Road	Length	High point
Cedar Falls — Hocking Hills State ParkStop Cedar Falls is the highest-volume waterfall in Hocking Hills State Park, reached from the parking area off SR-374 at 21190 OH-374 in Logan. The half-mile trail descends through hemlock-shaded hollows to a plunge pool below 50-foot sandstone walls. The waterfall runs year-round and is the visual centrepiece of the SR-374/664 Hocking Hills Scenic Byway — the same road that delivers the region's best motorcycle curves. A picnic area and restrooms sit in the parking lot. No fee to park or hike. The park entrance is roughly equidistant from SR-374 (Rockbridge) and SR-56 (South Bloomingville), placing it midpoint on the classic Hocking Hills loop ride.	—	—
Guggisberg Cheese FactoryStop Guggisberg Cheese at 5060 State Route 557 in Millersburg is the birthplace of Baby Swiss cheese, first produced here by Swiss immigrant Alfred Guggisberg in 1962. The factory and retail store sit on SR-557 in the heart of Holmes County, one of the primary roads in the Amish Country loop. The store sells wheel and cut Swiss, Baby Swiss, and aged varieties alongside gifts; factory viewing is available during morning production hours (approximately 9 AM–noon). Free to enter. SR-557 itself is a well-regarded motorcycle road through Amish farmland, with a smooth surface and easy-tempo curves connecting Millersburg to the Coshocton County line.	—	—
Heini's Cheese ChaletStop Heini's Cheese Chalet at 6005 County Road 77 in Millersburg has been a third-generation family business since 1935, operating as the retail and tasting arm of Bunker Hill Cheese. Riders rolling through Holmes County on the Amish Country Tour loop pull in for free samples of more than 80 cheese varieties made on site, handmade fudge, bulk foods, and coffee. The factory floor is visible from the tasting room. Cheese-making typically runs mornings only. The surrounding roads through Holmes County — SR-557, SR-83, and CR-77 itself — carry light traffic through farms and buggy lanes that make for an unexpectedly pleasant rural ride.	—	—
Hocking Hills Scenic Byway A roughly 26-mile tree-lined rollercoaster on SR-374, SR-56, and SR-664 between Rockbridge and South Bloomingville, threading the Hocking Hills gorge country with access to Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave, and Cedar Falls. Expect heavy park traffic on summer and fall weekends.	32 mi	—
John Glenn Astronomy ParkStop The John Glenn Astronomy Park at 20531 OH-664 in Logan sits 0.9 miles west of the Old Man's Cave Visitor Center, in one of the darkest remaining sky corridors in Ohio. Named for the Muskingum County-born astronaut, the park is a Friends of Hocking Hills State Park project with a fixed observatory, telescope pads, and programs on scheduled dark-sky evenings from late spring through fall. During daylight hours it's an uncrowded roadside stop with interpretive signage along the Hocking Hills Scenic Byway. No admission for daytime visits; evening events are typically free or low-cost.	—	—
Ohio 26 — Little Muskingum Covered Bridge Byway Ohio State Route 26 is the National Forest Covered Bridge Scenic Byway, paralleling the Little Muskingum River northeast from Marietta through Wayne National Forest toward Woodsfield. The route enters deep woods almost immediately out of Marietta and follows the river corridor through a canopy of hardwoods for most of its 68-mile length, passing the historic Rinard Covered Bridge (the third structure at that site; the original dates to 1875) and small communities including Whipple and Rinard Mills. The road is winding throughout, with farm fields giving way to river bluffs and dense national forest. Traffic is extremely light. One of Ohio's official USFS National Forest Scenic Byways. Rider Magazine features it as part of the Southeast Ohio Roller Coaster Hills tour.	67 mi	—
Ohio 260 — East Fork Duck Creek Run Ohio State Route 260 covers 36.67 miles through Washington, Monroe, and Noble counties in the western Appalachian foothills, running northwest from SR-7 at New Matamoras to SR-78 near East Union. Picking it up from the Ohio River at New Matamoras, riders immediately hit great S-turns climbing out of the river valley. From there the road follows East Fork Duck Creek with near-continuous sweepers and constant elevation changes through hilly terrain that Rider Magazine describes as 'incredible' curves. The route is lightly traveled, tree-canopied for much of its length, and provides a back-door approach to the Rim of the World (OH-78) at its northern end. No National Highway System designation keeps truck traffic off it.	37 mi	—
