Freedom Trail (OH)

Ohio

15 Reviews

Northern Ohio's Freedom Trail currently offers more than 7 miles of tree-lined pathway along the former Freedom Secondary Railroad. From Eastwood Avenue in eastern Akron, the paved trail follows a northeastern course, winding through Tallmadge, and heading up to the Summit/Portage County Line on the outskirts of Kent. On your journey, watch for bald eagles, coyote, and white-tailed deer.

The eastern end of the Freedom Trail crosses Middlebury Rd. on a bridge and connects to the nearby Portage Hike and Bike Trail, which continues eastward more than 9 miles from Kent (not far from Kent State University) to Ravenna.

On its other end, extends into downtown Akron near the University of Akron campus, putting it just blocks from the Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail, a whopping 85-mile pathway the heads north through Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Cleveland, and south to Bolivar.

Parking and Trail Access

About mid-trail, parking and restrooms are available at Lions Park (245 Northeast Ave., Tallmadge). On the north end of the trail, a parking lot is available at 1324 Middlebury Rd. in Tallmadge.

Checked out the new bridge & switchbacks

July 2025 vicki1960

Great new connection to Portage Hike & Bike Trail. We parked at the new trailhead on Middlebury and biked West to Lions Park and back. Most of the trail is shaded. We went the other direction out of the parking lot and took the newly installed pedestrian/bike bridge and used the switchbacks down to the Portage Hike & Bike trail into Kent. Great trail, the bridge is awesome!

Trail end improvements

July 2025 davidmaggiehome

The north end now connects to the Portage Bike & Hike trail. They added a bridge and a cascading trail. The south end is under construction and will eventually connect to the Ohio & Erie Trail in Akron, they did add an access trail to a road and you could connect the Ohio & Erie trail via this, need a good gps device, the existing trail is in good condition. homeless people

nice and VERY easy

May 2024 reichertcory

Mostly flat ride. Some sketchy areas, but nothing awful. Links fairly easily to other trails to put in more distance.

We rode or bikes on this trail. It was beautiful. I would definitely recommend it.¿

October 2022 shrclem

We rode or bikes on this trail. It was beautiful. I would definitely recommend it.¿

Freedom Trail (OH) Reviews

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Accordion

Great trail

August 2020 yob_eidde_tl

This is a favorite route for my wife and I when we want an easy ride, especially if we bring along friends that do not do a lot of riding.

Because of all the streets the trail crosses, it presents a GREAT opportunity to teach & reinforce how to avoid dangers when crossing streets (almost every ride has me holding up our riding group as a vehicle runs a light/stop-sign/crosswalk, or turns right while driver is looking left).

A treat is to stop at El Tren Grill for lunch (access from trail, outdoor seating; restaurant with caboose & Pullman car). Just about 3.5 miles from trailhead makes for an easy ride back (which is good; they serve lots with each order).

We look forward to Phase 3 being completed into downtown Akron.

¿¿

June 2020 mandylittle828

Nice trail- at times a little tedious

Very nice trail

June 2019 brentandlynn

Very well maintained paved trail from the trail head at Tannery Park in Kent to the southwestern end near Perkins in Akron. We were pleasantly surprised at the trail.
My wife and I have been avid road cyclists in the past, but with the increase in distracted drivers have opted to stay on well maintained trails (preferably paved).
Have been riding the Portage County Bike and Hike trail, but looking for other opportunities tried this route. Mostly flat with just a few small hills.
As other reviews have stated there are several road crossings that are somewhat annoying but we usually ride early on Saturday and/or Sunday morning, so traffic is light at those times.

A Pleasant but Incomplete Trail

June 2019 orangedoug

Took a quick out-and-back ride on the Freedom Trail from the Portage-Summit County Line near Kent, Ohio through the City of Tallmadge and on into Akron, Ohio. The Freedom Trail is a pleasant trail with a few gradual hills. My only complaints are there are quite a few road crossings as this old rail line crosses just south of the traffic circle in Tallmadge, and at this point the western end in Akron does not yet connect to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Phase 3 not to Akron YET...

