Some of the best back road motorcycle tours in Ohio are found in the southeastern counties near the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is here riders will find curvy yellow ribbons of highway perfect for cruising for days and days.
The Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau has planned five road tours through Guernsey County, plus a few covered bridges. You’ll find the route for an idyllic day trip or overnight adventure. Download a free motorcycle tour brochure here.
The National Road Tour
The National Road was America’s first highway to adventure and it still is! The National Road offers adventure seekers today a great road trip just as it did two centuries ago. More than 30 key attractions, points of interests and interpretive signs, specific to the history of the road, are located throughout Guernsey County, Ohio. From the famous “S” bridges to stagecoach stops and tollgates, the route is lined with picture perfect sites. For a copy of the free driving tour, contact the VCB.
Roscoe Village/Amish Country Tour
Take a trip on Route 40 west, the Old National Road /Wheeling Avenue (through Historic Downtown Cambridge) to New Concord. Once in New Concord, plan a stop at the John & Annie Glenn Museum. Before he was a four term U.S. Senator, before he was America’s first orbital astronaut, before he was a military test pilot, before he was a 150-mission fighter pilot, before Pearl Harbor spurred him to enlist, John H. Glenn, Jr., was a small town plumber’s son who dreamed of flying someday. The John & Annie Glenn Museum is a must stop for any history or aero-space aficionado.
Toward the middle of your tour you’ll arrive in Sugarcreek (Amish Country) where you’ll find a plethora of shops and restaurants to explore.
Seneca Lake Tour
This tour takes you to the southern part of Guernsey County toward Seneca Lake and Marina. Take some time off the road and rent a pontoon boat or enjoy a meal at Dockside Restaurant as you pass through.
Salt Fork State Park Tour
As Ohio’s largest state park, Salt Fork boasts recreational facilities to suit nearly every taste. Whether it is fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, swimming, horseback riding or golfing, there is something for everyone. Cruise into Salt Fork State Park and stop by the Salt Fork Lodge for a great lunch or dinner. Camping and lodging are available.
The Wilds Tour
Enjoy a wonderful day at The Wilds, one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world! The ride to and from The Wilds is as scenic as the conservation center itself.
Covered Bridge Tour
Other noteworthy rides in Guernsey County will take you to two notable and accessible covered bridges – perfect for exploring and photographing – the Armstrong Bridge and Indian Camp Bridge. Both structures are nearly 125 years old.
Covered bridges rose in popularity in the early 1800s as farmers looked for ways to protect wooden bridges from the elements. These iconic markers are symbolic of America’s past, rural landscape.
For those looking for an easy photo-op and quick history lesson the Armstrong Covered Bridge (also called the Clio Covered Bridge) won’t disappoint. The bridge (circa 1849) is located in present day Cambridge City Park. It survived Confederate General John Hunt Morgan’s Famous “1863 Raid” through the area and is now part of a serene walking path.
The second covered bridge within Guernsey County is located north of downtown Cambridge, just off Ohio Rt. 658. Motorcyclists and those looking for a scenic drive will enjoy traveling this curvy ribbon of highway. Just 15 minutes from Cambridge, Indian Camp Covered Bridge (TR 611) was built in 1855 and is an Instagram-worthy photo stop in the early to mid-morning hours.
After a ride through the countryside, enjoy a plethora of food experiences, whether enjoying a glass of wine overlooking a breathtaking view of our Historic Downtown Cambridge, enjoying a craft beer, stopping by one of the regions sin-sational bakeries or eating at a local restaurant, you will savor the taste of Ohio!
To learn more about Cambridge/Guernsey County area events and activities, go here!