Ohio 278 — Zaleski Zipper Ohio State Route 278 is the primary road through Zaleski State Forest and past Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County, roughly 60 miles southwest of Athens. The Windy 9 maps it as Route 5: Zaleski Zipper (60.8 miles), considered one of the tighter, more technical routes in the system. The road threads through unbroken second-growth hardwood forest with minimal development, passing the access road to Moonville Tunnel (an abandoned railroad tunnel and one of southern Ohio's most photographed landmarks). Curves are more frequent and tighter than the Pioneer Pass or Lazy Rivers routes. Vinton County is one of the least-populated counties in Ohio, which keeps traffic genuinely sparse year-round. Pairs naturally with OH-555 (Triple Nickel) to the east for a full-day SE Ohio loop.	28 mi	—
Ohio 550 — Pioneer Pass Ohio State Route 550 stretches 40.58 miles east–west across Athens and Washington counties, tracing the original Marietta–Chillicothe Stagecoach Road corridor between US-33 north of Athens and SR-7 west of Marietta. The Windy 9 maps it as Route 6: Pioneer Pass (103.5-mile loop out of Athens, combining SR-550 with SR-329). The road flows through miles of rural Ohio farmland along ridge lines and creek drainages, with moderate curves and light traffic. It serves as a natural connector between the Athens Windy 9 hub and Marietta, pairing well with the adjacent OH-26 Covered Bridge Byway (which begins at Marietta) for a full SE Ohio day loop. Communities along the route include Amesville, Guysville, and Bartlett.	26 mi	—
Ohio 78 — Rim of the World Ohio State Route 78 runs 105 miles from Nelsonville east to Clarington on the Ohio River, threading through Athens, Hocking, Morgan, Noble, and Monroe counties. The crown jewel is the 20-mile 'Rim of the World' stretch along the south edge of Burr Oak State Park in Morgan County — tight S-curves, 180-degree switchbacks, and sustained elevation gain that eventually crests to panoramic views across Wayne National Forest that riders describe as stretching 60 miles in every direction. Car and Driver named the full corridor one of America's most scenic highways. Highlights include Burr Oak Lake, the Big Muskie Bucket historic dragline artifact near McConnelsville, and the Ohio River bluffs near Clarington. Designated an Ohio Scenic Byway and part of the Appalachian Byway system. The Windy 9 maps it as Route 1: Rim of the World (86.6 miles out of Athens).	72 mi	—
Ohio 83 — Amish Hills Spine The southern 46-mile section of Ohio State Route 83 between New Concord and Millersburg (its terminus near Beverly at SR-60) traverses the ridge tops and valleys of former strip-mining country in Morgan, Noble, and Holmes counties, with sweeping cross-valley views from ridge to ridge. The road surface is smooth and well-maintained; curves are long and flowing sweepers rather than tight technical corners, making it well-suited to cruisers and sport-tourers. South of I-70 the scenery improves markedly into genuine rolling Appalachian foothills, and the approach into Holmes County transitions from reclaimed mining land to active Amish farmland. The northern Millersburg terminus drops riders directly into the Holmes County cheese-and-buggy loop. Watch for farm equipment and horse-drawn buggies in the Holmes County section.	114 mi	—
Smiling Skull SaloonStop The Smiling Skull Saloon at 108 West Union Street in Uptown Athens is the unofficial riders' bar for the Windy 9 system, cited consistently in Rider Magazine, Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine, and the Athens County Visitors Bureau as the go-to stop for motorcyclists passing through. The dive bar opened in Uptown Athens and has operated 365 days a year since. It's equal parts college bar and biker bar — cheap beer, no pretense, moto décor, and a staff accustomed to large two-wheel groups. Athens (home of Ohio University) sits at the geographic center of the Windy 9's nine routes, making the Skull a natural base camp for overnight Windy 9 weekends.	—	—
SR-536 "Demon's Backbone" Hannibal climbing west to SR-78, ~12 mi. Steep hills, tight curves, deep forest — widely called "Ohio's Tail of the Dragon." Demanding enough that "there's not a lot of opportunities to enjoy the scenery while riding."	12 mi	—
The Triple Nickel (OH-555) Ohio's famous Triple Nickel runs about 60 miles from Zanesville to Little Hocking with a reported 751 turns — blind crests, decreasing-radius corners, and off-camber sweepers on recently repaved two-lane, ranked number one on Car and Driver's 2020 list of America's best driving roads. Watch for Amish buggies and road apples along the whole route.	62 mi	—
Triple Nickel DinerStop A family-owned farm-to-table diner founded in 2016 by two former nurses, right off SR-555 in Chesterhill — homemade pies included. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.	—	—

