Find the top rated birding trails in Meadville, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Adding to what smk wrote in the preceding review: The trail is indeed closed a short distance south of Kirk Rd. because of construction on a new I-76 underpass. Going south, the detour around this closure is: West on Kirk Rd, south on Turner Rd., east on Herbert Rd. While the extra distance due to this detour is not much, I gave up on it because Turner road is narrow, shoulderless, and hilly. There is no visibility over hilltops, and a car speeding over one is too likely to knock down a cyclist on the other side. Unsafe, in my opinion. So the remedy was to ride back to the northern trail end, put the bike on the car, drive to the southern trail end, and ride north to the closure point. This interruption spoiled an otherwise nice ride. Based on the work crew I saw (just two guys), this construction job could take a long time.
Nice trail, but note that it is closed at mile 5 (from the north). Work being done on highway overpasse
Labor Day Weekend we biked 31 miles. Parked at Sunside Trailhead in Champion and headed North to Orwell, and back. Makes for a nice 30+ mile trek. It's 15 1/2 miles from Champion to Orwell. Newly repaved section near Orwell. While passing the Wildlife viewing area we noticed the observation deck/platform has been removed. It's been falling apart so this is probably a good thing.
The Central section is 8.3 miles of Asphalt Pavement. Newly paved is most of the South section from Headwaters Park to Middlefield Square, which is 6.5 miles. The trail does continue on the other side of Middlefield Square. It's not paved.
Two new Trailheads with shelters and maps and beautiful flower gardens. At Headwaters Park Trailhead there is a new shelter. A completely new trailhead is at Tare Creek Road which offers a shelter and plenty of parking.
Along the Central Section is the newly constructed Claridon Woodlands Park featuring 3 separate paved trails totaling 2.2 miles. Also Recreation areas including a ropes course, pump track/single mountain bike track, boulder wall and a Nature-based playground.
There is an uphill grade from Headwaters Park towards Chardon.
A great trail now is 12 miles of asphalt pavement and has five covered bridges.
Nice trail but very poor signage in Middlefield, can go several different ways and not marked if you do not know the area. One route takes you through a parking lot which is not safe.
This was our first time on this trail and it looks like they are doing an amazing job fixing it up. We started at Leeper (parked at Car Mate) off of 66 and rode 12 Miles fo Marianne and back. Our mistake was starting in Leeper. It was mostly uphill on the way back. We almost got hit by tractor trailers and other vehicles at the road crossing because of blind curves and no crosswalks. The traffic on these main roads don’t yield to bikes. The state needs to correct this and have warning signs with flashing lights for road traffic and a crosswalk. If it hadn’t been for road work at one of the blind corners on a busy main road, we would have difficulty getting across just like we did on our way in to Marianne. We probably won’t return to this trail unless they make the crossings safer. Aside from the safety concerns, the trail was really nice. Thank you for your hard work!
Attempted to use the Clarion Highlands trail earlier this month. We parked at the parking area at the edge of the Game Lands on Station Road. The trail was so overgrown with waist-high grass that the only indication there was even a trail there was the gap in the trees. There is a trailhead listed further up Station Road, however this was marked off with numerous No Trespassing and Private Property signs. We pressed on further still up the road to where the trail crosses Station Road hoping to access it there, only to find the trail was simply a washed out muddy path. Tired of driving around, at this point we just gave up and drove 15 minutes to access the wonderfully maintained Rail 66 Country Trail.
Ernst Trail is a little slice of heaven just outside Meadville, PA. This trail is relatively flat, nicely paved, well-maintained, and traverses lovely, peaceful, wooded territory.
Revisited this trail from last Summer and it has come a long way! Trail is nearly 13 miles completed, of which 9 miles are brand new asphalt pavement. The mid section is still a rough tar & chip surface. Their plans are to continue the trail North from Leeper.
We biked from Route 322 to Leeper, and back.
We parked in a new lot on Route 322 in the Village on Marianne. Paved lot holds about 15 cars and is located near a few places to eat. The trail goes South of 322 for a little bit but the surface is dirt.
Heading North out of Marianne there is smooth brand new asphalt pavement for approx 4.5 miles, where it meets up with the older section of the trail. Just under 3 miles you will pass the farm market, if they are open, they offer cold beverages for sale. There is also a large swing there.
Continuing North into Lucinda at approx 6.3 miles is the former train station with picnic tables, and a large parking area which holds approx 30 cars.
At mile 8.5, Lutz Drive in Snydersburg, is another parking area for approx 15 cars. A few tenths North is where the trail turns to new asphalt pavement. Formerly this section was cinder. The trail rolls through some pretty countryside including cornfields.
The trail ends (for now) at approx mile 12 at Car Mate trailers in Leeper. There is also parking in front of Car Mate. Car Mate is located on Route 66. Just North of Car Mate you will find the Sawmill Restaurant & Ice Cream. Also a small grocery store and a Dollar Store.
Plans for the future are to continue the trail North of Leeper to the Forest County Line.
An all around great trail!
New parking in corry at end of trail. Drainage improvements. Quiet trail for biking and running.
I agree with the differences that have been pointed out between the Pennsylvania and the Ohio side of the trail, but it is nice a great ride. Rumor has it that the town of Lowellville will have control of that section of the trail which may bring about needs improvements. Be sure to stop at Ross’ Market in Lowellville. It is a neat little working general store that makes you feel like you are walking back in time.
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