Rail-Trail
State: OH Length: 33.50 miles Surface: Asphalt
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.
State: OH Length: 4.50 miles Surface: Asphalt
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.
State: OH Length: 3.95 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Chippewa Inlet Trail runs for nearly 4 miles between Lafayette Road/State Route 42 and the Chippewa Nature Area. The trail traverses an open, pastoral landscape along the Chippewa Inlet, which provides habitat for many bird species. Some of the birds you might see include American avocets, sandhill cranes, bitterns and bald eagles. Just north of Wedgewood Road/State Route 162, the Chippewa Inlet Trail passes through Buckeye Woods Park, the largest park in the Medina County Parks system.
State: OH Length: 2.40 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Chippewa Rail Trail runs for 2.4 miles between Chippewa Road (SR 50) in Chippewa Lake to suburban Wycliffe Drive southwest of Medina (Lafayette Township). The trail is mostly rural in feel, passing among woodlands, farmland and open space. It also borders a large golf course. The grade is level but does descend slightly from north to south. The rail-trail follows a corridor once used by the old B&O Railroad, which ran a main line from the Lester Junction through Medina to Chippewa Lake. The rail once shipped ice harvested from the lake to nearby towns and cities.
State: OH Length: 17 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway extends 17 miles along the city's Lake Erie shoreline, between the suburbs of Euclid and Lakewood. The bikeway has on-road sections, and the route is signed. The bikeway links many of the city's cultural sites with the university, parks, and urban neighborhoods. Highlights include Bratenahl Village, Collinwood, Edgewater State Park, nature preserves and stately old homes.
State: OH Length: 6.75 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Country Line Trail travels the path of the former Erie Lackwanna Railroad between Rittman and Creston. A highlight of the trail is a former Baltimore & Ohio freight station located just west of the trailhead at Kauffman Avenue, which will be refurbished and repurposed as a museum. The route provides pleasant views of the countryside and crossings over Chippewa Creek and Tommy Run. Two community parks are located near each end of the trail: Brooklyn Park on the western tip and Martin Fritz Memorial Park to the east.
State: OH Length: 3.60 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Harrison Dillard Bikeway is a north-south urban path that not only connects the Lake Erie shoreline with the University Circle district, but connects the trail user with Cleveland's cultural past. Beginning at Gordon Park, where the trail links with the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, it follows Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard south through historic Rockefeller Park and its many cultural gardens. The path is on both sides of the road, offering the user many sights of fascinating historic gardens, elegant arched bridges, and Victorian houses. At east 105th Street, the bikeway becomes an asphalt path through the University Circle area until it reaches Case Western Reserve University and the Red Line Rapid Transit Station. At Euclid Avenue, the trail user may go a short distance to the east to the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, and many other cultural attractions in the immediate area. Plans are for the trail to extend to the eastern suburbs of Shaker Heights and Beachwood.
State: OH Length: 8 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The bucolic Headwaters Trail is a pleasant 8-mile journey through the rural landscape between Mantua and Garrettsville. The path has a crushed-stone surface and is mostly shaded. It follows the route of the old Cleveland-Mahoning Railroad line and is a scenic escape for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders.
State: OH Length: 2 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The Huron River Greenway has two separate segments, each just under 1 mile long. The northern (Huron) segment runs from DuPont Marsh State Nature Preserve off River Road and heads south about 0.9 mile, ending at a gate on River View Drive in Franklin Flats. The other side of the gate is private property, so do not trespass. The southern (Milan) segment runs from the end of N. Main Street and heads north 0.9 mile to end at a barricade across the trail. Again, the other side of the barricade marks private property. For more information, contact Erie MetroParks: 3910 Perkins Ave. Huron, OH 44839 419-625-7783 Discoverit@eriemetroparks.org
State: OH Length: 3.70 miles Surface: Dirt
A walking-only trail for wildlife observation is being established on the abandoned B&O Railroad through the center of the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area. The trail is currently 3.7 miles long and passes through a large variety of natural habitats. Funding for the trail comes from Ohio's Endangered Species and Wildlife Diversity income tax checkoff. Further information may be obtained from: Area Manager Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area 1691 Centerville Road Shreve, OH 44676 330-567-3390 OR Wildlife District Three Office 912 Portage Lakes Drive Akron, OH 44319 330-644-2293
State: OH Length: 4.40 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Lakes Metropark Greenway Corridor runs for 4.8 miles through Painesville, Painesville Township and Concord Township. The elevation rises a little more than 200 feet from Painesville (north end) to Concord Township. The trail is mostly rural in feel, passing through a wooded corridor among suburban back yards and natural areas. The route follows an abandoned right-of-way of the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O). The original tracks through here were built in 1870 to join the county with Lake Erie for shipping coal and iron ore. B&O acquired the spur in the 1890s.