//Rallies & events

Rally

Rally · Every July, 3 days

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

Lexington, OH, US

The AMA's annual vintage festival at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with North America's largest motorcycle swap meet plus vintage racing across multiple disciplines.

NextNext edition TBA

Scale~40,000 attendees in 2025 (Cycle News)

Official site ↗

By Switchback · Updated 2026-07-08

Best season

Late April–October

Helmet law

Partial — under 18 & novice riders

Lane splitting

Illegal

Signature terrain

Appalachian foothills, forest gorges

Ohio doesn't look like a rider's state on a map — flat corn country up north, suburbs spreading out from Columbus, the industrial Ohio River towns — but southeastern Ohio is a different place entirely. The Appalachian foothills push up from the river in a tangle of sandstone ridges, creek hollows, and second-growth hardwood forest that produces some of the most varied two-wheel riding east of the Mississippi. The Triple Nickel (SR-555) alone draws riders from across the country for its reported 751 turns through isolated farmland. String it together with the Windy 9's nine routes radiating out of Athens, dip south into Zaleski State Forest on SR-278, or thread the Hocking Hills gorge country on the SR-374/664 Scenic Byway, and you have the material for a full week of riding without repeating a mile. The Amish Country roads of Holmes County — SR-557, SR-83, CR-77 — offer something different: smooth pavement, gentle sweepers, and a pace that rewards patience. Ohio's best riding is concentrated, connected, and genuinely underrated.

Why Southeast Ohio Works for Riding

Ohio's riding reputation rests almost entirely on one corner of the state. From Athens south to the Ohio River and east into Wayne National Forest, the Appalachian foothills produce a density of good roads that's hard to match in the Midwest. The terrain isn't dramatic in the mountain sense — the high points are ridgelines, not peaks — but the constant elevation change, the tree canopy, and the genuinely light traffic on county and state routes make for riding that stays engaging all day.

The Windy 9 system gives this region a useful framework. Nine mapped routes radiate from Athens, each running 50–100 miles through distinct terrain: the tight Zaleski Zipper on SR-278, the sweeping Pioneer Pass on SR-550, the river-corridor coverage of OH-26 through Wayne National Forest. Athens works as a multi-day base, and the Smiling Skull Saloon in Uptown Athens has been the de facto riders' hub for the system since the Windy 9 launched.

Choosing the Right Routes

For riders who want technically demanding roads, the Triple Nickel (SR-555) and SR-536 Demon's Backbone are the obvious answers — both reward attentiveness and penalize complacency. SR-555's blind crests and decreasing-radius corners require steady focus; SR-536 is short but steep and tight enough that scenery takes a back seat to the road.

For riders who want flowing pavement and room to look around, the OH-78 Rim of the World corridor and OH-83 through the Amish hills deliver long sweepers, ridge-top cross-valley views, and roads in good repair. The Hocking Hills Scenic Byway (SR-374/664) sits between those two profiles — moderate curves, dense canopy, and a handful of worthwhile stops without requiring technical-riding focus.

