Bike and Hike Trail

The Bike & Hike Trail is a rambling, rolling 33.5-mile rail-trail peppered with bridge crossings and neighborhood road riding in both a rural and suburban setting. Unlike most flat rail-trails, this route has delightful dips and rises, but small children and level-ground lovers may not enjoy the challenge this trail presents. This terrific trail offers a ton of green space and fresh air. Playgrounds and restroom facilities are ample too, though you may want to stock up on drinking water and snacks before striking out for the day.

Starting at the northern tip, you experience a beautiful, mostly secluded, multiuse, paved trail much of which borders Cuyahoga Valley National Park. For many miles you are treated to intermittent glimpses of enormous exposed stone ledges. With an early enough start, you might see some deer grazing at the trail's edge. As the trail winds south, it passes through some beautiful neighborhoods on the way to the more rugged Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The flatness of the trail falls away as you travel the on-road sections, and bikers and inline skaters are treated to a fun descent before the payback of heading uphill.

As with all the on-road sections, look for the green trail signs to guide you along the route. An observation deck over on the Cuyahoga River in Munroe Falls is a universally accessible area with lovely scenery and offers fishing in addition to walking, cycling and inline skating. Once you complete the southern loop you can finish the trail by heading back to the northern trailhead.

If you still have energy to burn after the return trip north, complete your day's adventure exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park. With miles of hiking trails, breathtaking views and wildlife ranging from bald eagles to coyotes, the national park is the perfect complement to the host of northeast Ohio nature this rail-trail serves up.

To reach the northern trailhead on Aurora Road in Northfield, follow Interstate 271 to State Route 8 and travel north for about 0.75 mile. Turn west on Aurora Road and proceed 2 miles to parking on both the left and right sides of the road.

To reach the southern trailhead on N. Main Street in Munroe Falls, from Interstate 76 take Exit 27 for State Route 91/Gilchrist Road. Continue north for 0.3 mile to State Route 91 north and turn right. Follow SR 91 north for 5.3 miles to the parking lot and the trailhead on the right. In addition to the two endpoints, there are nine other access points along the route.