Find the top rated running trails in Bluffton, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
_228736_st.jpg)
_183732_st.jpg)
This was a fairly decent trail, if you like straight paths and wide open spaces. I ran this trail in February 2024. I divided it up in to 7 days and started in Springfield. The first mile or so is road side and there is a specific lane to stay in. This turns to some wooded areas and over some busy roads while in town. The path from lagonda to Eagle City was probably the most scenic part of the trail, crossing over the Buck Creek trail. Once past Eagle City soccer fields the terrain seems to be newly paved but there are a lot of little dips that I was very aware of since I was on foot and not on a bike. Coming in to Urbana there were some wooded areas and I am sure in the early spring and summer there may be more to look at, but it wasn't very scenic in February. There was little to no signage other than the SKT mile markers noted sporadically along the trail. It seems like once you get past Railroad street in Urbana there isn't much to look at other than railroad tracks. This is also where the trail changes from asphalt to the chip and seal. I hadn't ran this kind of terrain but was pleasantly surprised how smooth it was. I was concerned about flipping bits of stone in to my shoes but that didn't happen. There is another segment of roads to run and again, there is no signage to direct you on the right path. I did see bike signs, which to most of you reading this will take as signage, however, I would like to see signs of the actual trail listed. The map listed here on trailink shows the red line to insinuate the trail, however, when looking at it more closely, there is more route around a park in Urbana that was missed. Again, after Railroad rd in Urbana the path is straight and there is no place to stop for rest or parking and that makes for a lengthy run/ride for anyone on the trail. There is always a safety concern in this regard too. Overall, the trail is decent, however, I wouldn't run it again...maybe the part from Lagonda to Eagle City...but that's it. This was trail #35 for me, and I would say it wouldn't make the top 10 for me.
This was a fairly decent trail, if you like straight paths and wide open spaces. I ran this trail in February 2024. I divided it up in to 7 days and started in Springfield. The first mile or so is road side and there is a specific lane to stay in. This turns to some wooded areas and over some busy roads while in town. The path from lagonda to Eagle City was probably the most scenic part of the trail, crossing over the Buck Creek trail. Once past Eagle City soccer fields the terrain seems to be newly paved but there are a lot of little dips that I was very aware of since I was on foot and not on a bike. Coming in to Urbana there were some wooded areas and I am sure in the early spring and summer there may be more to look at, but it wasn't very scenic in February. There was little to no signage other than the SKT mile markers noted sporadically along the trail. It seems like once you get past Railroad street in Urbana there isn't much to look at other than railroad tracks. This is also where the trail changes from asphalt to the chip and seal. I hadn't ran this kind of terrain but was pleasantly surprised how smooth it was. I was concerned about flipping bits of stone in to my shoes but that didn't happen. There is another segment of roads to run and again, there is no signage to direct you on the right path. I did see bike signs, which to most of you reading this will take as signage, however, I would like to see signs of the actual trail listed. The map listed here on trailink shows the red line to insinuate the trail, however, when looking at it more closely, there is more route around a park in Urbana that was missed. Again, after Railroad rd in Urbana the path is straight and there is no place to stop for rest or parking and that makes for a lengthy run/ride for anyone on the trail. There is always a safety concern in this regard too. Overall, the trail is decent, however, I wouldn't run it again...maybe the part from Lagonda to Eagle City...but that's it. This was trail #35 for me, and I would say it wouldn't make the top 10 for me.
What a relaxing ride! This was my first “big” ride on my Recumbent bike. It was easy to navigate, smooth and well marked. There’s several distance options you can choose from to ride, walk or jog. I would recommend the Slippery Elm for families or just soloists.
A very pleasant & relaxing ride in the shade. It’s not super long but if you supplement it by riding around Coldwater and also adding the very beautiful Westbank trail in Celina, it makes for a wonderful little ride. There’s a couple of benches along the path, but they’re all in spots where there’s no shade which I found really odd. Hey, let’s take a break right here in the beating hot sun. Dumb
Beautiful little ride that follows the western shoreline of grand lake. It’s short but if you tag on the Celina/Coldwater trail, which is really close by, it makes for a really sweet ride.
Short little straight stretch that is very nicely paved. Not much on the scenery unless you like cornfields. I supplemented the trail by riding around in the sleepy lil town of Ohio City. It’s very much a little town… Not a city. Ohio City. Them folks must’ve stayed up all night to think of that one.
I rode the trail today from Bowlusville to just north of Urbana. It was a sunny morning with temps in the upper 70s to low 80s. I parked at the Access Point at 580 West County Line Rd. which had a shelter and a port-a-pottty. Several other folks parked in the same lot, but it was never full. I rode the trail from Springfield to Bowlusville a couple of weeks ago.
The trail from Springfield to Urbana is paved and, for most of the distance, has a tree canopy to provide shade and block the wind. When I got north of Urbana it changed to chip seal and there was no tree cover. The surface was noticeably rougher but still tolerable with 28 mm tires at 60-70 psi. Between the chip seal and the sun, it's a different experience.
Two other notes for potential riders:
1. The trail seems a little shorter than the advertised 35.5 miles. The official description states that Bellefontaine to Urbana is 16 miles. Based on my rides, I'd say Urbana to Bowlusville is 7 miles and Bowlusville to Springfield is 9.5 miles. That's three miles shorter than the overall claimed distance. Maybe they included the 6-mile Buck Creek Trail in the claimed distance for the Simon Kenton Trail or maybe my numbers are off.
2. Going southbound into Springfield the connection to the Little Miami Trail is difficult to detect. If you recall to turn left at South Center Street at the end of the Simon Kenton Trail, you will make the connection, but there is no sign there if you don't remember. Going northbound from the Little Miami Trail, there is a sign that directs you to the left on South Center Street to make the connection with the Simon Kenton Trail.
This is a nice trail. It had some bumpy spots but not a big deal. Mostly shaded. We saw 2 Bald Eagle, a Great Blue Heron and other wildlife. Worth the ride.
Nice ride. However 2093 Holland Road was not a good address for my Garmin navigator. Yes it is loaded with the current maps. Left me on a two lane road with no sign of a trailhead. So I asked google on my phone to navigate to the "Tallgrass trail near Marion Ohio" and arrived at the East end trailhead just fine.
I started on the north fork just east of Montpelier riding east and after awhile realized this trail was just not passable by bicycle (rough aggregate / overgrown / down trees). After West Unity I moved to neighboring highways (mainly roads G and F) until I got east of Wauseon. When rejoining east of Wauseon the quality of the trail was still very poor. But once I reached the Delta trailhead on Hwy 109 the trail transformed into a very nice quality paved trail all the way into Fallen Timbers. I was just passing through on longer ride so did not spend anytime on the south fork.
I would probably characterize some of the sections west of Wauseon as some of the poorest trail situations for bicycling I have ever seen. Then on the flip side the section east of Hwy 109 were great. Assuming this Jekyll and Hyde scenario is due to different groups maintaining the trail with Toledo Metroparks section to the east of north fork being very nice. Northwestern Ohio Rail to Trails Association maybe lacking resources to conduct proper maintenance in western portions of north fork (or maybe bicycling is not considered a primary use for the trail in the western portions of the north fork).
This is a great trail with great surface.
There could be some improvement to the signage for the route when coming into the Bellevue from the west. I now suspect that you should take Riddle Rd south to Gardner Rd east into town but I must have missed the sign. I was planning to take Portland Rd north when I got to it but there was a train blocking the crossing and several crossings after (long train). So I actually just kept riding the rough road along the tracks for a couple miles east before I could get around it (train sat there for very long time).
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
Map Search
