The northern trailhead in North Lake Park (Mansfield) would benefit from better signage or markings. We rode around the lake looking for access to the bike trail. A map posted near the picnic pavilion directs you up the ramp, over the bridge and onto the trail.

My husband and I rode an 8 mile section from the trailhead parking lot by the intersection of route 60 and route 20, by the old historic bridge there. The path crosses route 60, which jogs towards Vermilion, and passes a nice pond and small park area with covered benches, a work out station and a portable restroom. Wakeman has a pub, a coffee shop and an East of Chicago Pizza right uptown near the Gazebo at the park for refueling.

While our plan was to bike the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, we got a bit diverted by a narrow strip of land called Rockefeller Park, located just beyond the sprawling campus of the Cleveland Clinic. We rode through the park on the Harris Dillard Trail, which goes mostly downhill for about 3.7 miles to Lake Erie. Riding through this beautifully landscaped oasis was a nice surprise amidst otherwise urban, commercial neighborhoods.
Once we reached the actual Waterfront Trail, we decided to turn right and east toward the charming hamlet of Bratenahl. Here we rode on a broad, but quiet, street past several great gated estates, likely dating back to the early 20th century. Visible beyond each house and its beautifully manicured grounds was the vast expanse of Lake Erie. After a few miles, the neighborhood and woods ended and we entered Euclid, a community of smaller, post-WWII homes, strip shopping centers, and one large hi-rise housing development.
We persisted along this busier on-road portion of the trail to the Euclid MetroPark, where ample signage pointed us to a winding trail through the park to a marina. Here we were rewarded with striking views of Lake Erie and the skyline of Cleveland in the distance. Determined to find the eastern trailhead, we continued past the marina and through a small nature preserve which promoted the return of a coyote habitat. The Waterfront Trail at this end was a combination of sidewalks, a paved path, roads, and shoulders with painted lanes.
We didn’t venture toward downtown, but the drive we’d taken to scope it out the night before suggested that there would be much weaving through road traffic and industrial sections of town.
We drove afterwards to a nationally known brewery in one of the city's hip downtown neighborhoods.

We started biking at bowman park which is the beginning of the trail. We crossed Tremaimsville Rd., Sylvania ave, Berdan, Central avenue and Monroe street. It looks like they are going to be putting a pedestrian crossing lights on these roads which will be nice. We continued on the path past Monroe Street instead of following the chessie trail. The bike path continued on straight …. we were Parallel to Douglas Road. We crossed over Kenwood St which Ottawa park is there once you cross. I think that was about 3 1/2 miles. We continued on the path that took us into the University of Toledo campus. We rode through there and connected onto the Toledo university baked trail. That trail is over 6 miles long so you can go as far as you’d like. We went up to Richards Road and turned around and came back and our total trip was 11 miles. But you could make it any distance you would like :-) path just outside the park up until Bancroft. We crossed Douglas Road and follow the path into the Toledo University. We rode through the campus until we got to the UT trail

I rode a complete round-trip on the bikeway (East 185th & Lakeshore to West 117th & Edgewater) for the first time after wanting to for quite some time. This took me about 3 hours saddle time. The route is well-planned enough, keeping close to the shore of Lake Erie. A mixture of road cycling and trail cycling is required, but bike lanes added on Lakeshore Blvd in recent years in Cleveland make this easier. Signage downtown is poor and the routing there is a bit awkward, but anything west of downtown is quite fun as long as you know to access the path next to the Shoreway beginning at W. 25th.

Enjoyable route, poorly signed at parts, but I expect the Bikeway will probably be improved in the future. Worth riding for the experience.

The trail is a mixed bag. The northern end is presently under development. I rode the trail in early October 2021, and they were in the process of paving the northern 3 or 4 miles. It will be wide and nice, while at the same time traversing multiple crossroads that will require you to stop more often then desired, As you move south, the trail connects with Ottawa park, which also includes multiple connected trails that are in pretty good condition and cut through woods and recreation areas, definitely one of the nicer aspects of the trail. Continuing further south, most riders will be disappointed. The trail, while paved, is old with multiple tree trunk bumps, (roots that have heaved the asphalt) some that will jar your nerves as much as your hands and seat. At the far south end, the trail will once again become worth riding. It's not a trail you will want to travel a distance to come ride. But if you are local and just want to get out and go, this might be a good option. I am semi local, and probably won't go out of my way again until more improvements are done, especially when Toledo has so many great trails within a short drive multiple directions. (See university trail, wabash, or Towpath, as three examples)

trails not marked well, even the website maps are difficult to follow. City is not overall bike friendly and no real lakefront trail like chicago

Started on the west side in Edgewater Park and tried to ride East. When you get to downtown, suddenly the trail markings for this trail get lost. There are numerous other trails crossing with markings, but never did find the continuation. The tow path comes into play as well as some Metropark trails marked Lake Front. Very confusing. Ride hilly in parts. Took the link back in Edgewater to go to Wendy Park on Whiskey island which was a nice addition to put on a few miles. All in all, a good riding asphalt trail and a nice way to get a feel for Cleveland. Would recommend investigating the other trails if you want to get in some mileage. Not crowded on a Tuesday afternoon.

I rode this yesterday for the first time. My route was from the end point back to the Lester Trail parking lot. What a great shaded ride! The only problem I encountered was newly placed gravel in the parking lot.