Find the top rated fishing trails in Ohio, whether you're looking for an easy short fishing trail or a long fishing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a fishing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I rode a simple out-and-back ride of 1.9 miles on the Wilberforce Switch Trail. This is a connector trail the connects Central State University to the Prairie Grass Trail. It keeps cyclists off the very narrow Wilberforce Switch Road. Students can ride into Xenia, Ohio on the Prairie Grass Trail which is probably a safer alternative than attempting to cycle 3.5 miles along US-42 into Xenia.
While the trail is in good condition, its utility is limited primarily to Central State University students. If you are riding along the Prairie Grass Trail and want to check out the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, located on the CSU campus, then this trail can connect you to the museum.
I rode both portions on a beautiful spring day. The surface on the gravel trail varies from crushed gravel, packed dirt and larger gravel stones. Your experience may vary depending on your tire size and bike, when it was last groomed, and any past nasty weather. Parts are shaded, but expect most to be in the sun, depending on the time of day of course. The northern portion was flat to rolling hills, but (I felt) it would be doable by most riders. The scenery of the lakes in the northern portion was great. The maps were helpful. The southern portion was flatter. I'm glad I saw the bison. I tried to imagine horses on the track as I pedaled along side it. I put in 20 miles doing both sections.
This is by far the worst bike trail we have ever been on! It was extremely bumpy with a combination of small rock, big rocks and grass. This path has no maintenance and is not bike friendly. At best, it is good for horses and walkers. Avoid biking on this trail. It is hazardous and extremely bad!! I would give it a zero if possible!
Rode this trail 20 miles out from Nelsonville thru Athens past the Ohio University Campus. A wide variety of sights with porta-potties, benches, and even drinking fountain and welcome center with clean bathrooms as we entered Athens. Well paved path with abundant wildlife and sites. Want to do it again soon!
The Western Fayette Bike Path is an 3 mile extension of the Xenia-Jamestown Connector. It extends the Xenia-Jamestown Connector eastward from the Greene County/Fayette County border to Water Street in the village of Octa, Ohio.
The trail surface of this trail extension was in great condition considering that it is just a few years old. You cross over 3 roads on your way to Octa. None of them are heavily travelled, but there are trail stop signs at every crossing. The trail passes through a tunnel underneath Interstate 71 before reaching Octa. The trail dead ends into a picnic shelter on the other side of Water Street. This shelter appears to have been built on what was once the Octa train depot.
The importance of the Western Fayette Bike Path is that it expands the reach of Miami Valley Trail Network by connecting Fayette County to the Greene County Xenia Station Trail Hub (4 different trails). It has removed one of the major trail connectivity obstacles by tunneling under Interstate 71. More importantly, the possibility of extending this trail from Octa into Washington Court House, Ohio would create a great multi-day regional trail by connecting to the Xenia-Jamestown Connector to 35 mile long Paint Creek Recreation Trail.
Nice trail well maintained. Loved the scenery and the rolling hills. Would love to see this grow longer.
The last time I rode this trail was in July of 2018. The ultimate goal of this developing trail is to connect the county seats of Clinton County (Wilmington, OH) and Fayette County (Washington Court House, OH). In 2018, the trail consisted only of what I would now call the southwest section of the trail. It ran, and still runs, from North Borum Road in Sabina, Ohio to Melvin Road in Melvin, an unincorporated community in Richland Township, Clinton County, Ohio. In 2018, the trail was paved only from the Sabina water tower to Reesville. Today, this southwest section of the trail is completely paved.) In addition, there is now an additional section of trail near Washington Court House, Ohio which I am identifying as the northeast section of the trail. This section runs from Jamison Rd NW to Bush Rd NW outside of Washington Court House.
While I did not encounter anyone else riding or walking on either section of this trail on the day I rode both of them, it appears that the southwest section of the trail through Sabina seems to get more use. I would attribute this impression due to the condition of the trail surface and addition of trail signage along the southwest section of trail. The northeast section of the trail has numerous places where grass is growing up through cracks in the pavement, indicating that it does not get much use. There is very little that connects the northeast section of the trail to the city of Washington Court House. Currently, there is a gap of about 1.25 miles into Washington Courthouse. Closing this gap would allow users of the popular Paint Creek Recreation Trail to connect to this trail section. There is very little shade along the northeast portion of the Clinton-Fayette Friendship Trail as this runs through corn and soybean fields. Between Sabina and Melvin, the trail is tree lined and the resulting shade provides some relief from the summer sun. If the 4.5 mile gap between Sabina’s N. Borum Rd. and the Washington Court House’s Bush Rd. and the 1.25 mile gap between Jamison Rd. and West Market Street in Washington Court House can be developed then I think the Clinton-Fayette Friendship Trail would get a lot more use. Eventually, the 6.5 mile gap between Melvin and Wilmington would need to be completed to connect the two county seats as intended.
Parked and did the short ride toward Massillon. Turned around and went to the end, where the spoke goes off toward Dalton. Very pretty scenery! Middle of trail is crushed limestone. They were out sweeping the trail and also mowing. Great trail!
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 rode almost 3.75 miles on an out-and-back ride on the Cleveland Metroparks’ Washington Reservation All Purpose Trail. The Washington Reservation is located in the city of Newburgh Heights, Ohio; a suburb of Cleveland. This all purpose trail connects to the All Purpose Trail in the nearby Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation located in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio. These two Metroparks are easily accessible to Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood.
On this particular ride I started at the Settlers Bluff Picnic Area located on E. 49th Street in Cuyahoga Heights and rode north on the trail. The trail along E. 49th Street runs through an industrial area. There are a lot of large trucks on traveling on E. 49th Street and the trail crosses over active rail lines that service the Charter Steel plant. It's a blessing that this trail is separated from the street in this area. I believe that you don’t actually enter the Washington Reservation until you cross over Harvard Avenue. Once you cross over Harvard Ave., E. 49th Street becomes Washington Park Boulevard. This is a residential area so there is less traffic and few, if any, heavy trucks here. The trail for the most part parallels the both sides of Washington Park Boulevard and gives you access to the Washington Learning Center (9 hole) Golf Course, the USS Maine Memorial, and two Cleveland Metropolitan School District Schools: the Washington Park Horticulture Education Center and Washington Park Environmental Studies High School. As you can see, there are quite a few points of interest within this small area.
Finally, this trail offers a number of connections to other trails in the area. By traveling south from Washington Reservation on the All Purpose Trail you can connect to the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation Metropark. Once in the O & E Canal Reservation, you can travel through this park on its own all-purpose trail; the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation All Purpose Trail. The O & E Canal Reservation All Purpose Trail connects to the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail. This 80 mile route follows the old Ohio & Erie Canal route from Canal Basin Park in downtown Cleveland to New Philadelphia, Ohio. The “Towpath” Trail is part of the larger cross-state Ohio to Erie Trail route. If you head north on the O & E Towpath Trail you can end up on the shore of Lake Erie. If you head south on the "Towpath"/Ohio to Erie Trail you could ride all the way to the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio.
That final section is now paved. This Trail's length helps it be a good start for the new year. Notice, however there is a West Wind that goes the entire length. Most of the time it's not too bad because the overhanging trees break it up.
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