Find the top rated walking trails in Sandusky, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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We started off at the trail head in Mansfield. Was not going to park my car in that neighborhood. Ended up driving to Butler and working our way back. Was kinda cool in the start seeing some crop dusters type planes getting ready to take off. Trail was in decent shape, had dog in trailer and was hoping for some water to let her swim, was 85 degrees. There was a blue bridge, maybe Belleville but the little park we could have stopped at said Private Property so we tracked on. We ended up going the whole trail and when we arrived back close to Mansfield we decided to turn around when I started seeing barbed wire on fence. It was pretty open in many areas and very hot. Some cool looking buildings but some really dangerous intersections and 90% of drivers will not stop for you. No intention return to this trail but can say we completed.
We rode the trail from Butler to the trails end in Mansfield (slightly uphill). Shady for the most part…, with a blend of countryside to Urban all along the way. There were several places along the way to stop and take breaks (if needed). There are numerous places where the road crossings were dangerous, due to the volume of traffic.
We love this trail for all the reasons the other reviewers mentioned. If you start in Bowling Green, put Rosenbloom Cylinders in your gps. The bike parking lot is on S Maple Street behind the factory. Flush toilets. All close to smoothies on Wooster St. when you finish. Worth the drive.
My wife and I have been riding this trail for a few years. Previous to this year the path was a great ride with only a few root bumps on the path. we rode this path last week and it is bad as many of the bumps are fully across the path and unavoidable. At 7 miles per hour on hybrid bikes our wrists and bottoms were sore when we finished. Hopefully it will receive some much needed TLC because it is a great park to ride.
Annual "we travel 150+ miles to get to this one" ride. Staying nearby and adding other outdoor activities as well while in the area.
Always a great ride on this trail! We parked in Fremont and headed West towards Elmore. Very little shade between Fremont and Elmore, some shade towards the Fremont end, otherwise, once you get moving, heading West, it's farmlands after farmlands and fields of crops including corn and soybeans. Wide open fields, a beautiful area.
Lindsey is the first small old railroad town. Parking, picnic shelter, playground and a bike self repair fix-it station. Lindsey is the home of Luckey Farms.
There was a detour between Lindsey and Elmore where the trail goes under the Ohio turnpike. Follow the easy detour on back country roads. The only traffic was a tractor with a brush hog.
Elmore is the next old railroad town. Parking at Orly Park, and old historic log cabin, picnic tables and playground. Across from the trail is a bike shop and an ice cream stand. We actually found 3 places to eat in Elmore, and one offered outdoor seating. We ate where the outdoor seating was and got our water bottles refilled as well.
Heading west, we weren't sure how far the trail went since the last time we turned around at Elmore. Just out of Elmore the trail crosses the Portage River. Down below there we several large rocks and a dead log and we must of counted 30 turtles basking in the sun.
We continued out of Elmore through more open farmlands and about one tree offering shade. The trail ended at South Martin Williston Road but continued as part of the trail. Less than a mile on that road, not much traffic, and it comes out onto Route 51. Very new, perhaps less than a year old, a trail along side of Route 51 and winds through another field you can see the Genoa water tower. Follow this new section for a few miles into Genoa. The trail actually ends there on Washington Street, There isn't much in Genoa. But outside of town on the main highway there is a fast food restaurant.
Genoa is another old historic town. At the end of the trail was an ice cream stand. Parking at the Genoa end at the Veterans Park. There was also a bike repair stand, picnic areas and a rest room (seasonal). The trail sign in Genoa read "Elmore 5 miles, Fremont 18".
All in all, a great ride from Fremont to Genoa and back, 36 mile round trip. Trail surface is asphalt paved in very good condition.
We took a side trip up to Lake Erie and visited Marblehead Lighthouse across from Cedar Point. Marblehead is the oldest working lighthouse on all of the Great Lakes. The tower is open for climbing, seasonal, but the park is open year around.
Nice ride love the trail from DeBussey road into Norwalk. There are some signage issues so know your route, We ended up adding a few extra miles cause there is no sign pointing you to Lilles road heading west. And another signage issue heading east on Onan road there is a sign on the road but nothing before the turn, So if you not looking east on Onan you’ll miss it!
If you park at the old rail depot in monroeville off SR 99 you can ride 4.8 miles east to downtown Norwalk. Our favorite restaurant is the freight house.
The trail itself is pretty nice. Signage leading into and in Elyria is abysmal. You’re on a bike in traffic and at intersections, you shouldn’t have to study where to turn.
I rode 2.9 miles on an out-and-back ride on the Mad River Bike Trail in Tiffin, Ohio. This rail trail runs from the Seneca County Fairgrounds to the old Tiffin Train Depot located on the corner of N. Monroe and Brenner Streets. The trail runs along Fair Lane which is located on the perimeter of the Seneca County Fairgrounds. Fair Lane was actually built on the old railbed based on my observation of where the trail continues on the other side of Hopewell Avenue.
Crossing over Hopewell Avenue brings you to the nicest portion of the trail. The next half mile runs between the backyards of the surrounding streets. The pavement here is wide and in very good shape. Once you reach and cross Sandusky Street, the trail conditions change. The trail narrows to the size of a sidewalk as it runs parallel to Brenner Street. When you reach West Market Street, Brenner St. becomes a boulevard and the trail then runs in the median between the two directional halves of the street from West Market to Clay Street. After crossing Clay Street, Brenner is no longer a boulevard but the trail continues paralleling Brenner until both the trail and the street end at the Tiffin Train Depot at N. Monroe Street.
The condition of the trail seems to deteriorate as you travel toward the train depot. It appears that there is just less usage of the trail on the northern end of the trail. The pavement is more worn and crumbling in some spots. I found it unusual that there would be sharrows painted on Brenner Street while the trail was running through the median of its boulevard section. On a positive note, there are rider/pedestrian operated flasher crossing signals as the trail crosses over W. Market and W. Perry Streets.
The Mad River Bike Trail appears to be a nice way to access the Seneca County Fairgrounds for some of Tiffin, Ohio’s residents. However, at present, I view this trail's utility as limited. It is not a trail that I would recommend to people from outside of Seneca County unless the southwestern end of the trail is extended approximately 13 miles to Carey, Ohio.
We parked at mile marker 9, Bur Oak Trailhead and biked to mile 0.0 at Lakeside Landing in Lorain, on the shores of Lake Erie. This section is not a traditional rail-trail as it has hills and ramps and quite a few bridges which cross the Black River multiple times. In 9 miles we passed a few trailheads with parking and facilities. From mile marker 9 to 2, you're on a paved trail then the last 2 miles into Lorain are share the road sections. Worth the trip! Biking to Lake Erie from Elyria was very fun. While in the area we stated in nearby Vermilion.
Trail is flat and paved, goes through mainly open areas of farmlands, a few short wooded sections offering shade. Old rail towns such as Kipton and Oberlin. One short share the road section, well marked. Several (back) road crossings with trailheads and parking. We rode from West Elyria to Huron Co line and continued into Wakeman. Round trip was 30 miles. Great trail! We stayed in Vermilion and went to the lighthouse on Lake Erie.
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