2025 Girdled Road Self Serve | Lake Metroparks | November 8th thru 16th

Updated 11/16/2025

COURSES ARE CLOSED AND FLAGS ARE BEING COLLECTED

PLEASE REPORT ANY MORE RESULTS VIA FORM or REGISTRAR BELOW

Overview

NEOOC, in partnership with Lake County Metroparks, is pleased to offer this self-serve orienteering opportunity for exercise and fun at Girdled Road park.

Choose from one of three courses – Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced – and practice navigation using a map and compass at your own pace.

Courses are available Saturday, November 8th at 12pm thru Sunday, November 16 at 2pm, starting at the South Entrance (Radcliffe Road).  Nine days of Orienteering, full size Orienteering flags will be deployed.

Registration starts on November 1st.   Map downloads available November 8th.

Course Details

Three classic, point-to-point style orienteering courses will be offered for all levels and abilities. A course can be done either solo or as a team. All controls must be visited in order to be recognized as a finisher.

  • Beginner (Yellow):  Suitable for first time orienteers of all ages – no experience necessary.  Controls will be either on or a short distance from the main park trails. Technical skills are not required but participants may encounter some brush or uneven terrain in spots. Estimated distance of 3-4 km and 8-10 controls. See the New to Orienteering section below.
  • Intermediate (Orange):  Most controls will be off trail and an understanding of orienteering maps and use of a compass will be needed to complete the course.  Controls will be more difficult to reach locations but navigation to them is less difficult than advanced level courses. Estimated distance of 4-5 km and 12-15 controls.
  • Advanced (Green):  Emphasis is on using map and compass skills to reach more remote, off trail locations.  An advanced course will require a good technical understanding of orienteering maps and how to use a compass to be successful.  A green course is likely to include difficult and sometimes steep terrain with route choices to make. Estimated distance of 5-6 km and 15-18 controls.

Self-Serve Course Instructions

A self-serve course is different from a normal orienteering event because you can go anytime the park is open! Go anytime during normal park hours during the event time frame of 12:00pm Saturday Nov 8 thru 2:00pm Sunday Nov 16.

To participate in this event:

  • Register using the link below
  • Download and print a copy of the course(s) you plan to do.
  • Determine which method of timing you’d like to use. See below for more details on timing methods.
  • Park at the Radcliffe Road entrance and look for the location of the start triangle printed on your map.
  • Start your timing device from the start triangle when you’re ready to begin (e.g., if using iOrienteering, scan START QR code on flag)
  • Navigate each control in order listed (1,2,3, etc)
  • Stop at the finish
  • Report your results!

Map downloads:

Registration and Cost

  • Did you know that even though this is a self-serve event, the club has to pay a fee for each person that starts to the national O-USA organization for insurance?
  • Registration is open Saturday Nov 1 – Sunday Nov 16
  • For NEOOC members, please pay $11 for each group or individual participating via PayPal (1 to 6 people)
  • For non-members pay $16 for the same
  • Additional details
    • One fee covers multiple courses / visits, as many as you desire!
    • For any questions, email us at: registrar@neooc.com
  • Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk:

PLEASE REVIEW THE WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK BEFORE DOWNLOADING ANY COURSE MAP FROM THIS WEBPAGE. BY DOWNLOADING A MAP YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE TERMS OF THIS WAIVER AND ARE ABSOLVING NEOOC AND ORIENTEERING USA , ET AL OF LIABILITY RESULTING FROM YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE ASSOCIATED ORIENTEERING ACTIVITY.

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Map Download

COURSES ARE CLOSED

Yellow Course  (Beginner, 12 controls, 3.9 km)

Orange Course  (Intermediate, 15 controls, 4.3 km)

Green Course  (Advanced, 16 controls, 6.2 km)

Suggested printer settings:

  • Paper size/Orientation: Letter, Portrait
  • Scale: 100%
  • Set margins to None.
  • Turn OFF print of headers and footers

Check that the bottom of the page is printing so that you can see the START (triangle) and FINISH (concentric circles) locations.