State: OH Length: 3 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Lester Rail Trail in Ohio's Medina County runs 3 miles between Abbeyville Road and Lester Road in York Township. The trail passes through bucolic farmland with scattered remnants of prairie, where native grasses still grow, and wetlands. Look for wildlife and wildflowers, including the rare cardinal flower in the wet areas along the trail. Although the path is mostly level, it rises slightly from Abbeyville Road to Lester Road.
State: OH Length: 12.40 miles Surface: Asphalt
As of spring 2012, the Maple Highlands Trail consists of 2 separate segments totaling 12.4 miles. A third is planned. The trail follows portions of an abandoned Baltimore & Ohio Railroad corridor through a mostly rural landscape, heavily wooded in places. The north section parallels State Route 44 for 4.2 miles between Girdled Road and Chardon city limits at Mentor Road and SR 44. Between Township Highways 77 and 78, a spur trail heads east to a parking lot at 9280 Ravenna Road. The Mountain Run Station section of the Maple Highlands Trail runs 8.2 miles between South Street (SR 44) in Chardon and Headwaters Park. East of Claridon Road, a spur trail heads north to parking at the Mountain Run Station trailhead. The trail passes through woodlands, wetlands and cultivated fields. When complete, the southern segment of the Maple Highlands Trail will run about 7 miles, continuing from the south end of Headwaters Park to Reeves Road in Parkman Township. Amish buggy traffic will also be permitted on this section.
State: OH Length: 2.10 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Morgana Run Trail project utilizes a majority of a former Wheeling & Lake Erie Rail line. This rail-trail connects residents and visitors to the Cleveland Metro Parks Mill Creek Park and Trail through the Slavic Village/Broadway and Aetna-Union neighborhoods of Cleveland over to Washington Park and the new "First Tee" Golf Course and then further to the established Ohio & Erie Canal Way Reservation and Tow Path Trail. The trail passes directly by South High School, Stella Walsh Recreation Center, Union Elementary, and the new Boys & Girls Club, Cleveland Central Catholic High School, St. Stanislaus Elementary and Mound Elementary School providing a safe and alternate route to schools and recreational facilities for the community's youth.
State: OH Length: 0.75 miles Surface: Concrete
The Newton Falls Trail, built on a former railroad bed, follows the Mahoning River as it winds its way downtown and ends at the Newton Falls Community Park. The route provides pleasant neighborhood views of this quaint township that was established in the early 1800s. A highlight of the trail is a view of the bridge that crosses the river to connect Bridge Street with Arlington Road; the covered bridge was constructed in 1831 and is the second oldest in the state.
State: OH Length: 15.40 miles Surface: Crushed Stone, Dirt
The North Coast Inland Trail through Huron County is just one segment of a system of trails in the North Coast Inland chain. Other segments include Lorain County, Sandusky/Ottawa counties and the Wabash Connector. The trail passes among hardwood forests, crosses several rivers and offers wide views in some areas. The trail follows part of the former Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad (later New York Central's Norwalk Branch), which is being converted to trails across northern Ohio. The Huron County segment is managed by Firelands Rails to Trails, an all-volunteer, non-profit group. The trail is continuous between Bellevue and the Norwalk city limits (9.5 miles) with the exception of a brief jaunt where the Peru Center Road grade crossing in Monroeville is used to cross the active rail line that this section of the trail closely parallels. East of Norwalk more than 4 miles of trail are open in the Collins area. A further extension west of State Route 601 toward Laylin Road will begin construction in 2013. When complete, the Huron County section of the North Coast Inland Trail will join other segments under construction in Lorain and Sandusky counties. Connection to the Sandusky County segment is currently available via a marked road route through the City of Bellevue. For the latest trail updates, visit Firelands Rails to Trails.
