Sandusky, OH Birding Trails and Maps

288 Reviews

Looking for the best Birding trails around Sandusky?

Find the top rated birding trails in Sandusky, 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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Activities
Length
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Type
24 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Chippewa Inlet Trail

3.95 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Lake Erie Metropark Trail

3 mi
State: MI
Asphalt

Richland B&O Trail

18.5 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Slippery Elm Trail

13.1 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

University/Parks Trail

6.3 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Chippewa Rail-Trail

2.4 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Huron River Greenway MetroPark Trail

1.8 mi
State: OH
Crushed Stone

Lester Rail Trail

3 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

New London-Greenwich Rail Trail

7.3 mi
State: OH
Crushed Stone

North Coast Inland Trail (Huron County)

28.45 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Chessie Circle Trail

11 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway

15.13 mi
State: OH
Asphalt

Dr. Richard D. Ruppert Rotary Trail

2.36 mi
State: OH
Asphalt
Accordion

Lake to Lake Trail

2.4 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Boardwalk

Mad River Bike Trail

1.3 mi
State: OH
Asphalt, Concrete

River Raisin Heritage Trail

7.5 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Concrete

Portage River Trail

1 mi
State: OH
Dirt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The 7.4-mile Big Creek Reservation All Purpose Trail provides a paved pathway connecting the Mill Stream Run Reservation, Big Creek Reservation, and the Fern Hill Picnic Area.  About the...
OH 7.4 mi Asphalt
The Chippewa Inlet Trail runs for nearly 4 miles between Lafayette Road/State Route 42 and the Chippewa Nature Area. The trail traverses an open, pastoral landscape along the Chippewa Inlet, which...
OH 3.95 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
A popular destination year-round for residents across the Detroit area, the Lake Erie Metropark offers a wide variety of activities and recreation sites across its 1600-plus acres. Nestled along the...
MI 3 mi Asphalt
The North Coast Inland Trail will one day stretch across northern Ohio from Indiana to Pennsylvania on a network of connecting off-road trails. Today, large sections of the trail, especially from the...
OH 30.7 mi Asphalt
The North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT) represents a regional collaboration among park districts across the Buckeye State currently including Ottawa, Sandusky, Huron, and Lorain counties. This section of...
OH 29.64 mi Asphalt
Traveling just over 18 miles through some of the most scenic areas of the Buckeye State, the Richland B&O Trail is an ideal way to immerse oneself in the region. Built partially as a result of the...
OH 18.5 mi Asphalt
The Rocky River Reservation All Purpose Trail parallels Valley Parkway through several western suburbs of Cleveland, but this is no traditional suburban side path. Instead, the winding trail through...
OH 13.5 mi Asphalt
In 1875, the Bowling Green Railroad Company operated its first train from its namesake city in Ohio south to Tontogany on rails made from the wood of the local slippery elm tree. The trees were...
OH 13.1 mi Asphalt
The University/Parks Trail is a wide, paved trail that extends from Toledo into its western suburbs along a former railroad corridor. More than half the trail also parallels an active freight...
OH 6.3 mi Asphalt
The Brecksville Reservation All Purpose Trail offers a pleasant paved pathway connecting the community of Brecksville with the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, a well-loved 81-mile route from...
OH 12.4 mi Asphalt
The Chippewa Rail Trail runs for 2.4 miles between Chippewa Road (SR 50) in Chippewa Lake to suburban Wycliffe Drive southwest of Medina (Lafayette Township). The trail is mostly rural in feel,...
OH 2.4 mi Asphalt
The Huron River Greenway MetroPark Trail has two separate segments, each just under 1 mile long. The northern (Huron) segment runs from DuPont Marsh State Nature Preserve off River Road and heads...
OH 1.8 mi Crushed Stone
The Lester Rail Trail in Ohio's Medina County runs 3 miles between Abbeyville Road and Lester Road in York Township. The trail passes through bucolic farmland with scattered remnants of prairie, where...
OH 3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
For nearly 9 miles, the Mill Stream Run Reservation All Purpose Trail runs through a wooded park in Berea, a western suburb of Cleveland. Though the trail loosely parallels Valley Parkway, you will...
OH 8.9 mi Asphalt
This New London-Greenwich Rail Trail runs for 7.3 miles between the namesake cities of New London and Greenwich, Ohio. It is a rail-with-trail and follows alongside an active rail line. About the...
OH 7.3 mi Crushed Stone
The North Coast Inland Trail is a series of trails across multiple northern Ohio counties that, as they expand and connect, are emerging as an impressive long-distance trail between Cleveland and...
OH 28.45 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The short North Olmsted Walking & Bike Trail parallels Interstate 480 and provides an alternate, non-motorized route linking neighborhoods with green spaces and business districts.
OH 3 mi Asphalt
The Chessie Circle Trail (formerly Westside Corridor Rail-to-Trail) provides a paved (and compacted stone), 11-mile north-south route through western Toledo built along the former Toledo Terminal...
OH 11 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway extends for 15.13 miles along the city's Lake Erie shoreline, between the suburbs of Euclid and Lakewood. The bikeway includes some on-road sections, but the route is...
OH 15.13 mi Asphalt
The Dr. Richard D. Ruppert Rotary Trail circles International Park along the east bank of the Maumee River in East Toledo. The trail runs between the Main Street bridge and Navarre Avenue, where it...
OH 2.36 mi Asphalt
Accordion
Cleveland Metroparks’ Lake to Lake Trail links Lake Isaac and Lake Abram in Middleburg Heights via an asphalt- and boardwalk-surfaced path. About the Route Both lakes are the largest remaining...
OH 2.4 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk
The Mad River Bike Trail follows a former rail line for 1.3 miles within the City of Tiffin. The path runs from Hopewell Avenue by the Seneca County Fairgrounds to Monroe Street. Along the way, it...
OH 1.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Running from the city of Monroe's popular Munson Park, through the city's charming historic downtown, and out to Sterling State Park - one of the most-frequented of Michigan's state parks - the River...
MI 7.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Portage River Trail is a 1-mile trail that runs through the Village of Pemberville. The path crosses a river and passes farm fields, small town roads and an old train depot.
OH 1 mi Dirt

