The North Coast Inland Trail will one day stretch across northern Ohio from Indiana to Pennsylvania on a network of connecting off-road trails. Today, large sections of the trail, especially from the Indiana border to Lorain County, Ohio, are well defined. One of these segments is a 29-mile route between the City of Lorain and Wakeman Township. The other components of the North Coast Inland Trail are located in Huron County and Sandusky and Ottawa counties.
About the Route
The Lorain County section is primarily a paved pathway that offers a classic rail-trail experience: flat and mostly straight. There are a few short sections that utilize bike lanes and sidewalks. Along the rail-trail sections, the route runs along the former Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland Railroad corridor.
City of Lorain
The trail's northeast end is at Lakeside Landing on the edge of Lake Erie in the City of Lorain. Parking and a bicycle repair station are available at the Lakeside Landing trailhead. This portion of the trail is also known as the Black River Trail and trail signage may use that name.
Heading south and crossing Lakeside Avenue, the trail is a paved asphalt path until E. Erie Avenue/US Route 6. Turning left to head north along Erie Avenue, the route briefly makes use of bike lanes and sidewalks until Century Park (1955 East Erie Ave, Lorain). The park has restrooms and parking available. At the park, the trail becomes an off-road paved asphalt path again as it meanders south through Longfellow Park (Lorain City Park) and curves east.
About 4 miles from the northeast end, the trail turns south again and begins paralleling the Black River. The trail briefly passes through the west side of French Creek Reservation. Continuing to follow the river, the route meanders south through Black River Reservation. Partway through the reservation the trail leaves the City of Lorain and enters the City of Elyria.
Portions of the trail have been known as the Steel Mill Trail and the Bridgeway Trail. Trail signage may reference these names. The Day’s Dam Picnic Area (2720 East 31st St, Lorain) in the reservation has parking, restrooms, drinking fountains, and a bicycle repair station.
City of Elyria
Parking, restrooms, and drinking fountains are also available at both the reservation's Bur Oak Picnic Area (6150 Ford Rd, Elyria) and High Meadows Picnic Area (1750 Ford Rd, Elyria). After exiting the south end of the reservation, the route utilizes sidewalks (shared by both pedestrians and bicyclists) from Midway Boulevard to Cascade Park (387 Furnace St, Elyria). The park has parking, restrooms, and drinking fountains.
Leaving the park, there is a short section of "sharrow" (where motorists and bicyclists share the roadway) south along Washington Avenue and west along Broad Street. There are sidewalks for pedestrians. At Chestnut Street, the trail returns to an off-road paved asphalt pathway. A spur heads briefly north up Chestnut, but the main route continues along Broad Street, south on Waters Street and west on 2nd Street, which becomes Leo Bullocks Parkway. A short section along 2nd Street uses bike lanes. Cross to the south side of the road near 745 Leo Bullocks Parkway to continue heading west along the paved trail.
Please note: If biking east (rather than west) along this section, the route is slightly different. Where Leo Bullocks Parkway splits to become 2nd Street and 3rd Street, follow the trail east along 3rd St until reaching W River Road. A short section along 3rd Street uses bike lanes. Turning left (north) on W River Road, follow along the eastern side of the street until reaching 2nd Street. Cross the street to reach the north side and turn right (east) onto 2nd Street. Turn left (north) onto Water Street, where the alternative routes merge.
The Gateway Trailhead (6302 Gateway Blvd, Elyria) has parking and a bicycle repair station. Access the trailhead by taking a short detour along Gateway Boulevard.
Heading towards Oberlin as an off-road paved pathway, the the vista becomes rolling farmland, with herds of cattle and roaming horses, as well as rural homesteads. Birdlife along the way includes cardinals, turkey vultures, bluebirds, warblers, and vireos.
The section between Kipton and Elyria was formerly known as the Oberlin Bike Path.
Oberlin
In Oberlin, the trail passes the George Abram Pavilion, which has picnic tables for 50, public restrooms (open April to November), twenty parking spaces, and a view of the historic restored Gasholder House, built in 1889 for Oberlin’s first street lighting. (A side trip north on Ohio Rt. 58 puts one in downtown Oberlin with its many shops, restaurants, and Oberlin College.) At the Professor Street crossing the beautifully restored Oberlin train depot comes into view. The site includes a grassy park and playground, outdoor exercise equipment, drinking fountains and picnic tables. The route briefly uses a section of "sharrow" (where motorists and bicyclists share the roadway) on Pyle South Amyerst Road and bike lanes on Hamilton Road. Returning to an off-road paved asphalt pathway, the trail passes under an old railroad bridge. Heading southwest from Oberlin, open fields and farmhouses spread out again on both sides of the trail.
The Butternut Ridge Trailhead (44342 Butternut Ridge Rd) has parking, restrooms, a drinking fountain, and a bike repair station.
Kipton
Enjoy a quiet ride through farmland southwest to Kipton. The trail passes Kipton’s downtown community park, which has a porta-john and a gazebo. It also features a historic marker commemorating the Great Kipton Train Wreck. It was here in 1891 that two trains collided head on, resulting in eight deaths. The wreck was blamed on a train conductor’s watch, which was slow by 4 minutes and caused him to delay moving one of the trains to a separate track. Railroad officials hired prominent Cleveland jeweler Webb Ball to investigate railroad timekeeping and institute standards to avoid such accidents. Locals credit Ball’s capable work with the origin of the much-used idiom “on the ball.”
The North Coast Inland Trail (Lorain County) runs between Lakeside Landing (401 Lakeside Ave, Lorain), where there is parking, and County Line Rd, 0.3 mile north of US 20 (Wakeman).
Parking is available at:
Visit the TrailLink map for all parking options and detailed directions.
The trail itself is pretty nice. Signage leading into and in Elyria is abysmal. You’re on a bike in traffic and at intersections, you shouldn’t have to study where to turn.
We parked at mile marker 9, Bur Oak Trailhead and biked to mile 0.0 at Lakeside Landing in Lorain, on the shores of Lake Erie. This section is not a traditional rail-trail as it has hills and ramps and quite a few bridges which cross the Black River multiple times. In 9 miles we passed a few trailheads with parking and facilities. From mile marker 9 to 2, you're on a paved trail then the last 2 miles into Lorain are share the road sections. Worth the trip! Biking to Lake Erie from Elyria was very fun. While in the area we stated in nearby Vermilion.
Trail is flat and paved, goes through mainly open areas of farmlands, a few short wooded sections offering shade. Old rail towns such as Kipton and Oberlin. One short share the road section, well marked. Several (back) road crossings with trailheads and parking. We rode from West Elyria to Huron Co line and continued into Wakeman. Round trip was 30 miles. Great trail! We stayed in Vermilion and went to the lighthouse on Lake Erie.
We rode a short section of the trail from the park on E 31st St in Lorain. We rode north and across the 1000’ bridge. It was very beautiful, but too steep for us 70-somethings on traditional bikes. Most of the other bikers rode e-bikes. Maybe sometime . . .
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