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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Awesome trail for a nice easy ride, very little elevation, good pavement, good scenery, kind of nice going through Clyde and other areas.
Location for parking says 136 E Bagley but should be 136 West Bagley.
The Slippery Elm Trail is a flat, well-maintained trail found running through farmland in northwest Ohio. It runs 13 miles between the towns of Bowling Green and North Baltimore. The trailheads in both towns have nice trailheads with flush bathrooms, drinking water, and bike repair stations. Near the midpoint of the trail the village of Rudolph offers port-a-johns. The trail is wide and the asphalt surface is smooth. Where cracks have appeared they have been filled. Depending upon the time of year you ride the trail there may not be a lot to see. The parts of the trail that are shaded have lots of brush between the trees which make the trail seem like a green tunnel. Likewise, the parts of the trail running through corn fields also block seeing much of the surrounding countryside. Since much of the trail running through farmland is not shaded, using sunscreen would be a wise idea. In addition, I would suggest to make sure you carry a cell phone. I found the trail to feel somewhat isolated. On the weekday that I rode an out-and-back ride of the entire trail I did not encounter a single other person using the trail. If you have a crash or an emergency occur while on the trail, I don’t think you can rely on someone coming by to assist you.
I rode the Sandusky and Ottawa County Section of the North Coast Inland Trail using two out-and-back rides during September of 2025. The first ride was from Bellevue to Fremont, Ohio. The second ride occurred one week later from Fremont to Genoa and back.
Overall, I was very pleased with the trail. It is well maintained and the asphalt surface is in great shape with few to no cracks, tree root uplift, or potholes. The trail surface in Ottawa County is a chip and sealed stone surface that did not have any patches of loose gravel. Between Bellevue and Fremont a good portion of the trail is shaded with limited views of the surrounding countryside. It does tend to open up more the further northwest you go on the trail. Sunscreen becomes a must the further you travel in that direction. I encountered a number of cyclists and pedestrians using the trail on either side of Fremont, but it seemed that the further away you got from Fremont the less crowded the trail became. During my ride between Elmore and Genoa and back I did not see a single person on the trail. Perhaps, had I ridden this trail at a different time and/or on a weekend maybe I would have encountered more trail users.
I have just a few nits I would like to pick about this trail. First, I think that the on-street routes in the cities of Bellevue and Fremont need to be better marked. In Bellevue, as the trail comes into town on the east side you cross Bauer Rd. and have to travel 2/10 of a mile to Prairie Rd. only be directed back to Bauer Rd. to cross town. Why isn't there a sign at the Bauer Rd. crossing to tell you use Bauer to travel through town. In Fremont, there needs to be a bike lane between Walter Avenue and N. Brush Street along W. State Street (US-20), similar to the one between Portland Rd. and Southwest Street in Bellevue. This 4 lane divided highway has too much traffic and many large commercial trucks to ask cyclists and pedestrians to use it's narrow shoulders.
Secondly, I think that each town could benefit from a small business directory sign or kiosk posted along the trail as you enter each town. The North Coast Inland Trail is a long trail that attracts users from outside the local populace. Connecting these non-residential users to local businesses could have a positive impact on the local economy of each town.
We are staying at Sterling Park Campground and took the trail to River Raisin Battlefield. We absolutely loved it. The trail has been recently resurfaced, wide in most areas, along wetlands and just a wonderful ride. We almost considered going somewhere else due to the reviews, but so glad we didn’t. We’re going to explore more here but if you get a chance to ride this, DO IT! So refreshing!
I am definitely biased, but having this trail a quarter of a mile from my house is a gift. The crushed limestone parts are very smooth and any bike will work. It does get rough for much of the trip. A mountain bike or gravel bike is needed. I have a hardtail mountain bike and that is perfect. I hope in the future they complete the trail with crushed limestone. But if they don't I will still be happy it's there.
It's sunny, wide and open, a good round trip, and has a great view of Lake Erie. The northern portion by Carlson High School is pretty rough but evens out quickly.
Really love this trail. Mostly shaded and they have ground down the tree roots but could use more road markings and signage at road crossings. The electric bikes and scooters are really becoming a problem.
The trail has been resurfaced and the section up to the Medina Career Center has been paved with asphalt. Trail is in excellent condition. Nice job Medina county!
This mostly sunny trail offers an excellent round trip distance so you can get a good workout, but doesn't offer much in term of sightseeing.
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