top of page

What? A 12 hour Adventure Race on Cincinnati’s West Side?

Writer's picture: Jason TyreeJason Tyree
A historic map of Western Hamilton County from 1915-1945

For those of you who are local Cincinnatians or are from somewhere in the immediate region, you might be wondering “How in the world can someone create a 12 hour Adventure Race on the West Side of Cincinnati?” Well if you’re signed up or are planning to sign up for The Great Owl Adventure Race of 2024, you’ll soon find out!


My group of Adventure Racing buddies and I have traveled to races for a couple of years now. Depending on where the race was, we were looking at a 2-6 hr drive. We thought, “What if we could bring the excitement and challenge of an AR to the areas we know and love closer to home?” Over time, we started creating small O-Courses in our local parks for ourselves to compete with one another. That progressed into the creation of our first “official” AR, “The Dominion” (an 8 hour race) which took place in August 2023 in the Mason/Loveland Area. Then, we had an idea: “What if we could tie several of our county parks together to form one big 12 hour race?” That’s how The Great OWL was hatched.


Using one of Ohio’s cleanest and most scenic rivers along with some connecting roads, we were able to join multiple beautiful Hamilton County parks into one! Now, bear in mind, most of the regional ARs we have competed in have been isolated to the vast wilderness of state parks or huge land reserves. Yet, with some creative thinking (like shuttling participants to the start) and careful course planning, we have created a truly unique 12 hour event.


These connections from park to park will give racers an opportunity to encounter some interesting historical and cultural landmarks. You might find yourself visiting the park located next to the tomb of the 9th POTUS, or standing at the entrance of an old deserted canal tunnel, or walking through the ancient remains of Native American settlements. Tying the parks together required some routing through mildly busy roads and intersections, but the ride will be worth it when you and your team arrive at the next Great Park!

The Cincinnati & Whitewater Canal in the 1840’s

The Great Owl AR 2024 would not be possible if it weren’t for the partnerships that we’ve been able to form. First, The Great Parks of Hamilton County is eager and excited to allow us to explore the woods, even though this kind of event is the first of its kind being held there. Then there are the people of Carriage House Farms, home to The Lost Bridge Beverage Company and Chloe's Eatery. They have truly embraced the spirit of what we are trying to accomplish and have graciously allowed us to use their property as our HQ, finish line, and after race festivities. Their location is unique, eclectic, and gives off the kind of vibe that I’m certain every racer will appreciate! Finally, there is DINO, who will be outfitting our racers with canoes to voyage down the beautiful River.


For beginner and experienced racers alike, we’re confident that The Great Owl will satisfy your thirst for adventure. We look forward to seeing you there!

The OWL Adventure Racing team at “The Dominion” Finish Line

408 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


CONTACT

Questions?

Leave us a message:

Thanks for submitting!

Stay Updated

Sign up to hear updates about our team, upcoming events, and more!

Thanks for submitting!

© 2023 by OWL Adventure Racing. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page