By bikin-mike in June, 2011
I saw the grassed-over Garretsville end and was expecting the worst. Surprisingly, only one very short section was grassy. The rest was well graded 6ft wide gravel. There were a few spots where it looks like they have some flooding problems - mostly near the road crossings closer to Mantua. We've had some heavy spring rains this year, but when I rode last weekend they had it smoothed out and I had no problems on my skinny tire hybrid.
The Mantua end is at the corner of Prospect and Mill St just east of downtown. There is a brick monument/flagpole, but no signs indicating parking. There is a gravel lot with room for about 10 cars right behind Mantaline Corp.
As the other review said, the trail is about 60-70% shaded and is pretty isolated. One short section in the middle shares a driveway for 2 houses. That's about the only civilization you'll see until you get to the factory in Garretsville. Trees are so thick most of the way that you can't even see the fields. The Save-4 store is right next to the trail in Garretsville if you need to refuel.
I was surprised to see two plaques along the trail. One denotes that the 'Mantua Swamp' is a National Natural Landmark. I grew up in Mantua and had never even heard of the swamp?!?!? The second plaque was on a big boulder near Asbury Rd.(I think). It commemorated the train wreck of 1914 that killed 3 crewmen.
No mile-markers, and only some of the roads had name signs. There was a port-a-potty at the Garretsville park, and I believe there is one at the Mantua Park which is very close to the Mantua Trailhead
While not the smoothest or best maintained trail that I've ever been on, it was quite rideable with a hybrid and I really enjoyed the heavy tree cover and isolation.
p.s. Sorry folks, no pics - I forgot my camera......MM
By DRalston in September, 2009
Surface is pretty well backed crushed stone and dirt. We were in the shade about 60-70% of the time- Mixed Hardwood forest. Colors will be spectacular in October. If you start at the Mantua end of the trail, use the town parking lot a little east of Rte 44 on a side street. Best not to try to ride to the extreme western end of the trail. It's rough. A very pleasant ride, very little traffic. Definitely a FAT TIRE bike trail. DER 9/7/09
By Randy in April, 2007
"Nice trail running from Garrettsville to Mantua, although some areas are starting to ""grass over"". No facilities, but plenty of benches to stop and take a rest if needed. Very nice view overlooking the river on the Mantua end."