North Coast Inland Trail - Sandusky/Ottawa County (Clyde to Elmore):
Ohio
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Description:
NOTE: Although other segments of the North Coast Inland Trail may permit equestrians, this segment does not.

The North Coast Inland Trail runs 19 miles from Clyde to Elmore, through the town of Fremont. The 8 miles from Park Avenue in Fremont to downtown Clyde on this paved section of the developing 65-mile North Coast Inland Trail serves up a slice of corporate America—Whirlpool and Heinz have factories here—with a heaping side of down-home Ohio countryside. The corridor is open all year and is plowed during winter, making cross-country skiing prohibitive in this segment.

Most of this section is a rail-with-trail, with an active rail line paralleling your path. Begin in Fremont just more than 0.5 mile north of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center and Library. A beautiful bicycle and pedestrian bridge carries you to the east bank of the Sandusky River. In the early spring when walleye run the river, you will see eager fishermen in the waters below. If Fremont triggers memories of hotdogs and french fries, blame it on the familiar fragrance wafting on the breeze from the Heinz Ketchup factory.

Just 1.5 miles into the trip you reach the picnic shelters, ball fields and playground in Biggs-Kettner Memorial Park. The park is the main access point for the trail and the site of the Fremont Community Recreation Complex. Refill water bottles or take a shade break beneath the many mature trees.

If you are starting here, you have the option of heading west to the Sandusky River bridge and the presidential library or turning east toward Clyde. Heading directly east from Fremont, you can look forward to 6.5 miles of rail-with-trail that is flat, paved and sprinkled with farms. Wildlife and natural wildflowers are abundant along the trail, and you may see many birds, squirrels, rabbits and even an occasional deer.

Arriving in Clyde you are greeted by the world's largest Whirlpool washing machine factory on the left side of the trail. Nearby bicycle parking areas are used by Whirlpool employees who commute to work via the rail-trail. The remaining mile of the trail winds through neighborhoods and ends in a quaint park near the historic downtown. There are a few restaurants available if you want an out-and-back trip with a lunch stop in the middle.

The section of trail to Elmore passes through Lindsey on the way to Elmore, traversing a park in Lindsey and Elmore and ending near the Portage River. The majority of the trail is lined by trees on one or both sides, with a couple bridges and even a bench or two for resting. It passes by Wooded Acre Campgrounds.

As you approach Elmore, you pass by the beautiful Sugar Creek Golf Course. Upon entering Elmore, there is a bike shop right next to the trail and also an ice cream and sandwich shop: I Scream On Your Left, now with WIFI available. Downtown Elmore is less than a block north from the trail on Rice Street, with several antique shops, a coffee shop and a small restaurant and pub. The public library is also just about a block away, also with Internet access. Down Rice Street to the south is Tina's Carryout, where snacks and cold beverages are available.

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Parking & Trail Access:
The only official trail access in Fremont is at the Fremont Community Recreation Complex at 600 St. Joseph Street can be accessed from State Route 20 by turning south on St. Joseph Street and continuing about .75 miles until it ends at the park and recreation center. Trail access and parking are in the southeast corner of the park's parking lot.




To reach the trail endpoint in Clyde take State Route 20 to Vine Street. Take Vine .5 miles south until it crosses the trail just after Eaton Road. Parking is available in multiple areas..




The new 10.5 mile extension is now open from Fremont through Lindsey to Elmore. There are trailheads, parking lot and restrooms in Lindsey at Wendell Miller Park downtown off Ohio 590 as well as at the new trail end in Elmore at Walter Ory Park near Ohio 51, which also has parking and restrooms.
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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Nice trail; good bike shop in Elmore
By zbicyclist in June, 2010
We're on a cross-country tour and this was a big improvement over the shoulder of US20. The trail is nearly all paved and in good condition. Most of the side roads are marked. There are mile markers.

I'd ripped a hole in my shorts earlier and stopped in the trailside shop in Elmore. It's a full shop with a good inventory. They do rentals. Mike was very helpful and gave us an improved route to Perrysburg.
Trail Businesses Popping Up
By wolverbob in September, 2009
Riding the North Coast trail from Fremont to Elmore last Saturday, I noticed that now Elmore has both a trailside ice cream shop and a bicycle shop. The bicycle shop is a branch of the Fremont Cycle and Fitnesss bike store and talking with the staff person there, they said they are planning to remain open all year. They also do bike rentals. Also, in Lindsey, the local store/ice cream shop has a sign right next to the trail, inviting trail users to stop by.
2009 Sandusky county ready to GO!
By rickrusch in March, 2009
The pavment has set and the paint stripes are dry the North Coast Inland Trail is OPEN for riders from Clyde to Elmore Ohio. You can now nearly cross the entire county on this clean rail trail with many amenities. Connectors on both sides of Fremont involves some city street traffic however the trail way is clearly marked at all turns through town to get you there safe. Main Street is the fastest route but be sure it is very very dangerous to ride through on Rt20, I recomend following the trail signs through side streets.

Clyde, Lindsey, Fremont, and Elmore all have excellent parks and public spaces. Nice coffie cafes andlocal shopping. You will find a well stocked bicycle shop in Fremont for any accessories or on the spot repairs. Wi-fi locations that I know of are Fremont library and Lindsey cafe. Clyde library probably has internet also but I am not aware for sure also same for Elmore. All the MEGA chain stores are available in Fremont for your shopping or dining needs. Hotels and motels available throughout the county. Old Orchard Inn is directly on the trail path in fremont and likely has lower rates than the big chain hotels out at the big plaza.

Youll be riding parallel to the Ohio turnpike, in fact crossing it just east of Elmore, so nearly all cell phones will have great coverage in this corridor. I can not emphasize enuf that there are LOADS of parks throughout the county so plan lots of nice rests along this 20-30 mile section. Toward the late summer the sunsets line right up with the trail. What a beauty to be traveling west and enjoy watching the orange glow cradle itself into the trail ahead of you. Also sunrises lineing up similarly in the AM. Generally not heavy traffic on this trail in the mornings. Enjoy!!!
Browse Trails by Activity:
Fremonts west trailhead will pick up the Northcoast Inland trail at Walter Ave. Sandusky county parks budget has passed and construction is set for spring 2008.
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: W. Maple nr. RR St. (Clyde) to Ames St./CR 70 at Grandview Ct. (Elmore)
Counties: Ottawa, Sandusky
Trail Length: 19 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Cinder
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Walking
TrailLink ID: 6121530

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