Holmes County's Amish Country loop — SR-557, SR-83, CR-77 — is a different kind of ride altogether: slower-paced, with farm scenery, cheese-factory stops at Guggisberg and Heini's, and the social element of navigating around buggy traffic respectfully.

Logistics and Hazards

Fuel gaps are real. The SR-555 corridor, OH-26 through Wayne National Forest, and the Zaleski/Vinton County area all have long stretches without services. Top off at Zanesville, Marietta, or Athens before heading into rural routes.
Seasonal traffic on the Hocking Hills byway is heavy on summer and fall weekends. Weekday rides or shoulder-season timing — late April, early October — make a measurable difference.
Amish buggies are a consistent presence on Holmes County roads and extend onto SR-83 north of Millersburg. Road apples are a traction issue; maintain distance.
Deer are active throughout the forested southeast, most seriously at dawn and dusk from October through December.
Spring roads in the Appalachian foothills often carry gravel and sand wash from winter. A pre-season check of your usual routes is worth the time.

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// Frequently asked

Ohio has a partial helmet law, not a universal one. Riders under 18, those riding on a novice motorcycle license (issued to first-time Ohio motorcycle operators regardless of age), and passengers traveling with a novice or underage operator are required to wear a DOT-approved helmet. Adult riders with a full motorcycle endorsement are not legally required to wear one, but eye protection — safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield — is required for all riders unless the motorcycle has an approved windshield. Even where the law doesn't require a helmet, wearing one is strongly advisable.

No. Ohio law requires motorcyclists to remain within a single lane of traffic at all times. Lane splitting — riding between lanes of moving or slow-moving traffic — is not permitted. Lane sharing between two motorcycles side-by-side within a single lane is legal, but riding between lanes is not.

Anytime from late April through October offers good conditions on SR-374/664. However, summer and fall weekends draw heavy park visitor traffic to Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls — the parking lots fill and cars move slowly. Weekday rides, or shoulder-season visits in late April and early October, give you the roads in much better shape. The byway is accessible year-round but winter brings ice and wet leaves in the gorge sections.

The Windy 9 is a system of nine mapped motorcycle routes radiating out of Athens in southeastern Ohio, coordinated by the Athens County Visitors Bureau. Each route runs roughly 50–100 miles. Free turn-by-turn maps are available from the visitors bureau, and Athens makes a natural overnight base — the Smiling Skull Saloon in Uptown Athens is the traditional riders' stop for the system. SR-78's 'Rim of the World' stretch is Route 1 in the system; SR-555 (Triple Nickel) connects from the north.

Several hazards recur across the region. Horse-drawn Amish buggies and associated road apples appear throughout Holmes County on SR-557, SR-83, and CR-77 — give them wide clearance and expect slow-downs. SR-555's blind crests and decreasing-radius corners demand attentive pace management; gravel migrates to the road edge after rain. SR-536 (Demon's Backbone) is steep, tight, and technically demanding — not a route to underestimate. Deer are a genuine hazard throughout the forested southeast, especially at dawn and dusk. Hocking Hills park roads on summer weekends see heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic near trailheads.

Yes. SR-555's corridor between Zanesville and Little Hocking has limited fuel stops — top off before leaving Zanesville or Chesterhill. The OH-26 Little Muskingum corridor through Wayne National Forest has minimal services along its 68-mile length. Vinton County (SR-278, Zaleski State Forest area) is one of Ohio's least-populated counties; plan your fuel stops at Lake Hope or McArthur before heading in. Athens and Marietta are solid resupply points for southeastern Ohio loops.

//Sources & references

Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.53 — Motorcycle Helmet and Eye Protection Requirements ↗Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4501-17 — Helmet Standards ↗Best Motorcycle Roads in Ohio — GreatMotorcycleRoads.com ↗10 Best Motorcycle Roads & Rides in Ohio — MotorcycleRoadsUSA ↗Ohio Lane Splitting Laws — Elk + Elk ↗