8/1/2010

I was excited to ride the newly completed north section of the Portage Bike & Hike Trail. Their on-line trail map shows connections to the Akron Bike & Hike Trail (ABC trail). The map is apparently a couple years old, and shows some sections as under construction, but a footnote claims: "Trail sections denoted as 'Construction 2007-2008' or 'Construction 2009' are now completed and open to the public."

I started my ride from the Rte 303 trailhead, going SE on the north branch of the Akron Bike and Hike Trail. A familiar ride I've enjoyed before. The trail turns south, to loop around to the south branch. At Fairchild Road, I took the bike lane west into downtown Kent, planning to join up with the new Portage trail across the river. Just before reaching Kent, the bike lane ends. No signs or indications of any bike route. I do a little seat of the shorts navigating and get across the river and into old downtown Kent. But where's the new Portage trail?

Reality check!
Portage County and the city of Kent do not mark their trails or bike routes.
The Portage trailmap footnote is not honest. Some of the construction is completed. Some is not.
The trailmap on this site (TrailLink.com) is not up to date. It fails to show some extensions. (At least it doesn't portray non-existant sections as open for use.)

The trail through downtown Kent may exist in the minds of the developers, but you can't ride it!
Northwest out of Kent, the trail begins at the east end of the Crain Avenue bridge. Remember, Portage County and the City of Kent do not mark their trails or bike routes! The trail runs north and east along the railroad tracks towards the Ravenna Aresenal, finally dead-ending at Peck Road, northeast of Ravenna.

There is a drinking fountain at Towner's Woods Park, but the water did not appear fit for consumption.

Doubling back, I hoped to ride through Kent and join up with the south branch of the Akron Bike & Hike Trail, and return to the Rte 303 trailhead. Though there is no trail through downtown Kent, paralleling the river is easy on city streets. Until you get to Summit Street. The Portage Trail map shows a completed trail from Summit Street, along the south side of the Cuyahoga River. I didn't find it. But remember, Portage County and the City of Kent do not mark their trails or bike routes! After a few false starts, I took Summit Street west, across the river & up a hill. By chance, I found the trail leading west, off Stow Street, just before you cross the bridge to Fuller Park. At first, it doesn't even appear to be a bike trail, but then it becomes paved, has a boardwalk section along the river, and crosses to the opposite bank on a new bridge. It continues west along the river to Middlebury Road, where it dead ends. Think there'd be a sign to point you in the right direction?

To join up with the Akron Bike & Hike Trail, go north on Middlebury Road, across the bridge. Take the first left, on Akron Blvd. At Monroe Falls Kent Road, turn left and ride west to the trailhead, which IS well marked and has a large "you are here" map. The Akron Bike & Hike Trail is well marked and maintained. The Portage County trail developers don't have to go far to see how things should be done.

Back at the car, the odometer shows 59 miles! I think about 20 of those miles were tallied searching for trailheads. The weather was perfect. I didn't have any agenda or deadline. I enjoyed the ride!

Overall this trail is nice, scenic and not crowded.

The web site makes one believe that the trail is one continous trail from Middlebury Road to the Eastside of Ravenna. That is not true despite the disclaimer on their web site.

There is a nice Bike & Hike Trail section that starts at Fred Fuller Park and goes West and ends near the intersection of Middlebury Road and Rte 261. The trail is either crushed limestone or paved. There is a nice bridge that takes you over the Cuyahoga River. (This section of the trail is to eventually connect to the Freedom Secondary Trail that will run thru Tallmadge and North Akron and connect to the Towpath near Northside).

The section of the Bike and Hike Trail from Fred Fuller Park to Main Street is a hiking/walking trail only. The path is very narrow; one must navigate broken sewer pipes crossing the trail and many steep steps. From Main Street to Crain Avenue you must walk the downtown streets.

For biking purposes one must navigate the City Streets from Fred Fuller Park to Crain Avenue to start the next Biking Section.

The section from Crain Avenue to the East side of Ravenna is very nice. The trail is paved from Crain Ave to Lake Rockwell Road. There is a parking lot at Lake Rockwell Road, but no restrooms or trashcan. From Lake Rockwell Road East the trail is mainly crushed limestone (paved near intersections with the road).
Crossing Rte 14 and Rte 44 can be tricky (very busy road traffic and no traffic light).

Supposedly the trail goes as far East as Peck Road, but I've only ridden to Chestnut Hills Park.

In the 6 June 2009 issue of the "Akron Beacon Journal" they had a nice write up about this trail. A new 1.4 mile section has been completed and can be accessed from Fred Fuller Park from Middlebury Road.

The trail runs along the river. Going south it goes close to the intersection of Middlebury Road and Rte 261. Heading North it goes into downtown Kent.

The entrances to the Park from Middlebury Road were all blocked off. So I entered from the Stow Street entrance. Found nothing! Drove across the bridge over the Cuyahoga River (the trail supposedly runs along the river), still found nothing.

So if you want to ride this section you may want to call the Park District first so you won't be on a scavenger hunt like I was.

I've written the Park District about my disappointment.

It was an outstanding weather day, pure sun, mid 70s and a light breeze, when I set out on the Portage Hike and Bike Trail. I had read that the trail was now complete to the Crain Avenue Bridge, just off State Route 43. The trail map is outdated and unclear. The web site is not much better listing projects to be worked on in 2008 and 2009.

Arriving at the trailhead, I saw there was no sign or public parking lot. The neighboring businesses had all posted park at your own risk and be towed signs. I headed across the bridge and saw that the abandoned restaurant on the other side had a sign designating it as a parking lot for the trail. I wonder how long this will remain. I know there are plans in the near future to completely realign the roads and replace the bridge.

The first mile of this trail runs along the Cuyahoga River. You can't see it because of foliage. It then opens up to a more rural setting as it passes Beckwith’s Orchard where the surface changes from paved asphalt to fine gravel. This is an excellent orchard to stop at for some cider and apples in season. They were closed the evening I rode through. These first 2 miles are very smooth with nicely maintained new pavement. There is a trailhead with ample parking and maps next to Beckwith Orchard.

The trail is more scenic as it heads towards Towner’s Woods Park. The surface for the remainder of my ride was fine crushed limestone, similar to the Towpath Trail. The trail detours onto Ravenna Road for 500 feet as it enters Towner’s Woods and picks up again on the eastern edge of the parking lot.

The trail surface is in decent shape with a few ruts. It does however have some wild grass growing up through the surface, as well as, twigs and leaves. These were not that prevalent and did not lessen the smoothness of my ride. I think it is because the trail is not used much past the park. I was the lone person for the next 2+ miles on the trail. I think I passed a single jogger.

I believe the trail is complete for a little more than 7 miles. I turned around at 5.25 miles. Dusk was approaching, I was alone and I was uncertain how long or difficult ride back would be given hat this was my first time on the trail. The ride back to Kent was largely downhill on a very gentle grade. This trail is relatively flat. There is one crossroads near Ravenna where the grade change is noticeable.

I believe this trail is a hidden gem if you are looking to bike in solitude. There are only a few road crossings. There are few people on the trail. The scenery is not remarkable but typical Ohio woodlands, swamps and farms. Once the trail is completed into downtown Kent, I suspect its use will increase.

Note: If you use this map, it is not updated.

This trail is good for riding not a lot of hills. It needs paved, currently using crushed material on it. I don't think it is 23 miles