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0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Just finished a 4-day tour of SE Ohio and this was one of the roads I had to ride. From Marietta to Woodsfield is two-wheeled paradise. Gentle sweepers, short straights, tight turns, gorgeous rolling hills and smooth pavement. And llittle-to-no traffic. Superb

Update from Ohio’s Road Ranger (July 30th, 2020): Ohio 26 south of Woodfield is in mostly good condition. Ohio 26 north of Woodsfield up to Ohio 148 is under construction as of June 2020.Check www.ohgo.com for further details.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

I road route 26 July 25, 2013 for the umteenth time.
About half of it is newer pavement and the northernmost part is still in good shape.
Speed limit is generally 55 MPH and I've NEVER seen police speed traps on it.
ODOT is doing some bridge repairs in the Wayne National Forest area roads, and I think that there is one bridge under construction, but traffic is maintained.
This road is scenic and challenging.
Make up you mind beforehand what you want out of it.
You'll find cliffs on one side and a small river on the other side for a good portion of the road.
The pavement follows the twists and turns of the river.

Other good "technical" roads in the area are 535 and 255.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

I agree, Great ride, Lots of twisties, covered bridges too.
Stayed at the Lafayette Hotel in Marrietta. A charming old hotel right on the Ohio River. About $65 a night. Nice restaurants close by.
Took 77n to 821 to 145N on the way back. 145 is an even better ride.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

I would recommend takeing the entire 26. It starts off the National Rd. (Route 40) between exits 204 and 209 of I-70. The first 6 miles or so is actually county rd. 26. Not the best of roads but not bad either. Then you can say you rode "The Snake" from the head to the tail.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Great ride. Best in mid to late October when the leaves change. expect very little traffic and no stores, gas, and taverns except in Barnesville, Woodsfield and Marrieta. As mentioned in another comment, stay at the Lafayette in Marrieta. Ohio route 7 north from Marrieta is a scenic ride along the Ohio River back north but not very windy.

4000 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

A mainstay of the way my group does Wayne's National Forest. It's best north of Woodsfield, but even the section from Woodsfield to Marietta is entertaining enough. 26 runs through the heart of the forest and gives you access to numerous twisty other roads.

18 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

04/23/2016, beautiful early spring day, excellent road conditions, newly paved above WNF maybe 2-3 years old, nice long drive with plenty of elevation changes and hairpins.

157 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Link for Rt. 26.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_Route_26
State Route 26 (SR 26) is a 67-mile-long (108 km) north-south route in south eastern Ohio spanning from SR 7 in Marietta to SR 148 between Jerusalem and Bethesda. SR 26 also passes through Graysville and Woodsfield. Where the state route designation ends in Wayne Township, the road continues north as Belmont County Road 26 where it connects to the Barkcamp State Park and the National Road. Much of the route parallels the Little Muskingum River and travels through the heart of Wayne National Forest's Marietta Unit.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

The best road in Ohio. I've ridden 555 twice but this is better. Road is in better condition and the scenery is much better. Would be a great road to ride in the fall. Gas up before heading out!

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

A world class ride of some distance but be wary of gravel on the occasional turn, ESPECIALLY after heavy precipitation. Ride all the way to Woodfield and if you time, turn around and ride back to Marietta.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

This is a fun road to ride. Both times I have been on it the road conditions were fair. This would be a great road for the re-investment in America project. I love the twisties, and the way the road follows the small river. The three covered bridges are a nice place to stretch your legs. The old bridge is not on Rt.26 Watch for the sign. it's not far off the road.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

Rode down 26 in July, it's beautiful, It's like riding through Virgina, with the curves and covered bridges and cliffs that hang out over your head; recently portions of the roadway were re-surfaced, great ride!

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

I road route Sep 24th, 2018, This road is scenic and challenging.
About half of it is newer pavement and the northernmost part is still in good shape.
Speed limit is generally 55 MPH and I've NEVER seen police speed traps on it.
Some roads repairs in the Wayne National Forest, but traffic is maintained.

3740 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

Have rode it a couple times, this has to be my favorite route in Ohio. We come in from the north off OH-148 and ride down to Marietta. Scenery is great, not much traffic, lots of twist and turns. Can grab a bite to eat and gas up in Woodsfield, I believe its only place between 148 and Marietta with food & gas. One of these days gonna ride this in the fall when leaves are changing.

