Wayne Mini-Epic

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

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This ride travels clockwise, opposite the direction of the full Wayne National Forest Epic. The ride covers roughly 5 miles of trail that aren't ridden in the full epic route and it's about 10 miles shorter on the total distance.

The Wayne is known for technical riding but this route avoids some of the roughest sections in the forest. Don't worry—it's still a very challenging ride but a great option if you aren't sure you want to tackle the full epic. It's also great if you've already done the full epic and want to do another big ride. Reversing the direction of trails in the full epic and adding 5 miles of different trail segments gives this ride a totally different flavor. The big downhill at the end of the Ohio View Trail is the grand finale finish on this epic journey!

You'll find restrooms and showers at Leith Run Campground. B & J's gas station in Newport can get you a quick snack and fueled up. They also have a decent beer selection. Also in Newport, The Jug dairy bar has outdoor, riverside dining (burgers, hotdogs, fries, ice cream etc). A short drive across the bridge in Saint Mary's, WV you'll find Station Pizza and the Box Car diner. A 25 minute drive south on SR 7 will get you to Historic Downtown Marietta with numerous dining and lodging options.

The ride begins and ends at Leith Run Campground. The campground is located roughly 5 miles north of Newport, Ohio on SR 7. There is plenty of parking and options for RV or tent camping. There is also access to restrooms and showers.

Start by riding toward the exit of the campground. On your left you'll see a small, paved path. Follow it for roughly 100 feet then turn right onto the trail. This is the start of the Scenic River Trail. The trail starts out with a gentle, flat stretch of trail leading you to a crossing of SR 7. Continue straight across the road on the Scenic River Trail. From here, the trail begins a series of switchbacks. At the intersection of the Greenwood Trail, turn left on Greenwood. From here the trail passes through scenic, rocky, technical terrain with a waterfall, large boulders and sandstone cliffs. You pass the Elephant Connector but you'll want to continue on the Greenwood Trail. At the next intersection you'll turn right on the Ivy Hill Trail. Ivy Hill climbs up to the Scenic River Trail. Turn left on Scenic River. From the start you'll be climbing close to 500 vertical feet to the high point on Scenic River. Fall and early spring offer great views of the Ohio River while climbing up.

Once you reach the top, the trail is fairly smooth and rolls fast along the ridge top with a series of small ups and downs. You'll pass the upper intersection of the Greenwood trail. Continue straight on Scenic River. At the end of the Scenic River Trail, you pop out into a small gravel parking lot. Follow the parking lot out to the road (CR 9) and continue straight across the road on the 9 Bell Trail. This trail begins with a fun downhill that includes a few short technically sections. After reaching the creek crossing at the bottom, you begin climbing a short, steep section up through a rock outcropping/boulder field.

Once on top, the trail mellows out and climbs gently for the next mile or so. The trail skirts the edge of a large sandstone cliff and passes a waterfall. Shortly after this, the trail tops out on Bell Cemetery Road. Continue straight across the road onto the Archer's Fork Loop Trail.

You are about to descend the legendary V-Brake Hill. The hill got it's name back in the day when bikes had cantilever brakes and they weren't enough to get you stopped but v-brakes gave you a shot at getting slowed down The trail has been mellowed out a little over the years but it's still a super ripping downhill! Watch your speed going into the steep drop-in!

At the bottom, the trail traverses along the creek for a while before reaching the next climb known to locals as Gray Skull. This climbs is broken up into for stages and the mid-point passes along a large sandstone cliff. The name comes from a section of the cliff face that looks like a skull. On the other side, the downhill is twisty, fun, and flows well with little to no pedaling required to get to the bottom. At the bottom, before crossing the creek, you'll turn right onto the Jackson Run Trail. The Jackson Run Trail follows a small, rock bottom creek meandering its way to the ridge top then starts working its way down the valley on the other side to CR 9.

From here, take a left on CR 9 following it for roughly 1 mile climbing up to SR 260. Turn right on SR 260. In about 300 yards, you'll see the Ohio View Trail on your right. Turn right onto the Ohio View Trail. You'll be on this trail for the next 8 miles. It's mostly non-technical but has some surprise gnarly sections and several nice climbs and descents along the way. When the leaves are off the trees, you can enjoy a nice overlook above the Ohio River before the last downhill. At the bottom turn right on Old Beavertown Rd. Follow Old Beavertown Rd until it terminates then continue on SR 7 south back to the campground. Enjoy!

This region has a long history in the oil and gas industry dated back to 1860. You'll see oil and gas relics along with active wells in the area.