State: OH Length: 13.10 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Kipton to Elyria rail-trail is a 13-mile paved path and part of the 65-mile North Coast Inland Trail. The corridor is classic rail-trail: flat and mostly straight. Heading northeast from Kipton's downtown community park and restored depot, you travel only 50 feet before encountering a plaque commemorating the Great Kipton Train Wreck. This was the scene of an 1891 train collision in which eight people died. The wreck was blamed on the station engineer's watch, which was slow by four minutes and caused him to delay moving one of the trains to a separate track. Railroad officials hired prominent Cleveland jeweler Webb Ball to investigate railroad timekeeping and institute precision performance and inspection standards. Locals credit Ball's capable work with the origin of the much-used idiom "on the ball." Heading toward Oberlin you pass rural homes and take in sweeping views of a community golf course. Before entering Oberlin the trail turns off the rail corridor and onto country roads for less than 1 mile. The on-road bike lanes are well defined, traffic is light and the route is easy to negotiate. The rail line picks up again in the beautiful college town of Oberlin. The trail travels through the town's central park, with drinking fountains and a playground, and passes Oberlin's restored train depot. Past Oberlin, the vista becomes rolling farmland, with herds of cattle and roaming horses. You also pass rural homesteads and are welcomed by the baying of kenneled hounds. Birdlife along the trail includes cardinals, turkey vultures, bluebirds, warblers and vireos. The trail ends in Elyria when it hits Industrial Parkway. Plans are afoot to extend this trail in both directions between Elyria and Toledo.
State: OH Length: 3 miles Surface: Asphalt
The short North Olmsted Walking and Bike Trail parallels I-480 and provides an alternate, non-motorized route linking neighborhoods with green spaces and business districts.
State: OH Length: 26.90 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail follows its namesake canal from Cleveland south to Zoar. When complete, the trail will eventually extend farther south to New Philadelphia, a total of roughly 110 miles. The trail itself is contained within a national heritage corridor that also includes an on-road scenic byway and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which operates between Garfield Heights in Cleveland to Canton. The Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail is roughly divided into four segments: the Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas sections. Cyclists wishing to ride only one way on the towpath trail between Canton and Akron can hop on the scenic rail for the return trip for a cost of only $2. The Cuyahoga section runs between Cleveland and Everett and includes the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (from Rockside Road south of Garfield Heights to Botzum). There are some gaps in the trail but they are easy to bridge. There are numerous things to see and do along the way, including cultural and historical sights and wildlife watching. For more information, visit the Ohio & Erie Canalway webpage (click on the link under Related Links).
State: OH Length: 4 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail follows its namesake canal from Cleveland south to Zoar. When complete, the trail will eventually extend farther south to New Philadelphia, a total of roughly 110 miles. The trail itself is contained within a national heritage corridor that also includes an on-road scenic byway and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which operates between Garfield Heights in Cleveland to Canton. The Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail is roughly divided into four segments: the Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas sections. Cyclists wishing to ride only one way on the towpath trail between Canton and Akron can hop on the scenic rail for the return trip for a cost of only $3. The Stark section runs between Crystal Lakes and Massillon. There are numerous things to see and do along the way, including cultural and historical sights and wildlife watching. For more information, visit the Ohio & Erie Canalway webpage (click on the link under Related Links).
State: OH Length: 34.40 miles Surface: Cinder, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail follows its namesake canal from Cleveland south to Zoar. When complete, the trail will eventually extend farther south to New Philadelphia, a total of roughly 110 miles. The trail itself is contained within a national heritage corridor that also includes an on-road scenic byway and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which operates between Garfield Heights in Cleveland to Canton. The Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail is roughly divided into four segments: the Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas sections. Cyclists wishing to ride only one way on the towpath trail between Canton and Akron can hop on the scenic rail for the return trip for a cost of only $3.
