Find the top rated bike trails in Napoleon, whether you're looking for an easy short bike trail or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a bike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The Slippery Elm Trail is a flat, well-maintained trail found running through farmland in northwest Ohio. It runs 13 miles between the towns of Bowling Green and North Baltimore. The trailheads in both towns have nice trailheads with flush bathrooms, drinking water, and bike repair stations. Near the midpoint of the trail the village of Rudolph offers port-a-johns. The trail is wide and the asphalt surface is smooth. Where cracks have appeared they have been filled. Depending upon the time of year you ride the trail there may not be a lot to see. The parts of the trail that are shaded have lots of brush between the trees which make the trail seem like a green tunnel. Likewise, the parts of the trail running through corn fields also block seeing much of the surrounding countryside. Since much of the trail running through farmland is not shaded, using sunscreen would be a wise idea. In addition, I would suggest to make sure you carry a cell phone. I found the trail to feel somewhat isolated. On the weekday that I rode an out-and-back ride of the entire trail I did not encounter a single other person using the trail. If you have a crash or an emergency occur while on the trail, I don’t think you can rely on someone coming by to assist you.
I rode the Sandusky and Ottawa County Section of the North Coast Inland Trail using two out-and-back rides during September of 2025. The first ride was from Bellevue to Fremont, Ohio. The second ride occurred one week later from Fremont to Genoa and back.
Overall, I was very pleased with the trail. It is well maintained and the asphalt surface is in great shape with few to no cracks, tree root uplift, or potholes. The trail surface in Ottawa County is a chip and sealed stone surface that did not have any patches of loose gravel. Between Bellevue and Fremont a good portion of the trail is shaded with limited views of the surrounding countryside. It does tend to open up more the further northwest you go on the trail. Sunscreen becomes a must the further you travel in that direction. I encountered a number of cyclists and pedestrians using the trail on either side of Fremont, but it seemed that the further away you got from Fremont the less crowded the trail became. During my ride between Elmore and Genoa and back I did not see a single person on the trail. Perhaps, had I ridden this trail at a different time and/or on a weekend maybe I would have encountered more trail users.
I have just a few nits I would like to pick about this trail. First, I think that the on-street routes in the cities of Bellevue and Fremont need to be better marked. In Bellevue, as the trail comes into town on the east side you cross Bauer Rd. and have to travel 2/10 of a mile to Prairie Rd. only be directed back to Bauer Rd. to cross town. Why isn't there a sign at the Bauer Rd. crossing to tell you use Bauer to travel through town. In Fremont, there needs to be a bike lane between Walter Avenue and N. Brush Street along W. State Street (US-20), similar to the one between Portland Rd. and Southwest Street in Bellevue. This 4 lane divided highway has too much traffic and many large commercial trucks to ask cyclists and pedestrians to use it's narrow shoulders.
Secondly, I think that each town could benefit from a small business directory sign or kiosk posted along the trail as you enter each town. The North Coast Inland Trail is a long trail that attracts users from outside the local populace. Connecting these non-residential users to local businesses could have a positive impact on the local economy of each town.
I love the bike path being available in this small town
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.
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.
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