Smart Phone Apps (or Low Tech)

Automated, electronic scoring will be done using the iOrienteering or UsynligO apps that we have used in the past.

  • iOrienteering: You can choose to manually scan the QR code on the Start, Finish and control flags to register a “punch” using the iOrienteering app on your smartphone.
    • Use this link on your computer to set up your free account and get more information about iOrienteering
    • Use this link on your Android smartphone to download and install the iOrienteering app
    • Use this link on your Apple smartphone to download and install the iOrienteering app
    • To use the iOrienteering app, once you have selected the course that you will be running and have downloaded the map and addendum, you will need to load the course details to your phone.  You can do this either by entering the 6-character course short code (this requires a good internet connection), OR by scanning the QR setup code.  Both are printed on your map addendum.
    • To use the iOrienteering app, see more details here.
  • UsynligO: You can choose to use your smartphone’s GPS-based location services along with the UsynligO app to register a “punch” based on proximity (within 5m or so) to the control for a “hands-free” run.
  • Livelox: is used for tracking and does not indicate punching in the field.  Proximity punches will be computed on  their website.
    • To use the Livelox app, see more details here.
  • Stopwatch: The low-tech option. Simply use your stopwatch to track the total time and keep track of the controls that you have visited. (One method: write down the controls number or take a picture of the control code from each control visited.) Note that you do NOT need to visit all of controls, just report the number that you did visit.  Have fun! 

If you have any questions, or experience any issues that we can help with, drop an email to registrar@neooc.com.

Map Info

  • 1:10,000 scale for all courses
  • 5 meter contours
  • Print size: 8.5 x 11 paper

Schedule

  • Saturday Nov 8: Courses open @ 12:00pm
  • THRU
  • Sunday Nov 16: Courses close @ 2:00pm
  • Courses are available anytime the park is open (see Lake County Metroparks for park hours)

Event Personnel

  • Event Director:  Jonathan Boyer
  • Course Setters:  Michael Semick and Christa Petryszyn
  • Registrar:  Fred Mailey (registrar@neooc.com)

Reporting Results

Depending on the timing method used, your results will be captured via one of the following:

  • iOrienteering: just upload when you are finished and we will process your results into the Overall Results list below. But if you would like to submit your own, with a different name and/or more detailed comments, go ahead! We will replace our entry with yours in such a case, as soon as we can.
  • Livelox and UsynligO: Your results will be captured automatically and reported in the Overall Results by the registrar.
  • Stopwatch: If you did not use any of the smart phone apps:
  • Results So Far …

Location

Girdled Road, South Entrance
12926 Radcliffe Rd.
Concord Twp, Ohio, 44077

Parking instructions
Park either of the two designated lots at the South entrance, accessible from the Radcliffe Rd entrance.

New to Orienteering?

Check out the following resources to help know what to expect:

  • Visit About Orienteering on the Northeast Ohio Orienteering website for general information, a sample map, and an instructional video.
  • Anytime Permanent Orienteering courses are available at Jordan Creek Park (Lake County Metroparks), Richfield Heritage Preserve (Richfield Ohio), and Camp Tuscazoar (Tuscazoar Challenge). Download a map, grab a family member or friend, and go give orienteering a try!
  • Additional Information:
    • Make sure to dress for the weather. Long pants and trail running shoes or hiking boots are recommended as a minimum for any weather conditions.
    • For safety, please carry a cell phone and have an emergency contact that knows where you are and when you expect to return.
    • Set a limit on the maximum time to be in the woods. A typical maximum time limit for completing an orienteering course is three hours.
    • Make sure to bring hydration, in particular in high temperatures or humidity.
    • Please respect private property. Areas outside the designated park boundary are displayed in olive green color and are off limits. Thank you!

About Us:

The Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club (NEOOC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the sport of orienteering. It is run entirely by volunteers. Typical volunteer roles in need include course setting, control collection, marketing, and event welcome and registration. If you are interested in helping with this event, or any events in the future, please connect with the event director or send an email to volunteer@neooc.com. Thank you in advance!