Bike & Hike Trail

Bike & Hike Trail in fall

Following the course of two abandoned railroads, the 34-mile Bike & Hike Trail is one of the first “rails to trails” conversions in the country.

Much of the trail follows the Lake Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad (LE&P), which was later named the New York Central Railroad (NYC). Another portion of the trail rests on the old Akron, Bedford & Cleveland Railroad (AB&C, or the “Alphabet Railroad”), which was an electric passenger railway system in service from the late 1800s until 1932. Riders on the AB&C railroad could travel for 50 cents from Akron to Cleveland’s Public Square in about 2.5 hours.

Today, those traveling along the Bike & Hike Trail are treated to a variety of landscapes and wildlife. East of Route 91 in Munroe Falls, the trail parallels a scenic section of the Cuyahoga River where great blue herons, Canada geese and a variety of ducks can be seen. A small pond along the north side of the trail annually hosts a chorus of spring peepers.

South of Boston Mills Road in Boston Heights, the Sharon Conglomerate rock walls of the Boston Ledges rise along the trail. Farther north, the trail travels along Brandywine Road and by Brandywine Falls, which, at 75 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in Ohio.

Download Park Areas Map PDF

Explore the TRAIL

Begin your journey along the Bike & Hike Trail by reviewing a list of trailheads we’ve provided below. The trail is multipurpose and open hours for all sections are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

*Flat, easy trail or section with asphalt or crushed limestone surface. ** Rugged and challenging with uneven surfaces and steep, narrow routes