Recent Trail Reviews

North Coast Inland Trail (Huron County)

Norwalk area West then East

August, 2025 by vicki1960

We parked on the West side of Norwalk and biked almost to Bellevue and back. Trail surface is crushed limestone in iffy condition. Seen better, seen worse. It was hot out, not much shade. Historic restored train station and park in Monroeville was kind of nice. We ate in Norwalk at a place called Berrys restaurant on the main drag. Can reach by bike. Then we loaded up and headed to the other side of the town where the trail goes towards Wakeman. That section of the trail is also crushed limestone seen better, seen worse. More open farmlands over that way a few areas of shade. Pretty scenery. We can now say we've completed the entire NCIT all 100ish miles of it through 3 counties.

North Coast Inland Trail (Sandusky and Ottawa Counties)

Very Nice Trail

August, 2025 by mbroder

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.

North Coast Inland Trail (Sandusky and Ottawa Counties)

Aug. 2025: Sunflowers, Corn and the Waggoner Road Detour is open

August, 2025 by vicki1960

Fremont to Elmore, August 2025. Parked in Fremont at 1500 Walter Avenue lot. Traveled West to just beyond Elmore and back. Though the trail does continue to Genoa, it was a hot and sunny day and there isn't much shade. Most of the trail goes through cornfields. Happy that we can now go under the OH turnpike at Waggoner Road. The 15 month construction is over, it's very nice and worth the wait! Beautiful Sunflower field in Lindsey. Trail is paved and obviously a flat rail trail through quaint old railroad towns. This is our favorite section of the trail we frequent it traveling 3 1/2 hours to get to. We brought in some revenue to the area staying 3 days and riding multiple trails.

Accordion

New London-Greenwich Rail Trail

Good ride

August, 2025 by sjf0809

As noted, this trail is in the second phase of three, so expect it to be under construction. The third phase will be making the trail under the overpass to eliminate going on the road for that short time.

I started at the trailhead in Greenwich. The parking lot and about .2 mile is gravel, but then it turns to crush stone (crushed limestone or cinder???). That was very flat and smooth. It lasted about a mile until the trail crossed Alpha Rd. The surface was then gravel and dirt, the worse part was closer to the overpass. After a short zig-zag on roads to get across Rt 250 and Vermilion River, the trail continued. The total length of the gravel and dirt section was about 4 miles. The final 2 miles going into New London was crushed stone again. The trail head in New London was paved with cement. No restrooms were at either trail head. It took me about 40 minutes in each direction. It is true that some places were rougher than others, but I was still rolling at 12-13.5 mph. On the limestone sections, I was cruising at 13.5-15.5 mph. The trail is lined with trees and fairly straight, since it was a railroad track in the past. It also crosses a few roads.

