In partnership with Geauga County Parks, we are excited to bring back one of our most popular events from last year – The West Woods Classic! The West Woods is a 902-acre park which features varied terrain including interesting rock formations, erosion gullies, and some nice open woods. Get outdoors and challenge yourself!
Location:
The West Woods
9465 Kinsman Road (Rte 87)
Novelty, OH 44072
Check-in and parking is at the Nature Center, accessible from the main Kinsman Road entrance. Additional parking is also available within the park a short distance from the Nature Center.
Course Details:
Six 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.
White: Suitable for first time orienteers of all ages – no experience necessary. All controls are directly on a park trail or in an open area with clearly defined features. Perfect for families with kids looking for a fun outing in the woods! Estimated distance of 2-3 km and up to 8-12 controls.
Yellow: Also suitable for beginners of all ages, but a few controls will be a short distance off trail. Technical skills are not required but participants may encounter some brush or uneven terrain in spots. Estimated distance of 2-3 km and 8-15 controls.
Orange: Intermediate level. 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 in more difficult to reach locations but navigation to them is less difficult than advanced level courses. Estimated distance of 4-5 km and 10-15 controls.
Brown: Advanced level, short distance. 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. Brown courses are typically geared towards older participants and the optimal route should not pass through extreme or steep terrain. Estimated distance of 4-5 km and 10-15 controls.
Green: Advanced level, medium distance. 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 10-18 controls.
Red: Advanced level, long distance. 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 red course is likely to include difficult and sometimes steep terrain with route choices to make. Estimated distance of 6-7 km and 12-20 controls.
Maps:
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1:10,000 scale
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5 meter contours
Schedule
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Check-in beginning at 10:30am
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Start window is from 11:00am – 12:00pm. Starts will be staggered during this time frame
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Course closes at 3:00pm
Volunteers
Event Director: Jonathan Boyer
Registration and Cost:
$10 with preregistration for NEOOC or affiliated OUSA club members, $15 for non-members. Walk-up cost is $20 for anyone and is subject to map availability. Cost includes 1 map per team, and up to 6 people may be included in a team. Timing devices and compasses are available on loan for those who need them, subject to availability. Additional maps, up to 2 per team, are available at $3 each.
To preregister, please use the link below. Payment is via PayPal.
PLEASE REVIEW THE WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK BEFORE PREREGISTERING. BY PREREGISTERING, 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.
For any questions, email us at: registrar@neooc.com
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Results:
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Will be posted to the NEOOC website soon after the event
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Livelox tracking will also be enabled for those who wish to view a replay of the event! (Make sure to carry a GPS enabled watch or phone and record your route!)
New to Orienteering?
Check out any of the following resources to help know what to expect:
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Look for Orienteering 101 events on the Upcoming Events page of the Northeast Ohio Orienteering website. These events are a great way to learn and practice on a small sample course.
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Special note: there will be an Orienteering 101 event at The West Woods on February 8, 2025. Sign up via Geauga County Park District’s Programs and Events web page!
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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!
Map Notes:
The West Woods was first mapped for use in 2024 and is up to IOF-2017 mapping standards. The dominant features of the park are the marshy wetlands in the north center of the park and the various erosion gullies and rock formations that drain into the Silver Creek watershed. The large marshy wetlands are generally difficult to pass and are to be avoided for orienteering use. Erosion gullies and earth banks – marked with the applicable brown line symbols – are steep but passable.
The main park trails are very well marked and popular for day hiking. The newest Tulip trail loop, added in 2024, passes near one of the largest Tulip trees in the state of Ohio. Park trails are multi-use and used for horesback riding; please give right away to horses.
Mapped vegetation has been calibrated to leaf-out seasons April to October and visibility will be better than indicated on the map during any other month. In 2023-2024 strong storms passed through the region and there is an abundance of deadfall throughout the park. A green “X” symbol indicates a large rootstock at least 6 feet in height and areas with a high volume of deadfall are marked with vertical green lines. This is especially true in the north and southeastern areas of the park hit hard by storms.
Several tall cliffs can be found throughout the park and these are mapped by a thick black line (impassable cliff symbol). Cliffs marked as such are tall and dangerous. The most famous are the cliffs that form Ansel’s Cave. While this area is marked off limits, and is well marked as such, the main park trail offers a great view from a wooden boardwalk.
Volunteers:
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 contact@neooc.com. Thank you in advance!
Additional Information:
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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.
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NEOOC volunteers will be on standby at registration to assist beginners and provide some basic instruction.
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Teams must stay together at all times. Please do not split up while on a course.
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Please carry a whistle. Three (3) short blasts from a whistle indicates an emergency.
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All participants must “check out” at the finish area to ensure everyone is safe and accounted for. This applies even if the course is not fully completed.