4000 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

I've been on this route so many times that I've lost count and I don't even live in the area. I'm from Pittsburgh. We go out to Wayne's and do all the crazy roads out there and 26 is the mainstay for getting where we need to go in the forest. As mentioned north of Woodsfield up to 148 is your ticket. South of that is more of a cruiser road with the softer turns for the most part and more scenery, but nothing that would put you to sleep. Still an entertaining route top to bottom.

2 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

This route was recently repaved in early June 2017. I led a group of other riders from Woodsfield to Marietta along this route. With a fresh surface and light traffic, this is a wonderful run through the woods. No place to pull off for gas or bathroom, but it's less than 40 miles end to end and should take just over an hour if done at a modest pace.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

Fantastic road, could not wipe the smile from my face. Rode in late October, not another vehicle in sight. You'll just want to turn around and do it all again.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Just rode on 4/13/18. Road is in good condition. Beautiful ride. Rode this a couple of years ago and still think it is one of the best in Ohio.

2 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Took the road north on 6/25/2018 out of Marietta. There is construction going on (I think the sign said for the next 40 days), and you are detoured up Rt. 260 to Rt. 537. The ride on 260 and 537 was less than fun, the roads are not paved in some places and in others it's washed away. When you pick Rt. 26 back up then it's smooth sailing.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Standard

There is no state route "555" in Monroe County. There is, however, SR "255" off of SR 800 south of woodsfield. I'm sure that is what the author is referring to. 536 is not for the faint of heart, neither is 556 out of Beallsville to SR 7.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

road this in sept of 09. took my car, a mazda rx7. rt 26 has some very nice curves, mostly 40 - 60 mph. only problem is the pavement needs frenshened up in some spots. 26 runs through multiple counties and every county appears to be responsible for their section as the road as road quailtiy changes when you see a county line sign. with that said i would hesistate to go this way on my sportbike if i was looking for some hard riding but it would be ok for scenic slow ride.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Rode St Rt 26 twice this week. Awesome ride. Went for St Rt 536 really disappointed in it. 26 saved the trip! Rode 800, 555, 7, 78 all good rides.

17 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

great ride

28 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Been on SR 26 several times. Not really a challenging road but it is nice to see the covered bridges along it's route. Go down into Marietta and visit Harmers Tavern. Great fried bologna sandwich.

15 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Very pretty and fun but not so technical that you don't get to enjoy it.

31 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

This was a fun ride, but it was not as fun as the 555. If you are in ohio, well worth trying.

30 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

Nice winding roads and beautiful scenery with very little traffic especially being Labor Day weekend. Stopped for some nice pictures of the covered bridges and an old Mail Pouch tobacco barn.

30 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Touring

My wife and I rode this route during Labor Day weekend with very little traffic. There was nice sweeping curves and twists as well as a beautiful scenery that included three covered bridges and a old Mail Pouch Tobacco barn.

16 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

Great road for the sports bike guys. But if you are here hit the cousin of the dragon. trust me ....

16 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

Great road for the sports bike guys. But if you are here hit the cousin of the dragon. trust me ....

33 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Adventure Touring

I was on this road March,27,2021. This road is a lot more relaxing then 555 and asphalt is in really good condition and clean. one of my favorite roads in Ohio

94 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Good ride with many different feeder roads that are also good rides.

26 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Adventure Touring

Very enjoyable ride for sure! Rode this after the 555 yesterday on a 450 mile one day trip, what a day! It seemed a bit less stressful for my sphincter, yet still plenty of fun. Road conditions were good for the most part, but a few tight bends with gravel kept me on my toes.

83 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Nice ride coming out of Zelienople PA to Marietta OH for the start of a 3 day ride. Lots of bends to break up the day and nice scenery.

98 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Route 26 is a really nice country road to Ride. Very little Traffic and good road surface. I rode it all the way to Woodsfield, ate lunch at a local diner, then rode Hwy 78 back towards Athens. You can stop by the Big Muskie on the way back. There are also some cool Covered Bridges to stop at along the way. Some are right on the route (Rinard) and some are just a short way down a side road.