By budzenko in May, 2009
University Park Bike-Hike Trail
By budzenko on May 18, 2009
The pleasant suburban trail is maintained by the Lucas County MetroParks in the Toledo OH area.
The 6.3 mile trail is open each day 7AM until dusk all tear round. Motorized vehicles are prohibited.
The trail a converted rail bed and is very level with slight on and down grades throughout. The east end of trail is at the University of Toledo and the west end of the trail is at King road in Sylvania Township. Access to Toledo's Wildwood Metro Park is major asset for variety, change of pace or a picnic.
Please refer to the trail map provided at the link below for an accurate representation. The mapping feature on the traillink.com is not correct.
http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metroparks/trails/display.asp?id=177&subj=trails
from the website: http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metroparks/trails/display.asp?id=177&subj=trails
University/Parks Trail
University/Parks Trail
The six-mile trail stretches from the University of Toledo campus to King Road in Sylvania Township. It offers a lush greenway through woodland, pasting meadows and wetlands. The level, paved path is suitable for joggers, cyclists and in-line skaters, and can easily accommodate wheelchairs.
The trail has several neighborhood access points, a trail connecting to the Wildwood Preserve Metropark trail system, and designated roadway connections to Ottawa Park, Olander Park and Westfield Shopping town at Franklin Park.
The University/Parks Trail is owned by Lucas County and maintained by Metroparks, the University of Toledo and the City of Toledo. Metroparks rangers and, in some sections, local jurisdictions patrol the trail.
Mileage: 6.3 miles, one-way
Parking:
Tam-O-Shanter
McCord Road
Wildwood Preserve
Ottawa Hills Municipal Building
University of Toledo Southwest Academic Center
Ottawa Park
Contact Wildwood Preserve Metropark
Office: 419.407.9700
Ranger Cell Phone: 419.270.7500
By toniburger in October, 2008
I am 54 yrs old and have been rollerblading the University Bike trail since it opened about 10 yrs ago. I am so grateful for it! I start at the U. of Toledo and blade to the King Rd end and back, about 12 miles. I feel like it is my friend and my home...I notice little things that change...a new plot of wild flowers, a new piece of fencing, a change in a home nearby, a fallen branch from a tree after a storm. It is beautiful and clean. I blade from an urban college campus into the suburban neighborhoods into the rural edge of the trail. each segment has it's own character, sounds, landscape and creatures. I have seen critters including snakes, rabbits, ducks, turtles, deer, dogs & cats of course, frogs, and many, many lovely birds. It provides me a time and place to rollerblade in safety and allows me to move into a cadence that becomes meditation.
To those who created this trail and maintain it, I am very, very thankful.
Toni Burger
By JackRB in September, 2008
The interactive map for this trail is incorrect. The trail actually follows the old rail spur than turns west between Central Ave. and I475. The rail spur that the map uses heading north east from there is still a semi active rail line.
By tom in May, 2005
"This trail is actually about 20 miles round trip if you start at Wildewood Park and ride all the trails inside of the metropark itself. Then you can go out on to the university/city trail and ride about 6 miles or so on prety much what appears to be an old rail trail. It is clean, nice, flat, level and in great condition for the most part. It goes through the UT campus and some real nice neighborhoods too. I suspect this would be an awsome ride on a fall day."
By Phil Stankey in August, 2003
"This trail is fully paved and divided, and it runs from Sylvania through Wildwood Metropark to the University of Toledo. There is a suprising amount of wildlife to be seen (deer, snakes, rabbits, even a fox or two) around Wildwood.
Sunday afternoon traffic can be a bit heavy with inexperienced riders, but most evenings are O.K. Avoid the University area during the school year. Those kids have a tendency to just wander aimlessly into your path."