Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Ohio, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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We love to explore these trails on bicycles, it is has many spots to rest and plenty of beautiful to relax and take in the landscape. We love to pack a lunch and make a day of it. The trail is fairly easy to navigate, a few spots wind on and off the roadway,but no heavy traffic. ( Follow the signs)I would recommend packing your sunscreen,extra water and a light jacket. Very peaceful and relaxing, and great exercise.
The Zoar Valley Trail (aka the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail) has received a significant improvement. In the past the trail was nothing but a primitive footpath once you headed south from the Zoarville Station Bridge/Rt 800. As of October 31, 2024, you can now take a new, exceptionally well constructed trail the two miles to the Dover Dam. (OK, so it isn’t officially open as of that date but should be any day now.) It is a very scenic ride especially in the Fall. Once you are at the dam you’ll just continue on the existing dam access road that will take you to the end of the trail at Rt. 416 north of New Philadelphia. If you go any further south it will be on well traveled roads with hills and limited line of sights. (I might suggest Rt 800 to New Philadelphia via Dover. It might be longer but at least the road has “share” signs and is relatively flat.) The trick to getting to the improved trail once you cross the Zoarville Station Bridge, again if you are headed south, is to head straight to the metal gate you’ll see a short distance ahead. Do not turn right onto the primitive trail before the gate. Once at the gate you can go around it to the right or simply pull the chain that appears to lock the gate (it isn’t) through the hoops on the gate and open it. Once past the gate keep going straight ahead on the paved road for approximately 150 feet and you’ll see the new trail to the right. I have biked the Ohio & Erie Towpath trail from Cleveland to Rte 800 many times over the years and this new section may very well be one of the nicest.
We started at the Danville in trailhead & rode west into downtown Mt. Vernon, & back. Scenic, especially since we were surrounded by fall colors. Wasn't much traffic ( Tuesday morning) but it was busier near Gambier ( Kenyon College)..
The trail itself is exceptional since it was recently repaved. The only drawback is getting to the trail from Xenia Station, busy intersection to get through and ride along the street to get to the trail itself. Once on the trail it is a beautiful ride, slight incline most of the way east, coming back is a lot of fun. There are rest area opportunities spread out along the trail and there are restaurants in Xenia and Jamestown. If you’re not a fan of crossing roads, this may not be for you, about every mile, you will cross a road, most of them are not that busy, but a couple are. Enjoy the ride, we thought it was a great ride.
My family likes to ride this trail together - it is quiet, generally quite well maintained (although can occasionally get a bit muddy in the spring) and is relatively flat and approachable for the family. This was a great find!
How about a round of applause for the cities, counties, employees, and volunteers who put this great trail together. Unlike the LMRT, this trail is not a state park but a series of parks in many jurisdictions. I do not know who coordinates this effort to create the ‘whole’, but good job.
On recumbent trikes, we recently rode about 15 miles of the North Fork; 5 non-paved miles on the far west end, and 10 paved miles on the eastern end. We did not ride the middle section around Wauseon. We also rode the 10 paved miles of the South Fork. The unpaved west end of the North Fork was in very good shape, much better than many parts of the C&O Canal Trail. Any bike with wider tires should be able to enjoy it.
No one has commented on the number of road crossings on all the trail sections. In the 62 miles of trail, there are more than 75 road crossings! Just when you get pedaling up to speed, you come to a road crossing. Some road crossings are very busy, with lots of cars coming fast. Others are not. You have to slow for each one to be sure.
A very nice trail and very worth riding.
Beautiful trail with lots of different views, wooded to open farmland. Creeks and hills, with alot of fall foliage. We'll maintained, nice trailheads, with restrooms and picnic tables and benches.
We started in Akron and rode about 18 miles north. Loved it!!!
Very clean and safe with new smooth surface. Well maintained. A lot to see and spot along the way. Beautiful scenery. We traveled the entire trail in one day even with little endurance riding under our saddle. Elevation climbs were gentle and mostly unnoticeable. Highly recommend this trail for families. I can’t wait to come back and do this one again. Highly recommend Eclipse Company Store for meals as the half way point.
Our hybrid bike tires did great on this trail from Mineral to Hope Moonville Road. The trail is packed gravel and a very comfortable ride. The Moonville Tunnel was a smooth ride but Kings Hollow Tunnel was rough. Be advised to ride through Kings Hollow slowly as it is riddled with potholes. Make sure to bring lights for the tunnels. Overall a wonderful trail and I highly recommend.
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