State: OH Length: 12.90 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Gravel
The Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail follows its namesake canal from Cleveland south to Zoar. When complete, the trail will eventually extend farther south to New Philadelphia, a total of roughly 110 miles. The trail itself is contained within a national heritage corridor that also includes an on-road scenic byway and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which operates between Garfield Heights in Cleveland to Canton. The Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail is roughly divided into four segments: the Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas sections. Cyclists wishing to ride only one way on the towpath trail between Canton and Akron can hop on the scenic rail for the return trip for a cost of only $3. The Tuscarawas section runs between Massillon and Zoar. There are some gaps in the trail but they are easy to bridge. To continue south from Bolivar, you can pick up the Zoar Valley Trail. There are numerous things to see and do along the way, including cultural and historical sights and wildlife watching. For more information, visit the Ohio & Erie Canalway webpage (click on the link under Related Links).
State: OH Length: 320 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Ohio to Erie Trail spans the state of Ohio from a tributary of the Ohio River in Cincinatti to Cleveland on the shores of Lake Erie. When complete, this trail will connect four of Ohio's metropolitan cities, a dozen large towns, and numerous small villages -- all done on easily accessible, paved trails that are completely separated from highways and automobiles. As of October, 2009, 234 miles have been paved of the 300 with 270 miles of right of way secured for trail use. Along the way, the trail passes through rural areas, farmlands, nature preserves, and regional parks giving the adventurous a hearty helping of nature's finest. At the metropolitan perimeter, meadows and woods give way to exciting urban centers, affording the traveller a contemporary taste of Ohio's culture and arts. The OTET has sparked the construction of dozens of other trails leading to it across the State of Ohio!
State: OH Length: 6 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The Olde Muskingum Trail parallels the Tuscarawas River and the Ohio & Erie Canalway between Cherry Street in Canal Fulton and Forty Corners Road just north of Massillon. The 6-mile scenic trail has a crushed limestone surface for hiking and biking with a compacted adjacent trail for horseback riding, complete with mounting blocks.
State: OH Length: 8 miles Surface:
The much anticipated 8 mile trail from Orrville to Clinton is closer to reality. The corridor was purchased in the summer of 2010 from Norfolk and Southern Railroad. The trail will go from Orrville through the village of Marshallville to Clinton. This trail is also a part of the greater Ohio to Erie Trail, a 300 mile cross State trail from Cleveland to Cincinnati.
State: OH Length: 9 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Portage Hike and Bike Trail stretches 9 miles between Kent and Ravenna, about 40 miles southeast of Cleveland and the southern shores of Lake Erie. Between the two busy downtowns, quiet woods and meadows can be enjoyed. In some areas, the trail parallels an active, but infrequently used, railroad. In Kent, the western leg of the trail follows the Cuyahoga River and the old P&O Canal, and Kent State University is only a few blocks away. Farther east, you'll come to a highlight of the journey: Towner's Woods Park in Franklin Township. The trail runs along the southern border of the 175-acre park, which has beautiful natural settings of forest, wetlands, and meadows. Here, you'll also find an ancient Native American burial mound on the shores of picturesque Lake Pippen. One day, the trail is hoped to connect to the 33-mile Bike & Hike Trail that runs through Cuyahoga, Summit, and Portage counties, connecting more communities, parks, and attractions.
