BIKING THE TRAILS OF LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS

Bikes are a great way to explore the parks and get some exercise. North Coast Inland Trail is our longest bike trail at 13 miles and extends from Elyria to Oberlin to Kipton.

North Coast Inland Trail Elyria to Kipton | 13 miles

The North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT) is a 12 foot wide, primarily asphalt paved trail, built over the abandoned Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland Railroad and runs for 65 miles from Elyria to Toledo with some sections still being built The Lorain County Metro Parks’ portion runs from Elyria to Kipton, passing through Oberlin along the way. The northernmost end of the NCIT is the Gateway Trailhead, which is also the southernmost end of the Black River Bikeway.

Black River Bikeway Elyria to Lorain | 11+ miles

The Black River Bikeway is an 11-mile trail that connects multiple reservations to each other beginning on the southern end in Elyria and ending on the northern end in Lorain. This trail offers multiple access points and trailheads and connects the North Coast Inland Trail, Cascade Park and Black River Reservation. While the majority of the trail runs through Lorain County Metro Parks’ reservations, there are sections of the trail that travel through the city of Elyria on public sidewalks and roadways.

Black River Reservation Elyria to Lorain | 6+ miles

The paved bike trail at Black River Reservation’s southern end begins at the High Meadows picnic area and travels north through the the Bur Oak and Day’s Dam picnic areas and comes to its northernmost point at Colorado Ave. (St. Rt. 611) in Lorain. The trail travels along the scenic Black River and over 2 large bridges that allow for bikers to look down on the river from the treetops. There are numerous scenic lookout points including a 0.5-mile offshoot trail that leads to a waterfall near the Day’s Dam picnic area.

Beaver Creek Trail Amherst | 3 miles

The Beaver Creek Trail is a paved trail that connects Hollstein Reservation to Amherst Beaver Creek Reservation. This short hike and bikeway is primarily located within the two Metro Parks Reservations, however there is a 1-mile section that is a dedicated, paved trail that travels adjacent to public streets.

Carlisle Reservation LaGrange | 9+ miles

Carlisle Reservation’s bike trail can be accessed by any one of the three park entrances (Duck Pond Picnic Area, Visitor Center, or Equestrian Center). The winding trail includes sections of paved asphalt, crushed stone and dirt with the majority of the trail being crushed stone. There are many twists and turns along this trail so make sure to bring your map!

Indian Hollow Reservation

Grafton | 4+ miles (Mountain biking trail: 1+ miles)

Indian Hollow Reservation features two different biking paths. One at the Sheldon Woods section of the park, which has over 1 mile worth of dedicated mountain bicycling trails, as well as a portion of the trail that follows a railroad bed that once held the tracks that served the sandstone quarry that once thrived here. Scenic views of the Black River, sandstone outcrops and quarrying debris, and wildlife are plentiful along this trail also. The other path is located at Royal Oaks, the former golf course turned hiking, biking and fitness trail. This 1.9-mile crushed limestone path travels through beautifully scenic fields and features 3 catch-andrelease ponds.