Explore the best rated trails in Ottawa Hills, OH, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Border-to-Border Trail and Manchester Bike Trail . With more than 42 trails covering 341 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The first 15ish miles are paved and then almost EVERYTHING after that is stone and mud and dirt and you are in the middle of nowhere. Now, I could have done more research but I was not prepared to have to cut through random properties and factories to continue the trail. We had to cross a live railroad just to stay on track. The majority of the view is just cornfield. There are also not many places to stop for food or bathrooms or anything. You cut through wauseon, which has some places, but other than that there isn’t a lot. Anyways- I’m traumatized!
You don't send a lot of time in a nature setting with this trail, with the first three or so mile south of Hillsdale being alongside a busy road and pretty rough pavement to boot, and with the last three odd miles being dirt, you might want to skip this trial completely. Falling Waters Trail is short distance driving away, so try that one instead.
First 2 miles from the north to the south are very bad! Water puddles and torn up asphalt. My wife had an accident when she was forced into the thicket. Do not recommend riding bike here. Never going back.!!
This mostly sunny trail offers an excellent round trip distance so you can get a good workout, but doesn't offer much in term of sightseeing.
Started at Bandamere Park through Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti. The signage through Ann Arbor was terrible especially at major cross roads. More signage and larger than 4x8” (sometimes so faded you couldn’t read them) placards at intersections would make using the trail more enjoyable.
We parked at the lot in Elmore and first rode northwest to Genoa. This is a good section of the Inland Trail, very flat, good pavement, lots to see and do. The map doesn't show it yet, but the trail is paved all the way into Genoa. The newly added trail runs north beside Martin Williston road, and west beside SR-51, then winds along a separate paved path into Genoa. The trail is separated from the roads, no problem. The trail ends ends in Genoa at Washington and 6th streets, adjacent to an Ice Cream shop and Veterans Memorial Park. We then rode back to Elmore, then over to Lindsey. Each town is about 5 miles apart, giving us roughly half hour segments between each town. There are a few crossings along the way, but not bad. Plenty of shade. They just added a lot to the intersection going under the Ohio turnpike. There is a Sunflower Tours site on the outskirts of Lindsey. You can take a tractor-pulled trailer ride through a field of sunflowers for a small fee. Looked like a good time. The pavement is well maintained and the path is well marked. All and all a very nice afternoon ride.
Fremont to Elmore, August 2025. Parked in Fremont at 1500 Walter Avenue lot. Traveled West to just beyond Elmore and back. Though the trail does continue to Genoa, it was a hot and sunny day and there isn't much shade. Most of the trail goes through cornfields. Happy that we can now go under the OH turnpike at Waggoner Road. The 15 month construction is over, it's very nice and worth the wait! Beautiful Sunflower field in Lindsey. Trail is paved and obviously a flat rail trail through quaint old railroad towns. This is our favorite section of the trail we frequent it traveling 3 1/2 hours to get to. We brought in some revenue to the area staying 3 days and riding multiple trails.
I enjoy walking and riding my bike on both the paved and unpaved portions of the trail. Great river views with Deer, Fox, Turkey and Eagle among other wildlife. The Williams County Veterans Memorial is a very short distance from the east entrance to the trail on the fairgrounds and well worth the extra ride.
Although there's nothing really to see here, this mostly shaded trail has a good round trip distance with some river crossings to break up the scenery, though I might skip this one.
I feel this trail is a bit of a mixed bag, as it has an excellent round trip and is completely open to the sun, but the pavement is very rough and badly needs an upgrade (which seems to have started around 2025) throughout most of the trail.
With that said, I would cautiously recommend this trail if you're wiling to try it.
With nonstop noise from vehicle traffic a constant and nothing to see/do I might consider skipping if you're from out of town.
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