The Western Reserve Greenway
(and connections north, south and west)
This is the longest section (45 miles) of the future Great Ohio Lake to River Greenway, which will also include the Niles Greenway, the Mill Creek Metroparks Bikeway, and the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail. The Western Reserve Greenway is currently an almost continuous asphalt trail from Griswold Street NE in Warren, to W 52nd Street in Ashtabula. A couple of very short road sections remain at the south end in Warren and around a business in Rock Creek.
Connections:
(and connections north, south and west)
This is the longest section (45 miles) of the future Great Ohio Lake to River Greenway, which will also include the Niles Greenway, the Mill Creek Metroparks Bikeway, and the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail. The Western Reserve Greenway is currently an almost continuous asphalt trail from Griswold Street NE in Warren, to W 52nd Street in Ashtabula. A couple of very short road sections remain at the south end in Warren and around a business in Rock Creek.
Connections:
- All safety issues related to road riding apply here. Wear bright colors, use flashing rear lights, and follow all traffic laws. Use at your own risk.
- Connect from the Headwaters Trail (HWT) in Garrettsville using the map provided below and see the turn by turn directions here: Portage Parks Trails.
- I have not attempted the road connections through Warren and Niles to hook up with the Niles Greenway which links with the Mill Creek Metroparks Bikeway. Google Maps provides some suggested routes.
- Connecting the southern end of the Mill Creek Metroparks Bikeway with the northern end of the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail is straightforward. Traveling south, the MCMB ends at W. Western Reserve Rd. Jog east on this road for few feet and make a right onto Washingtonville Rd. Continue south for 6 miles on this quiet, rural road. The road name changes in downtown Washingtonville, but the trail begins on your left, two blocks after you cross Main Street (Route 14). Washingtonville Rd may be the future official route as access to the old railbed has been declined so far. There is a road section through downtown Leetonia that is well-marked. The trail ends in Lisbon.
- If you plan to head east towards Buffalo, road connections through Ashtabula to Lake Erie can involve riding on some busy major roads. See the map below for one way to skirt the east side of town while heading east towards Conneaut, OH, Erie, PA and Buffalo, NY. Turn by turn directions for the Ashtabula road segment (going north) are also provided below the map.
- If you would like to explore Ashtabula's coastal streets, turn left on West St. a block before the WRG ends. A new trail, consisting of protected bike lanes, etc. has opened recently. Here's the map for the "North-Shore Trail: https://www.ashtabulametroparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NORTH-SHORE-TRAIL.pdf
Going North to Buffalo and the Erie Canal
Turn by Turn Directions from the Northern Terminus of the Western Reserve Greenway to Route 531 (Lake Road):
At the north end of the trail, turn right onto W 52nd Street. Turn left on Chestnut which jogs right becoming W 49th St. Turn left on Main Street (where busy roads begin) and immediately turn right onto W 48th St. This jogs left becoming Collins Blvd. Turn right onto W 46th St (OH 84) and cross the bridge using the sidewalk. To avoid a major intersection ahead, at the end of the bridge cross the street (a left turn off the bridge) and continue north on Valley View Rd. This jogs right becoming E 42nd St. Turn left onto State Road. This is a busy street, especially near the intersection with Route 20. Continue under Route 11 and turn right on Middle Road. This street passes between various chemical plants operated by INEOS (who also happen to have a professional cycling team). This is actually a quiet road, not particularly smelly, and soon passes through quiet forested parts of the INEOS property. Turn left onto La Bounty Rd (not well marked). This road ends at Lake St (531). Turn right and stay on this route to reach Conneaut, OH. Shoulders here tend to be minimal. Directions further east from Conneaut are suggested on The Erie Canalway Trail page
Turn by Turn Directions from the Northern Terminus of the Western Reserve Greenway to Route 531 (Lake Road):
At the north end of the trail, turn right onto W 52nd Street. Turn left on Chestnut which jogs right becoming W 49th St. Turn left on Main Street (where busy roads begin) and immediately turn right onto W 48th St. This jogs left becoming Collins Blvd. Turn right onto W 46th St (OH 84) and cross the bridge using the sidewalk. To avoid a major intersection ahead, at the end of the bridge cross the street (a left turn off the bridge) and continue north on Valley View Rd. This jogs right becoming E 42nd St. Turn left onto State Road. This is a busy street, especially near the intersection with Route 20. Continue under Route 11 and turn right on Middle Road. This street passes between various chemical plants operated by INEOS (who also happen to have a professional cycling team). This is actually a quiet road, not particularly smelly, and soon passes through quiet forested parts of the INEOS property. Turn left onto La Bounty Rd (not well marked). This road ends at Lake St (531). Turn right and stay on this route to reach Conneaut, OH. Shoulders here tend to be minimal. Directions further east from Conneaut are suggested on The Erie Canalway Trail page
