Page 19 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio Auto Club – September 2020

RIDE OHIO’S WINDY 9
Your passport to an authentic Ohio riding experience, the Windy 9 is a unique way to explore Athens and take in southeast Ohio’s brilliant fall foliage, featuring nearly 1,000 miles of the best driving, riding and cycling routes in the state.
From a leisure cruise along the Ohio River to the famous roller coaster curves of The Triple Nickle trail, the Windy 9 is an ideal way to spend a fall afternoon. The nine trail names all hint at the exhilarating ride that awaits, from the Rim of the World to the Hocking Hills Nipper and Black Diamond Run.
Drivers will shoot past shining creeks and rivers, roll up and down brightly colored Appalachian foothills, zip past orchards and ride into charming, historic downtowns before heading into the backcountry.
TAKE A HIKE OR GO PADDLE
From hiking and kayaking to mountain biking, Athens has endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. Get lost in the beauty and adventure of 16 state and national parks.
Wayne National Forest boasts 240,100 acres of serene beauty and 450 miles of trails, offering something for everyone, from those looking for a pleasant weekend
day hike to the intrepid, backwoods explorer. The Athens segment of the 20-mile North Country Trail, a favorite of backpackers, features a natural bridge, a large, rock shelter, covered bridges and a historic rock house.
The challenging 17-mile Vesuvius Backpack Trail takes adventurers through open fields, brushland and mature forests along a lakeshore. Specific trails are marked for mountain biking, horseback riding and ATVs.
Cut into the Appalachian foothills, with steep ravines on all sides, Dow Lake at Stroud’s Run State Park is a paddler’s paradise. Kayak, canoe or paddleboard on the lake, then enjoy a sunset picnic on the 900-foot sand beach, which
is open year-round. Boat rentals are available. There is no shortage of vistas along the park’s 15 miles of hiking trails.
Gaze upon miles of rolling foothills from the famous Radar Hill, the highest point in Athens. Pick up the mile-long, well-maintained trail from The Ridges, site
of the former Athens Lunatic Asylum, which looms atop a hill overlooking the Hocking River. It once housed patients during the Civil War.
SHRED POPULAR MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS
Embark on some of the most rugged mountain biking trails in Ohio. Sells Park is a hidden treasure and
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