July 2018 bikin-mike

Found several articles and pictures about the new trailhead on Mill St. in Akron. YEEHA!!! Drove on over. Found some nice artwork on the bridge abutments, some new grass, BUT the trail was just 2 dirt tracks covered with weeds. BUMMER!!! Drove east on Mill and N Forge, turned right on N Arlington and found a new trailhead. All done except for the signs. (See photo) Surrounded by scrap yards and kind of desolate, but parked anyway. Hopped on the bike and rode west toward Akron on a surprisingly beautiful tree-lined and shaded paved trail. Crossed a newly redecked Erie RR bridge over N Forge. Rode under noisy SR8 and then came to an abrupt end of the pavement and a Road Closed sign. (See photo). Think I was about behind Famous Supply on N Union. No trail access there, but did see a neighborhood access back East of SR8. Rode back east, back past the scrap yards, over a new bridge over a RR track and onto the existing trail at Eastwood Ave. Near Eastwood is more wide open since the trail follows power lines. Love what somebody wrote on the Road Closed sign "Finish me Akron....I go nowhere". It'll be nice to someday be able to ride all the way from the Towpath Trail to Ravenna. Just not today......Bikin-Mike 7/8/2018

nice trail... but

July 2017 doas0623

Freedom trail was a nice paved trail, however it crossed to many roads for our liking.

Great trail!

June 2017 vicki1960

While in the area for the Monroe Falls Triathlon, took advantage of this great little trail.
Runs from Monroe Falls into Akron through Tallmadge.
Nicely asphalt paved, nice and flat. Areas open (full sun) and areas shaded by a canopy of trees. Friendly people along the trail!
Though there is no real parking at East Avenue in Tallmadge, you may find a place to park nearby.
In Tallamage there are several eateries to choose from located just yards off the trail. Sandwich place, a few fast food restaurants, convenience store and a couple of restaurants. Convenience store if you need water, and pharmacy if you forgot your sunscreen.
Restrooms about 1 mile out of Tallmadge at Lion's Park right on the trail. Large parking lot there too. And a water fountain. Pack a picnic lunch and take advantage of Lion's Park.
I rode most of the 6.2 mile trail, and back.

Nice Ride

April 2016 chdaub

There are trailheads with parking at the northern end at Middlebury Rd & Rte 261 and at the Tallmadge Lions Club park (which also has a restroom). Scenery ranges from deep woods to residential to town center to industrial. While there are several busy roads to cross, it was not much of a problem. Would not want to try it with young children though.

New name, extension complete

April 2015 tehwoodguy

This trail is now known as The Freedom Trail, and goes from the intersection of Middlebury Rd and State Rte 261 all the way to Eastwood Ave near downtown Akron. While there are a few busy crossings, it is a very pleasant, quiet trail.

Very Nice

January 2015 mhydell

Besides the dicey (no light or crosswalk) road crossings in downtown Tallmadge this trail is very nice. It also almost connects with Portage Hike and Bike trail. All you have to do is cross the bridge and you can go all the way to Ravenna if you like.

It's now a truly multi-purpose trail

October 2012 edfromohio

Until this month (October, 2012) this was partly paved and partly cinder trail. I work in a nearby business and walked it often, but it would flood out and become generally unusable near Lion's Park in Tallmadge if the weather didn't cooperate. Plus, it wasn't friendly to anything but walking/running or mountain biking. That's all changed now since they've repaved the whole thing, put in new concrete crosswalk pads, tore out the rails from the roads and generally cleaned up the trail. It's good for all sorts of things you can do on asphalt. Sure, the constant stop/go around the Tallmadge Circle is annoying, but it's better than trying the same thing on the streets or sidewalks. What will really be nice is when the northern end is eventually connected to the Towpath Trail which will lead into Akron and all the way up to Cleveland.