While our plan was to bike the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, we got a bit diverted by a narrow strip of land called Rockefeller Park, located just beyond the sprawling campus of the Cleveland Clinic. We rode through the park on the Harris Dillard Trail, which goes mostly downhill for about 3.7 miles to Lake Erie. Riding through this beautifully landscaped oasis was a nice surprise amidst otherwise urban, commercial neighborhoods.
Once we reached the actual Waterfront Trail, we decided to turn right and east toward the charming hamlet of Bratenahl. Here we rode on a broad, but quiet, street past several great gated estates, likely dating back to the early 20th century. Visible beyond each house and its beautifully manicured grounds was the vast expanse of Lake Erie. After a few miles, the neighborhood and woods ended and we entered Euclid, a community of smaller, post-WWII homes, strip shopping centers, and one large hi-rise housing development.
We persisted along this busier on-road portion of the trail to the Euclid MetroPark, where ample signage pointed us to a winding trail through the park to a marina. Here we were rewarded with striking views of Lake Erie and the skyline of Cleveland in the distance. Determined to find the eastern trailhead, we continued past the marina and through a small nature preserve which promoted the return of a coyote habitat. The Waterfront Trail at this end was a combination of sidewalks, a paved path, roads, and shoulders with painted lanes.
We didn’t venture toward downtown, but the drive we’d taken to scope it out the night before suggested that there would be much weaving through road traffic and industrial sections of town.
We drove afterwards to a nationally known brewery in one of the city's hip downtown neighborhoods.

The OTET is not the ETOT. I found out why when cyclists were flying past me Northbound as I fought headwinds Southbound. Yes the winds wind up the Ohio Valley hence the trail is named Ohio To Erie Trail. I was southbound because after my glorious arrival and celebration in Cincinnati I continued through Louisville, Mammoth Cave and Nashville to our daughters horse farm in Shelbyville TN totaling 721 wondrous miles of memories and new acquaintances both 2-legged and 4-legged. I suggest using credit card

A huge shoutout to the organizations that put this trail together, maintain, and promote it - its remarkably well done. There are a few spots that could use some more signage (Westerville is pretty bad) but overall from top to bottom it's hard to get lost. I did this trail in 4.5 days from Cincinnati to Cleveland the last week of October with almost no bike experience. I also used a busted up old mountain bike from the 90s and had pretty much no problem with it.

I rode a complete round-trip on the bikeway (East 185th & Lakeshore to West 117th & Edgewater) for the first time after wanting to for quite some time. This took me about 3 hours saddle time. The route is well-planned enough, keeping close to the shore of Lake Erie. A mixture of road cycling and trail cycling is required, but bike lanes added on Lakeshore Blvd in recent years in Cleveland make this easier. Signage downtown is poor and the routing there is a bit awkward, but anything west of downtown is quite fun as long as you know to access the path next to the Shoreway beginning at W. 25th.

Enjoyable route, poorly signed at parts, but I expect the Bikeway will probably be improved in the future. Worth riding for the experience.

We started in Independence, where there is a big parking lot and decent restrooms, and rode to Peninsula, where there are restaurants and a bike shop, and returned--about 23 - 24 miles. Found that the surroundings became more lush and wooded the closer we got to Peninsula. Next time, we'll start there and go south or ride on a day when we could take the train one way and do the whole trail. Signs indicated the train runs Wed. - Sunday, May - October. (We rode on a Tuesday.) The trail surface varies--a combo of asphalt, well-packed or uneven gravel, or hard-packed dirt. At this time of year (Oct) there were a considerable number of walnuts on the trail to navigate through, too. We did this trail as a break in a long car trip and it was worth it. Saw some amazing herons along the way!

Road trail with bafang mid drive motor and climbed hills like they were flat ground. Got a good workout by not using too much assist but the ride was pleasant.

I did this trail in two sections. The loop from 303 down through Stow/Kent and back up was definitely not flat. Also crossed and road along a lot of roads. The residential section was nice, but it was difficult to see the bike trail signs at times so I got off course more than once. The northern section from Alexander down to 303 is fantastic. While you do cross a few roads, they’re not as busy as the ones in the loop. I would suggest walking your bike across them – The roads are slightly elevated with limited visibility before you reach them. The scenery is hard to beat – lots of gorgeous rock formations and you even go across the top of Brandywine Falls.

I did the southern loop from 303 down around Stow Kent and back up to 303. Way more hills than I expected but was most disconcerting was the number of busy intersections and travel on roads. I will not do this loop again. The northern section from Alexander to 303 is fantastic. You cross a few roads - safest to stop and walk bike on them to to steep incline at intersection and somewhat limited visibility. The scenery is fantastic - you pass over Brandywine Falls and there are beautiful rock formations in a wooded area just north of 303. Rolling inclines rather than steep hills. Will do this section Again.

trails not marked well, even the website maps are difficult to follow. City is not overall bike friendly and no real lakefront trail like chicago