Find the top rated walking trails in Utica, 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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Last Friday a buddy and I rode the Niles Greenway & the Metroparks Bikeway. While I liked the Metroparks section a tad better the Niles was certainly nice. There were a few nice bridges to ride over and a fantastic picnic area at the north trailhead. I believe the length on TrailLink for this trail is incorrect though. According to the signs along the trail it is 3.87 miles long and that matches pretty closely to what I got on my Garmin. The Niles is a bit more urban or light industrial and has 10 road crossings so keep that in mind. If you're on the Metroparks trail be sure to ride the Niles also.
A buddy and I rode the Metroparks Bikeway and the Niles Greenway on Friday. My overall impression of the trail was very good. The pavement is nice and the Kirk Rd. trailhead where we started was very nice also. The downsides of the trail are actually quite minor. There are cracks in the pavement on the section north of Kirk Rd but unlike some other reviewers who saw them as awful I found them just a bit of a distraction. If you've ever ridden paved trails with root or frost heaves these are nothing. I'm not sure how you could wreck on them as I believe someone suggested. The other downside is the number of road crossings. By our count I believe we had 13 crossings. Double that for a round trip of course. The route south from Kirk Rd. was my favorite though, fewer crossings, no cracks and a bit more wooded of farmland feeling. I have no regrets riding this trail.
Parked at Kline Road, though no designated parking area, there was enough space off to the side of the road to park one vehicle without blocking the gate and lane. Headed West approx 2 miles and turned around. Trail is flat, sits high up almost as high as the next ridge over, and looking way down is Sandy Creek. Surface was dirt, cinder and gravel. Very wide in some areas, almost like a 2 lane back road. Doable on a gravel bike or mountain bike and possibly a hybrid with wider tires such as 700x45's.
Early Spring Ride: Foxburg to Parker. This paved section is 2.5 miles in length runs between the two towns, along the Allegheny River and crosses the Clarion River. Trees are still bare. Spotted an Eagles nest across the river near the Clarion River Bridge (look towards Foxburg). On a sidenote, the Foxburg to Emlenton section is still dirt/mud and not developed as of yet.
Mid March, we parked at Snyder Park on Johnston Road at McMillen Road and headed out the trail to Buttermilk Falls. The trail is packed crushed limestone. Very scenic walk (hike) as it follows Cowanshannock Creek. Trail is a little over a mile in length, at the end you will find Buttermilk Falls.
Rare 70 degree day mid-March provided a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the trail. Trail is free of any ice/snow and wet leaves. Paved surface for 6 miles from Meadville to Krider Road. Beans trailhead has a new layer of gravel so it won't be as much of a mud hole in the Spring!
Lots of snow, then melt, then more snow, then ice, then thaw. Mid February the latest conditions are ice on the bottom, several inches of hard packed snow in the middle, and 1/2" of fresh powder on top. Actually great for XC skiing and walking.
February 2025. Parked at the Bailey Road trailhead and walked. The trail was icy as was the parking lot. Had to walk along side of the trail. Still nice to enjoy the trail in the Winter!
February 2025 weeks of ice and snow and cold weather. The snow had melted off but the actual trail remained very icy. Use caution!
The first few miles of the trail, as you enter the park, have been plowed and salted. It's down to the asphalt for miles but a few icy snowy spots here and there. The bay side of the lake is frozen over with ice fisherman out there. On the other side, facing Canada, there are ice dunes and the ice is frozen for as far as you can see from the shoreline. A beautiful state park to visit all 4-seasons.
Winter Walk, January 2025. Plenty of snow on the trail. At this time a little icy. Can XC ski it. Or ride fat tire bike.
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