The trail does run alongside, but doesn't cross, an active railroad track.

A few benches are located on the crushed stone sections.

Eateries and shops are within maybe a half a mile from the New London trail head, and within a mile or so from the Greenwich trail head.

The trail has improved since I was last rode it in September of 2023, when it was all gravel, and much rougher. For those who like smooth asphalt, parts will be rough. For those who like single track on dirt over roots and rocks, probably won't think that it is bad. Wider tires are recommended. Mine were 35.

Enjoy the ride and remember that it is a work in progress.

Rocky River Reservation All Purpose Trail

emerald necklace appropriate

July, 2025 by dogtown

A gem of a trail from Royalton Rd to the Marina. I’d probably avoid during weekends or after work due to increased foot traffic. Smooth tarmac except for detour near Cedarpoint Rd bridge reconstruction but fun gravel.

New London-Greenwich Rail Trail

Trail in progress

June, 2025 by shepdazzle

This trail is still in phase two of a three phase project which won’t finish until 2026. The New London and Greenwich ends are finished and nice crushed cinder but the middle between Greenwich is very rough. Fencing has been put up in some areas, a bench or two but it has shade and some nice farm, wooded views. There are restaurants and small shops at both ends of the trail. It will be great once complete!

Slippery Elm Trail

Very Nice Trail

June, 2025 by vicki1960

While coming across OH on our way back to PA from IN, we stopped at this trail. Had lunch in Bowling Green (OH). Parked at the Montessori school trailhead since school was not in session. Biked South to North Baltimore and back. It was a hot and sunny day. There isn't much shade coverage as this trail goes through mainly farmlands once out of Bowling Green. First few miles appears to be newer asphalt pavement but the further South, the more sealed cracks there are but it wasn't bumpy. Wood County Parks District does a great job maintaining this trail with trash cans (that they empty) and park benches along the way. Grass was cut too! North Baltimore end of the trail has parking and real flush toilet restrooms. One block from town for water/food if needed. There are quite a few road crossings but not a lot of traffic.

Dr. Richard D. Ruppert Rotary Trail

Alright

June, 2025 by clonetrooper5373

It's got some nice scenery, but with pretty bad pavement and an iffy round trip distance, I wouldn't bother unless you're local.

New London-Greenwich Rail Trail

Rough Ride

June, 2025 by christine_bopp

A mix of cinder(about 2 miles in New London) and large stone and rough terrain the rest of the trail made for a rough, uncomfortable and tricky ride. The nice mix of sun and shade along the entire trail was a positive. Not recommended.

North Coast Inland Trail (Sandusky and Ottawa Counties)

beautiful! great for road bike

June, 2025 by wilsonae

Wish I’d had time to ride more of the trail. Excellent condition (mostly) and not too many people on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Got on in Lindsey at the park and headed west all the way out to the end and back. Lots of little rest areas and bike pumps, restrooms at Lindsey and beautiful views, plus lots of shade for the hot days. Only saw one other road bike. Note: turn right to cross under the interstate when heading west. Trail continues immediately after going under bridge (to your left) but is not currently marked. Brand new pavement.

Richland B&O Trail

great views

May, 2025 by mrmcharpiarik

First time on this trail. Started off at the North Lake park. The covered trail with the tree canopy was a little chilly. But the views were amazing. Traffic was very light. The path is well maintained. This is one of my favorite thus far.

Slippery Elm Trail

Accessible and smooth

April, 2025 by normr

While in Bowling Green for an event, my wife and I rode 14 miles on this nice smooth trail. We initially planed on starting at the Montessori school, but despite it being Good Friday, school was in session and parking there was prohibited. We then drove the short distance to The Black Swamp Preserve trailhead and were rewarded with clean, modern bathrooms and a short connecting trail lined with tree swallows and bluebirds perched on their houses.
We rode south 7 miles into a strong headwind but mostly sheltered somewhat by the trees and bushes along the trail. At 7 miles the trail opened up for the foreseeable distance and this old guy decided we would turn back. The ride north was a "breeze". :-)
I would not call this the most scenic trail, but it is very well maintained with good facilities every few miles.
If you are looking for a relaxing enjoyable ride, you will not be disappointed

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Accordion

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