Franklin Trailhead is located in Ohio
40.94377768 N
81.61924467 W
Overnight parking includes places that allow free one-night stays. Always confirm with local managers at commercial establishments. Please respect any posted overnight regulations.
Nice spot to camp on trail. Just be careful not to leave items at campsite while camping. Lots of people pass by...
Shhhhhh…these campsites seem to be the best kept secret! These sites are specifically designed for hikers/cyclists. They are located just off the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath in the New Franklin Township, about 1/4 mile south of the Franklin Trailhead on Center Road (north of the village of Clinton) and are FREE! No reservations possible; first come, first served only. Just be sure to register at the kiosk.
All 3 sites are rustic, and somewhat private. No picnic tables or fire rings are provided. Lots of shade available, but also a lot of mosquitoes. While the campground itself doesn’t have restrooms available, just ¼ mile north on the towpath you will find clean pit toilets, a picnic table, and trash receptacles. No drinking water is available and the nearby Pancake Creek is hard to get down to (with lots of poison ivy), so come prepared with drinking water from a spigot along the trail.
There are railroad tracks directly across the river from the campground. While it doesn’t seem to run at night, you’ll definitely hear it first thing in the morning.
More info here: https://centurycycles.com/articles/camping-along-the-towpath-trail-pg1342.htm
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there cell phone reception at Franklin Trailhead?
According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is some coverage for AT&T, good coverage for T-Mobile, and excellent coverage for Verizon.
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