The Brideway Trail is found within the Black River Reservation, a park in Lorain County, where you can walk, job, inline skate, cross-country ski or bike. The trail runs between Day's Dam in Lorain and the High Meadows picnic area in Elyria, covering 4.5 miles. Along the trail you'll encounter meadows and forests, passing both under and over bridges, including crossing 1,000-foot bridge over the Black River, the trail's highlight.
This bridge offers great views of the river, shale cliffs and bottomland habitat. Interpretive signs along the trail tell more about the natural history of the area, and you'll likely see wildlife, including great blue herons, ducks, and beavers. During spring look for dame's rocket blooming in the woods north of the double-back bridge.
You can also explore the
Steel Mill Trail in the Black River Reservation. Just pick up the trail at the northern end of the Bridgeway Trail at 31st. Street.
Park at Black River Reservation, 1350 Ford Road in Elyria, to access the southern trailhead and off 31st Street to access the northern trailhead.
I come from Lorain and have visited this trail many times. It is a fun scenic trail that makes for a very pleasant bike ride or walk. My only gripe is that the trail is not long enough and does not connect to any other trails.
The Bridgeway Trail is a beautiful ride through the Black River Reservation as the trail runs through woods and over the Black River on a series of four long steel and wooden pedestrian/bike bridges.
To ride the trail north, park in the Black River ...