The rail trail, a former railroad, is paved with a gentle grade and clocks in at 2.75 miles, making it perfect for kids. Nearby, the nearly 3-mile crushed limestone inlet trail runs through Buckeye Woods Park and around a restored wetland. “Lots of birders like that area,” says Nate Eppink, director of Medina County Park District. “There are great blue herons, sandhill cranes, lots of redwing blackbirds. It’s a beautiful area.” medinacountyparks.com
Brecksville Reservation All-Purpose Trail
If you want a challenging ride, the Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Reservation trail’s 12.4 miles features hills to give your legs some work. But the view is worth the workout. A gorge overlook lets you gaze down on Chippewa Creek. “They’ll also get to ride by a tallgrass prairie,” says Min Keung, manager of the park’s Brecksville Nature Center. “There aren’t very many left in the country, especially not Ohio.” clevelandmetroparks.com
Maple Highlands Trail
If you’re in it for the long haul, this 21.1-mile paved trail offers a scenic ride through two covered bridges, several parks and a large Amish community in Middlefield. If you ride through Middlefield, watch out — you’ll share the 6.9-mile section with horses and buggies. “It’s very rural, very natural,” says John Oros, the executive director of the Geauga Park District, who notes the trail is popular for its length. “It practically runs from county line to county line, stretching from Lake County to the north, almost to Trumbull County.” geaugaparkdistrict.org
