I grew up in this area and remember trying to ride this Rail/trails when it was first abandoned in the 70's.
I am back visiting family and went out riding the southern part that is a loop. I found that I could cross some abandoned tracks off of 2nd and Bailey in Cuyahoga Falls to access the trail in Silver Lake. I was doing fine finding the trail until I was almost back to the Falls and had problems on Springdale Rd. I thought I was going to be on trail or at least bike lanes and there wasn't any markings. I did notice an abandoned tracks off of Springdale Road that from my map are the tracks that crossed in Cuyahoga Falls. I would be nice to see that they get this corridor and have a nice trail from Husdon Drive back to Cuyahoga Falls. Would love to know if that is the future of this trail.

This is my favorite bike trail in Northeast Ohio. The Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley is pleasant but I prefer this quieter less populated bike trail. The Hike and Bike Trail pavement is well maintained by Summit and Portage Counties with only a few occasional bumps. The section in Portage County between Hudson and Spell Road is only a mile and a half in length. The trail offers plenty of wooden benches to stop and break with some of them located in the cool heavily wooded areas. I like to ride the trail from Kent at the Judson Road Trailhead to Tinkers Creek Gorge in the Cleveland Metro Parks (about 40 miles round-trip). The trail is flat with the only inclines coming at road crossings. Most of the road crossings north of SR 303 are very quiet with very little traffic and can usually be crossed without having to stop. The highlight of the portion between SR 303 and Boston Road is the Sharon Conglomerate rock walls of the Boston Ledges that rise along the trail south of Boston Mills. This section of trail is located in the deepest section of woods on the trail. Just north of Boston Mills a bridge crossing over the Ohio Turnpike offers a decent view as the Ohio Turnpike snakes its way through the Cuyahoga Valley. Looking towards the east the Olde Route Eight Bridge steel arches straddle the turnpike.
At Brandywine the trail briefly ends and you have to take the road for about a mile. Traffic on Brandywine Road is light but the inclines on each side of the bridge over IR 271 are steep especially going north. After crossing over the IR 271 and Brandywine Creek bridges take a left into the parking area that lead to the Brandy Wine Falls and the Inn at Brandywine. This is definitely one of the highlights of the trail. The trail picks up again on the left a few tenths of mile after cresting the steep hill and continues through Sagamore Hills. At Sagamore Hills, there is three miles of trail that have power line towers directly over the trail or to the side. This is somewhat of an eyesore but the last half-mile does have some pleasant views of the Cuyahoga Valley. The section of trail maintained by Summit County ends at the Alexander Road parking area and The Cleveland Metro Parks Bedford Reservation begins once you cross Alexander Road. The metro parks are not flat like the hike and bike trail but most of the hills have only a moderate incline. Take the Gorge Parkway about two and half miles to the Tinkers Creek Gorge Overlook. There is an observation deck to view this outstanding natural landmark.
The bike ride back to the south offers a challenging climb, a choice of trail routes south of the SR 8 bike bridge and a couple of crossings with moderate traffic volume. There is a steep incline as you bike south past the SR 303 trailhead that is a strenuous 5% grade and is followed quickly by another smaller climb over the arch on the bridge over SR 8. The trail does a “Y” split after crossing over this bridge and you have a choice to go south to Cuyahoga Falls or south/southeast through the remainder of Summit County and into Portage County towards the Judson Rd Trailhead. I prefer to take the split to the left towards Portage County because it offers a quiet ride through several wetlands, peaceful farmland and tree lined trails. You will notice a difference in the volume of traffic at the crossings south of SR 303 at Norton and Stow Rd if you catch them during the afternoon rush hour. The split to the right takes you parallel along SR 8 to the Steels Corners Rd parking area and offers very little to look at; a right-of-way fence with businesses on one side and the highway on the other side. You’ll have to wait for the traffic crossing signal to change in your favor to cross Steels Corners Rd and Graham Rd. I've been told the trail improves on the other side of Graham Rd but I've never taken that far because I don't like waiting at busy intersections and I bike to get away from traffic and the city life.

I have ridden this complete loop 2 different times in the last month. Both times I most enjoyed the segment near Munroe Falls heading towards Stow. This segment is very hilly and really makes you work your legs. It does have some sharp, blind corners, however, it is a great cardio workout.

The markings by the section near Stow-Munroe Falls High School have been improved. After coming out of the residential section, there is a sign that directs you to the right to a stop light and then back in front of the high school. That used to confuse me because I was never sure which way to turn or go at that point. When you get to Stow-Munroe Falls High School, be sure to get up onto the sidewalk at the exit of the school or you have to take your bike up and over the curb to continue on the trail.

The Brandywine Road segment can be intimidating if there is a lot of traffic because you are riding on the road and it is a steep descent going north and an intense climb coming back south. Watch for traffic and hold your ground or you may not make it back up the hill without a great deal of effort.

The hill right around the Route 8 bridge is steep. It comes up on you rather quickly and if you are unfamiliar with its location, you can have a difficult time ascending or descending.

The ride through the residential areas is terrific. I haven't had an issue with dogs or a lot of traffic. The segment between Route 271 and Alexander Road is very pretty also. I was somewhat surprised the first time I rode this trail that I was riding underneath of powerlines, but once you get used to it, it isn't that bad.

The loop section of this trail is about 22 miles, so if you don't want to deal with Brandywine Road, just make the complete loop and it is a nice workout.

