Find the top rated walking trails in Shelby, 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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My husband and I intended to ride from JR Smith Park this morning, but the park and its parking lot are CLOSED due to construction. We shifted northeast to the next available trailhead with parking at Newell Recreation Preserve to begin our ride. It was a beautiful day for a ride on the HOOT section of the OTET!
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.
Highly recommend this beautiful and well kept trail. Beautiful to ride along the trees and over the 2 epic ohiopyle bridges.
This trail is good for local people and college students and staff to get to various places close to the Ohio Wesleyan University. A few people were using it at mid-day on a Wednesday during April. It was in fairly good condition. Warning lights help with street crossings. I parked in the lot off of S Liberty St and then biked in both directions.
I rode over 3.5 miles on an out-and-back ride on the Wadsworth Interurban Trail in Wadsworth, Ohio. This trail was built on the right of way of the old trolley car line that ran through Wadsworth and much of Northeast Ohio during the first third of the 20th century. While the trail is currently short (just under 2 miles in length), there is potential to expand it to the east). It is well maintained. It connects Wadsworth’s downtown to 3 parks. It seems to be a community amenity that is well supported by both the citizens and the city government. The trail surface is asphalt and is free of broken glass and debris. It is mostly a standalone trail, but includes a separated bike lane along Chestnut Street and a short on-street ride on Ohio Avenue, a low-traffic residential street, in order to connect to the trail segment leading to the Main Street business district in downtown Wadsworth. It is pretty flat except for the section along Chestnut Street and into Miller Park. This is a pretty little trail that could be even better if it can be extended to the east.
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.
We rode the roughly 30 miles from Fredericksburg to Killbuck and back. Paved trail with some nice views and lots of shaded areas. It’s a shared trail with horse/buggies and there are a lot of Amish on E-bikes pulling carts but the path is very wide. My only complaints are the bumps in some areas and the need to constantly dodge horse manure.
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!
Holmes County trail has recently been extended an extra 4 miles from the Glenmont trailhead. Killbuck trailhead is now approximately a 3 mile highway ride from the end of this new addition.
I am thankful for the reviews as I was able to ride the grassy section to add a few miles. I did the county line trail before this one, between the two I managed to do 20 miles with a 7 mile car ride between the trails. Maybe I will live long enough to see and ride the completion of this trail system.
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