Find the top rated birding trails in New Castle, 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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Nicely maintained stone dust trail with several points of interest along the way including a couple locks, an old railroad coaling tower, and several historic towns. Some pieces of this trail are paved near towns, but watch out for the rough patches where tree roots are breaking up the blacktop.
This trail is well maintained and an easy ride along the river. A lot of chipmunks scurrying across the trail trying to take you out LOL.
I would highly recommend this trail to anyone who is unfamiliar with gravel biking as a starter trail. The only problem this the trail can only be accessed by going through private property, a busy road, or steep hills. The trail is 5/5, but the entrances caused me to rate it 4/5.
Want to warn anyone who is considering this trial. Parts of it are in serious disrepair from washouts and soft spots. It has the potential to be beautiful but the rains have taken a toll on it, especially on the the Freeport end. Would like to try it again if they are able to get it repaired.
Very nice trail to ride. It’s asphalted, well maintained, shaded and other trail users are friendly/courteous.
My wife and I rode the Maple Highlands Trail from just below Chardon to the southern end at Swine Creek reservation. There are some changes in elevation, most are quite mild, but this trail isn't flat. Use by the Amish has left most of the southern section of this trail littered with horse manure. The two covered bridges across creeks are nice places to stop and take in a the rural countryside views. The trail is poorly marked in the town of Middlefield where you use streets for about half-mile before returning to the paved bike way. (We're familiar with the area and we still needed to use our GPS.) The last section of this trail is on a 2-lane rural road where, despite signs warning drivers of pedestrian use, vehicles whiz by a little too quickly. There's a nice mix of sunny meadows and shaded areas.
On a 2 day ride (June 2019), rode from East Brady to Brookville day 1, overnight in Brookville, and back day 2. Parked car in East Brady at Armstrong trail head parking area. The trail is through forest and in shade nearly the whole length with views of Red Bank river. A number of small cascading creeks along way. Many places to sit, with 6 beautiful pavilion/picnic tables. Well maintained surface of crushed gravel. A very small section (1000 feet near mm 21) is ballast and under construction which we partly walked. Ate at Zack's restaurant on the trail in New Bethlehem, great lunch, great strawberry-rhubarb pie. Bring water, only water available is in towns. A joy to ride this trail.
This trail is a hidden gem. My wife and I biked all 12 miles from Van to Fisherman's Cove. The entire trail is paved! The ride was smooth and enjoyable. The grade was barely perceptible. The Belmar Bridge is breathtaking and they did an amazing job with the Sandy Creek Tunnel. It is a tunnel in a tunnel to fix the water leakage and the path through the tunnel is smooth. Views of the creek and wildlife were abundant. Only downside was lack of bathrooms. The trail connects to Allegheny River Trail, another wonderful trail.
My wife and I did several sections of this absolutely wonderful trail. We biked from the Saltbox 9 miles down to the Native American God Rock and back, and also biked from Emlenton north to the Kenderdell Tunnel and back. We were surprised to discover that the trail is paved from the Saltbox to Emlenton. The scenery was great, the ride was great and the volunteer staff at the Saltbox was great.
I only have a couple of cons for the trail. Bathrooms are difficult to come by in some of the more remote sections of the trail. There are ample bathroom facilities close to Franklin, but few were available from the Rockland tunnel until you hit the Sandy Creek Trail. Another issue was finding parking areas between Emlenton and Sandy Creek.
The two tunnels were gorgeous, but the Rockland Tunnel needs some work due to water leakage into the tunnel.
Overall, we were pleasantly surprised at what a gem this trail turned out to be. We definitely plan on returning.
Parked at the Krider Road end of the trail. Small lot, holds 2 cars plus one handicapped parking spot. Biked to 322 Beans Trailhead and back. Lots of pretty purple wildflowers along the trail. Trail has open areas, full sun, and shaded areas. There is construction near the 322 end of the trail. A bridge was washed out last Fall. Great trail as always.
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