at the Pottersburg covered bridge. At times there are porta-johns at various athletic fields along the route.

Terrain

There are no gravel roads on this route however newly chipped and sealed roads may have loose small gravel. 

Cautions

The following segments are short but deserve added attention.

  • Rural roads may have seasonal agricultural vehicles and visibility at intersections and around curves obscured by cornfields.
  • RT161 east of Plain City to RT33 is not recommended for bicycles, but becomes much more suitable west of Plain City, with less traffic and long sight-lines. RT161 west of Plain City does see periodic commuter, commercial, agricultural use.
  • Middleburg-Plain City Road sees periodic commuter, commercial, agricultural use.
  • The short section of RT38 near Fairbanks school has a few curves with limited sightlines, and sees periodic commuter, commercial, school, agricultural use.
  • The short section of RT36 sees periodic commuter, commercial, agricultural use.
  • The short section of RT245 sees periodic commuter, commercial, agricultural use.

About this Route Evaluation

These notes are provided as general guidance and not intended to replace your own pre-trip research and due diligence. Familiarize yourself with the route beforehand. Avoid periods of anticipated increased traffic. Road conditions are subject to change.