State: OH Length: 9.60 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Sippo Valley Trail runs nearly 10 miles, with flat, gentle grades, between Dalton and Massillon. It takes its name from Sippo Creek, which cascades along the side of the trail for nearly its entire length. There are numerous small bridge crossings, as well as 12 road crossings. All road crossings are well marked for both trail and road traffic, and are easily navigated. The rail-trail begins in Dalton at Village Green Park, where open green space (bordered by ball fields and a playground) and trail amenities are plentiful. After leaving the trailhead you traverse fields, forests and streams. Trail mileage markers, with the zero point originating in the eastern terminus at Massillon, are provided every 0.5 mile. The scenery is a beautiful mix of rolling farmland, forests and small-town homes, starting with a close-up ride along the creek banks. After the first road crossing leaving Dalton, the view opens onto the farm fields that dot the horizon. At mile 2.75 on the Wayne–Stark County line, you begin a 3-mile section of crushed stone surface that makes up the trail's midsection. The stone portion of the trail is in great condition, and in dry weather is easily passable. In wet conditions the stone surface gets slick and may be difficult for road bikers and wheelchair users. Pockets of forest create pleasant shade along the trail corridor. The rural feel of the trail begins to change around mile 9 as you enter Massillon. The crossing at 17th Street brings you to a very steep descent on the east side of the road along the trail. The hill takes you down to Oak Ledges Park and its beautiful setting next to Sippo Creek. Two bridge crossings take you over the creek, and once you leave the park a short 0.75 mile remains on the trail. Arriving at trail's end in Massillon, the Sippo Valley Trail intersects with the 70-plus mile Ohio-Erie Canal Towpa
State: OH Length: 2 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Steel Mill Trail is a 2-mile continuation of the Bridgeway Trail, which lies within the Black River Reservation, a scenic wooded park in Lorain. The Steel Mill Trail picks up at the north end of the Bridgeway Trail by the Days Dam Picnic Area and continues north through the old slag fields left behind from the U.S. Steel Mill. The trail carries on to Colorado Avenue, crossing the Black River and French Creek.
State: OH Length: 2.90 miles Surface: Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Tallmadge Hike & Bike Trail runs for nearly 3 miles between Southwest Avenue and N. Munroe Road, paralleling the old Conrail railroad line through Tallmadge. Much of the trail is heavily wooded, while the Tallmadge town end provides access to neighborhoods and eateries.
State: OH Length: 13.60 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Valley Parkway Trail runs the length of the Rocky River Reservation, offering beautiful views of the winding waterway, shale cliffs and lush forests on the western border of Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland. Wildlife is abundant in the park and you are likely to catch a glimpse of a white-tailed deer, as well as many kinds of birds. A good place to begin your journey is at the aptly named Scenic Park, just south of Detroit Avenue. Follow the trail south along the parkway and soon you will reach a trail spur that can take you to the Emerald Necklace Marina, where you can find snacks, picnic tables and a boat launch. Additional offshoots on the trail offer access to local business and residential areas. And, if you have time, you can stop and explore the exhibits and gardens of the Rocky River Nature Center along the way. The trail ends at Bagley Road, but, from here, trail-goers can continue their adventure another 9 miles on the trail through Mill Stream Run Reservation.
State: OH Length: 43 miles Surface: Asphalt, Ballast
The Western Reserve Greenway is a 43-mile, mostly rural rail-trail that cuts a north–south course from Ashtabula to Warren, Ohio. The greenway's start is only a few miles from Lake Erie, and a planned extension will bring it right to the shoreline. For now you can start at Herzog Rotary Park, where signs detail the importance of northeast Ohio in the Underground Railroad. Heading south, you cross the historic King Bridge, a steel railroad trestle built in 1897 that now spans Clay Street. Ahead is Austinburg, with a trailhead and plenty of options for refreshments and nourishment. South of town you re-enter the trail's rural surroundings and enjoy the company of deer, beavers and a multitude of birds, including wild turkeys and waterfowl. In the small town of Rock Creek the Rock Creek Trestle spans the river. The bridge features bump-outs that give a bird's-eye view of the river and scenery below. When the trail picks up again, you sail beneath sheltering trees and past the tiny village of Orwell, with a trailhead located below a water tower. In North Bloomfield, at about mile 30, the Mosquito Lake wetlands area has a must-see observation deck. Take a break and marvel at the breadth of wildlife—particularly birdlife—found here. Red-tailed hawks, marsh and sparrow hawks, and bald eagles have been spotted here. The Stone Arch Bridge in Trumbull County is a true highlight of the Western Reserve Trail. To further explore this superb tribute to time and engineering, hit the road on the north side of the bridge for 0.25 mile and take in the magnificent side view of the bridge. Back on the trail you will come to the Sunside trailhead at State Route 305. The rail-trail continues a short distance beyond here to Champion Street north of Warren, but the best access is from this trailhead.