This was my first time riding in Cuyahoga County. I selected this particular path because of the length (33 miles) and the beautiful "rambling and rolling hills" description. "Rambling" was an understatement...the path was disjointed and broken up by constant roadway crossings, and lack of trail markers...leading us lose the trail multiple times (we weren't the only ones; we encountered other rides with the same "WTF" wonderment). It was impossible to gain any momentum because roadway crossings were constant...and often took minutes for traffic to clear before proceeding. Beautitful? Maybe...if you considering riding for miles directly underneath power lines beautiful. Most disappointing was the flat terrain. I'm used to riding in Geauga County and was looking forward to experiencing hills in my new"back yard." Unfortunately, I won't be back and will continue to travel back and forth to Geauga County...so disappointed in this trail!!

This is the trail that I ride all the time. I ride the trail form Kent, Ohio (Hudson and Judson Road) to Brandywine Road. At Brandywine you have to "share the Road" so I usually stop and turn around. The trail is flat with the only inclines coming at road crossings. The trail is paved very well with only 2 bumps caused by tree roots. The portion between Rt 303 and Boston road (couple miles) is the most scenic as you ride through the cliffs and evergreens. Summit County takes very good care of their trail...Portage County does not. You are only in Portage County for a couple miles and it still is pretty good. It is 11 miles from Kent to Brandywine Road. It is the best ride on the trail.

The trail does a “Y” split at Rt 8 in Hudson and heads south to Cuyahoga Falls. This portion is a whole different story.

As there are 2 trails, one through Silver Lake to the west and the second one to the east, through Stow I rode both. I wasn't fond of the sound of traffic when going along Rt 8, but considered the hill near the hospital an enjoyable challenge. But the western branch was easy to follow.

Going through Stow, on the eastern branch, I got mixed up near the high school. After reaching Rt 303, turning around at the fork in the trail, again I chose the eastern trail. It was a moe scenic and enjoyable ride except that it ended abruptly at Hudson Rd. I was near a dog park, which I think was Silver Springs.

I was tired by then, and had no energy to randomly search the country roads looking for a way to reconnect with any trail. Also, a bigger worry, I had on a dark shirt, as I planned to be on trails, and dusk was approaching. There was no safe way to ride on the roads, even if I was up to it. I had my cell and called friends who came to meet me in their car and lead the way back to where the trail picked up.

There was one spot about midway, (on my homebound trip) where the trail branched to the right. I chose to stay on the main trail as I didn't see any sign directing me otherwise. Now, I'm wondering if that branch would have lead me in the right direction.

I did call the Stow planning department before leaving to see if there were any places which I should be aware of, but wasn't able to speak to anyone.

As of early 08 this trail is entirely paved in Summit County. Though largely flat, there are several hills, some of them short and steep at road crossings. A mile north of the Rt. 303 parking lot north is a beautiful section between rocky cliffs, then woods and farmland, then one mile down and up a hill on Brandywine Road to cross the interstate highway -- a bikes-only trail and bridge is planned to eliminate this in the future. South of 303, the trail is a loop. Two sections of the loop use residential streets, one in Silver Lake and the other north and south of Stow High School. At least three crossings of busy roads fall in those sections, but can be handled at traffic lights.

I understand that a new fence gate allows access to the trail from the lot of the Akron General Health and Wellness Center off Steels Corner Road at Rt. 8.

I believe all the trail in the Akron/Stow area is now blacktop. Yes there is a very steep high hill to get over Rt. 8. The railbed is below the grade level of Rt. 8 but when the trail was built, they routed it slightly south and up and over a new trail bridge ABOVE Rt. 8. It is a tough pull even on a normal bicycle and no level places as the disabilities act calls for. Poor design.
From Rt. 8, the trail runs north 11 miles to Cleveland, though I am not sure if all of that is blacktop, and connects to the Emerald Necklace (Cleve. Metro Park system) at Gorge Parkway in Cuyahoga County. (There is a short on-road piece at the Brandywine Falls area.) South there are two branches. One follows Rt. 8 south to Silver Lake and then becomes an on-road signed route thru Silver Lake before becoming a rail-trail again after several miles thru residentual neighborhoods at Munroe Falls. That leg totals about 11 miles. The other route runs east from Rt. 8 about 7 miles to Hudson Rd. in Portage Co. north of Kent and they recently finished blacktoping the last crushed stone areaon that leg.

"We rode a 10 mile leg of this trail in June 2007. Really enjoyed it. Nicely maintained where we rode. Watch crossing the roads, very busy. Definitely stop at the waterfall for a look."

"This trail is broken up into a bunch of different parts and even local folks do not seem to know much about it. I was told it was all asphalt but it turns out much of it is crushed stone. Parking is marginal and the trail is not marked very well at all. Then when I rode about 4 miles through a real nice area I came to a huge hill that I could not manage on my handcycle even though the trail is supposidly wheelchair accessible. I spoke to park rangers about the problem and they said they would have to close the trail to accommodate my needs. I just wish people would simply tell the truth before listing thier trails at this web site!

***NOTE FROM RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY***
Users of our TrailLink.com Web site should review the Visitor Agreement before planning a trip to any of the trails listed on TrailLink.com."

"This trail has lots of variation, rolling, fun terrain by the Cuyahoga, and it's shady and quiet. It's also remote from food stops and services except by the northen start at the Route 303 and Steels Corners intersections, so bring food for a great family loop."

"This is my favorite ride in the Cleveland-Akron area. It's shady, scenic, and not as crowded as the towpath or the trails in the Cleveland Metroparks. I suggest parking off Route 82 and then heading south. All users, all levels will enjoy this one."

This is an excellent trail. We used to take the kids out on this trail on a tandem and a trailer. The park near the Stow terminus is an excellent place for a picnic. I wish they had trails like this in Texas.

"Beautiful, heavily wooded on each side of trail. Just a short piece not paved yet. We don't see trails like this in CA."

We liked the fact that this trail (on a Sunday afternoon) was not as crowded as some other trails that are nearby.