Find the top rated hiking trails in Meadville, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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We rode this trail for the first time today. Started at the Tare Creek trailhead and rode north. Beautiful covered bridges along the way add to the scenic beauty. Most of the trail was easy riding. At the north side of Chardon is a hill we hadn’t expected. Stopped at the ballpark in Chardon where there is a nice historic display about the railroad in Chardon. We didn’t make the trail end-to-end, but did end up with 29.5 miles.
We biked the entire length of the trail and it's various surfaces. Meadville end is paved and well shaded. On the western side of Route 19 it's gravel for a few miles, very rough. Traveling further West towards Conneaut Lake it's dirt and bumpy and seems to have gotten worse since we last rode on this section. Will stick to it on foot or snowshoeing in the Winter. Pretty scenery though and a good bit shaded. We ate at Silver Shores in Conneaut Lake across the street from the trail. At the Conneaut Lake trailhead, just behind Conneaut Wine Cellars, there is a new pavlion which is very nice.
We accessed this trail in Franklin where the Allegheny River Trail ends. Seamless connection offers an additional 7 miles from Franklin to Oil City. Flat rail trail, paved, follows the Allegheny River. Historic signs and sights along the way. A little bit of shaded areas.
We are camping at Lampe and can travel West or South on this trail along the Bayfront. Going WEST, the is currently a lot of construction, but when done should be a nice improvement. I like this western part as it travels along the bayfront and around Frontier park. Many good sights and watering holes. Sloppy Duck one of them. It also connects via a marked bike path to Presque Isle Drive to the beautiful 13 plus paved trail around the Peninsula.
Now, leaving the campground and heading south towards Behrend Campus is a different story. The first 2 or 3 miles is through the eastern part of the city. Traffic noise as you're right adjacent to the Bayfront highway. You will see a lot of decay from past industries. The trail itself is littered with trash and weed growth. Today, I was passed by two gas powered motorcycles, like dirt bikes going at a high rate of speed. There is little to no law enforcement. And no upkeep. I have encountered broken glass and drug paraphernalia in the past amongst the trash. About 3 miles out the trail leaves the jurisdiction of Erie and once into Millcreek becomes very nice and well maintained. Erie is a bike friendly town and does a great job with their bike trails other than this section going south from the bayfront to about 38th street. This section goes through an urban rundown area and is completely neglected.
The Ohio section of trail at this point is very rough, and not very scenic. The PA trailhead is well maintained, and more scenic.
Recently resurfaced, the entire trail is smooth asphalt that circles the Presque Isle peninsula. Plenty of parking along the beginning of the trail . We rode in the morning and trail was mostly shaded. Nice stopping points. Would also recommend to take a small detour towards the Coast Guard station and see the grandfathered bay housing and the lighthouse point of the bay channel. Well done PA, this is a flagship trail.
We parked in Orwell, mile marker 2 of the Ashtabula County section, and biked South into Trumbull county and back. Had lunch at the Mexican restaurant steps away from the trail in Orwell. Then we biked North to Rock Creek and back. Total round trip 35 miles. Trail is flat in both directions, paved and basically as straight as an arrow. Most of this area of the trail is very well shaded. Came in handy on a hot Summer day. It appears the large boulder at the Ashtabula and Trumbull county lines is not there.
While in the area, we rode the Foxburg to Parker section, we drove to nearby Emlenton and biked from there to Rockland (tunnel) and back. There is a missing link of trail between Foxburg and Emlenton that has been under development for a few years and they are getting closer but not as of yet. This entire trail section is 27.5 miles in length, flat and paved. Some rooty sections but to be expected with all the shade you will get in return. We did not ride the tunnels due to we forgot our lights. A nice day on the trail enjoying the shade and views of the Allegheny River. Trail services in Emlenton a pizza shop, ice cream shop, Dollar store and convenience store.
Foxburg to Parker detached section is paved and 2.5 miles in length. Parking at each end. This section is very well shaded, trail conditions: a few roots sprouting up in the asphalt. Trail services in Foxburg include places to eat. Trail services in Parker which is a commute by road across the bridge, there is a place to eat. Enjoy the shade!
Everything south of Simmons road is spectacular. North of Simmons rd however has very minimal maintenance and do not recommend.
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