Find the top rated running trails in Niles, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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This past Friday my buddy and I rode the entire Allegheny River Trail from Emlenton to Franklin and back - 54.4 miles. It was a great ride. The entire trail (with one exception) is paved and along the free-flowing Allegheny River the entire time. The river was a delight to view. The two tunnels on the trail are fantastic - large and long (6th and 9th longest bike tunnels in the country). The pavement through them has raised reflectors that your lights will light up and they are nice and cool on a hot day. I would say that about the southern two-thirds of the trail is well shaded but the northern section is more open and sunny.
The caveats with this trail are two. First, the root/frost heaves. This is basically a problem with the southern portion of the trail. Leaving from Emlenton they aren't too bad - lower and more rolling than sharp. After Rockland tunnel they are worse. We found that the east side of the trail was better for riding than the west side. After Kennerdell tunnel they lessened and eventually were mostly non-existent. We've had experience with heaves so nothing we haven't experienced before but it would be nice if they were ground down. The second caveat is the dirt/gravel road section. Coming from the south you immediately hit a climb so be prepared to gear down. This section is rough. It's a mix of dirt, gravel and embedded rocks. Fortunately, it's pretty short.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and would highly recommend it. If you're inclined after the ride, be sure to visit the Emlenton Brew Haus about a block from the beginning of the trail
Started in Emlenton and rode through the Rockland and Kennerdell tunnels to the gravel connector just past mile marker 110. Approximate 26 mile round trip. Quality light recommended for the tunnels. The trail surface is raised and buckled in a number of areas especially near the Emlenton end and detracts from what would otherwise be an outstanding ride.
Also took the gravel road near the northern entrance of the Rockland tunnel approximately up one half mile to the Rockland Furnace and Freedom Falls waterfall. The gravel road is a significant climb and the return descent can be challenging (caution required on bike - or walk) but the waterfall alone is worth the effort.
Beautiful ride
Rather than announcing on your left, just say passing. People start moving left and right and get confused about their left and right. I end up saying "your other left"
We went from the trail head in Lisbon up to Washingtonville, OH. Had lunch at Fat Ted’s and biked back. Around 25 miles total. Trail was really well kept and well marked!
We biked from Franklin, mile 0, South to Brandon at mile 10.5 and back. The first 8 miles traveling South are out in the open and not shaded.
June, 2024 ride....enjoy the shade! Most of the nearly 12 mile loop around Lake Wilhelm is very well shaded. A great trail for hot sunny summer months!
Emlenton end of the trail, enjoy the shade! Parked in Emlenton at mile marker 27.5 (27.5 miles South of Franklin). Biked North to mile marker 13.5 at Kent South or Sunnyslope (take your pick what you call it) which is a 14 mile ride on this section. Very well shaded for most of it. Has 2 tunnels, each several thousand feet in length, bring a light. At Kent South there is a short section of gravel road through Sunnyslope to reconnect to the trail. From Emlenton traveling North you may experience some sections of the trail which are lifted from tree roots but it's not the entire length. Enjoy the ride this summer and soak up the shade, leave the sunscreen at home!
Extremely bumpy from roots under the blacktop
Parked at the Spillway, at mile marker 1. Stopped and fed the ducks and fish. At the Spillway, there is a snack shack and public restrooms available. The trail is approx 3.5 miles in length. We went up to Linesville and back and down to mile 0 at Fries Road. If you're looking for more miles, can take Fries Road (low traffic road) to Tuttle Point where there is a beach and restrooms as well as campground newly renovated after have been closed since 2009. Can also follow Lake Road into Espyville. Beautiful area to ride. We got in a total of 23 miles between the trail ride and back roads near the trail . This trail runs through Pymatuning State Park.
The trail in great shape. Saw eagle, deer, blue herons. Very dry considering the recent rains.
This is a beautiful trail with stunning views of the river. It winds its way along the river with remote sections and sections with a few cottages and homes. I rode from the North end of the Kennerdel tunnel, south to the south end of the Rockland Tunnel. I camped in Kennerdell on the opposite side of the river and attempted to access the trail through the North Tunnel Road in Kennerdell. It is marked private. The South Tunnel road has a short trail at the end that will come out at the southern end of the Kennerdell Tunnel. Bring a GOOD bike light. I have a light I use for night riding that is uber bright. There are doglegs in both the Kennerdell and Rockland tunnels at the southern end. Traveling North the South the tunnels are pitch black. The trail does have reflectors on it but the tunnel soaked up most of the light from my light making it that the only things I could see were the reflectors and the occasional bit of graffiti on the walls. A bit disconcerting to be sure. Going from the South to north as soon as you round the bend of the short dogleg the other end of the tunnel becomes visible and the ride is much easier. The interior of the tunnels are 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the outside air so be prepared for that also The other note on this trail is that roots have begun to push up the pavement in spots. There were some 100 yard long sections that were pretty teeth jaring. I don’t know why trails like this are paved when trails done with crushed stone are much more durable.
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