Find the top rated birding trails in Napoleon, 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.
I had the chance to ride the whole NCIT from Genoa (newest part of trail) to Elyria. So many great restored train stops, bridges, and even railroad museum right on the trail. Active rail line next to trail for about 10 miles.
Most of trail is paved now but with some sections of loose gravel or even large ballast I would recommend at least a gravel or cross bike/tires.
Great scenery, unsuspecting calmness and tranquility.
This was a pleasant trail through the woods and meadow. The surface is mainly wood chips, dirt and grass, which would be more suitable for wider tires, rather than a road bike with skinny tires. I used a touring bike with 28 mm tires and didn't have a problem. It might be harder if the trail was wet. Just depends on how comfortable you are on those types of trails. Definitely a good trail to hike. I biked a few of the loops and did 3 miles total, which didn't take that long. I did not go in the Discovery Center since it was closed at the time.
The trail from Pokagon Park runs along the camp road, with a clearly painted white line to set it off. There are traffic lights and crosswalks out of the park toward Angola. There is 7% grade going up as you leave the park, just after the park sign. Keep going. The view from the top is spectacular, especially with the autumn colors. After you get around and past the Ramada Inn, there’s another steep hill (8%). In both cases, we didn’t see the sign until we had turned around and headed back. It was a fun ride down!
I rode this trail for the first time a few days ago. It's great and well used. A trail is across the road at the western end point, which is a 1/2-1 mile long. Another cyclist said they hope to extend that trail. Parking at the western end point on King Road is only by businesses. Ask for permission since the signs say they will tow you away. I parked there along the trees with permission and had no problems. Try to take the time to go into Wildwood Preserve Metropark if you can. There is a nice 1.65 mile loop (Walk/Bike Path) there and a spur off of it through a covered bridge over the Ottawa River and beyond to Corey Road, called the Regional Walk/Bike Connector.
On October 7, 2020, I parked at Bowman Park to take the route south. The first approximately 2 miles was on the gravel/crushed stone trail, but then it ended at a road. I checked the trail on Google Map, which led me straight (sort of) onto grass and gravel. That didn't seem right and I knew I couldn't always trust Google, so I checked TraiLink, which I should have done in the first place. The trail zigzagged a bit, crossing the road and onto residential streets. It then went into Ottawa Park. Another section of the trail curved through the wide meridian between opposite one-way streets. Grass and weeds were growing through the cracks, otherwise it would have been a really nice section. Other parts of the route were on sidewalks, some which were narrow, uneven and had grass growing in the cracks. Some places there was an option of using the bike lane on the road. The trail also went on roads through a portion of the Health and Science campus of the University of Toledo. The southern most 1-2 miles was on a really nice wide asphalt trail. I was confused about the mile markers there since I saw 9.25, but then the trail soon ended. I was expecting to go until I saw 11. I didn't think I went that far beyond the 9.25 marker. There is parking there for only a few vehicles. I did not see restrooms of any type there, however there were some in Highland Park, Ottawa Park, and Bowman Park. Some might have been closed due to COVID regulations, but pit toilets were just off the trail in Ottawa Park. The southern portion had more signs (Bike Toledo CC Trail), than I remember seeing once in Ottawa Park and north of it. There were many many road crossings, some which had designated cross walk signals to use. It took me 1.5 hours to go north. I would recommend parking at River Road at the southern end point and bike north, follow the signs and the map on TraiLink. That way if you decide not to do the whole route, you would have done the better part.
On Thursday, we drove to the Wood County Park District’s Rudolph Savanna looking for a trail to explore. I am in a wheelchair. My spouse provides my locomotion. From the Savanna’s parking lot, we accessed a lovely compacted earth/grass pathway, with very modest changes in elevation, that meandered through prairie and forest. At the end of the path, we found ourselves on a portion of the Slippery Elm Trail. We seized the opportunity and completed the section from Rudolph to Greensburg Pike before returning to the Park. We enjoyed The lovely fall colors and native plants and look forward to visiting in the spring.
I started in Jonesville. The trail was littered with trash, including car parts from the significant 4 lane road next to the trail. It was overgrown in parts and simply was in terrible shape. I got a flat at about mile out and walked back. I was confident that if I changed the tube that there was enough litter on the trail that riding would soon result in another flat.
Park at the Black Swamp Preserve just a bit south of the north terminus.
The trail is nice and well maintained. For variety on the return north from North Baltimore, we road some of the parallel county roads. They're smooth and with virtually no vehicle traffic on a Tuesday morning.
Parked at Oak Openings on SR64. Rode East about 9.5 miles on North Fork. Took the connector trail to the Fallen Timbers Monument. Should have followed the sign that said “To Battlefield”. Missed it and had to turn left at mall entrance. Rode across SR24 bridge to the monument, then down a short paved hill trail and over to the Side Cut Metropark. Turned around and rode through the mall parking lot to a Subway in the back by the movie theaters. Found the unofficial shortcut just to the right of the theatres. Saved about a mile of riding back to the Connector Trail. Rode about 10 miles on the South Fork to Fulton-Lucas Rd. Rode about 5.5 miles North on the road. Very little traffic. A Friday night about 7PM and not a single car passed us. A right turn on the North Fork and about a mile back to the truck.
Now I know how the Cannonball got it’s name. Both trails were straight as an arrow. Nicely paved the whole way. Glad we rode it clockwise. South trail seemed to have more trees on the North side, so heading West at 7PM we had some nice shade.
I prefer a trail with some turns, but this was nice to do 32 miles with no backtracking. Thx for the nice trails.....Bikin-Mike - Aug 2020
This trail is great for road cycling. It is clean and not congested. It is an easy ride with nice coverage, so the sun doesn't beat down on you for the entire ride. Nice when you just want to get up and get a solid ride in.
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