This route is actually a 12-mile series of trails and sidewalks with surfaces ranging from dirt to rough gravel to city sidewalks.  The Mahoning Valley Trail leaves the Deer Creek Reservoir parking area and winds along the lake, crossing the dam that separates the higher Deer Creek Lake from Berlin Reservoir.  The route continues east on Greenbower St, and then south on Rockhill Ave.  There is a poorly marked, mostly dirt, side loop of the MVT off of Rockhill that leaves and rejoins the road, shortly before the main segment of the Mahoning Valley Trail heads east.  This trail is mostly rougher surfaces suitable for wider tires.  It emerges in a city park and at the top of the entrance road, the city portion of the Iron Horse Trail begins.  From here to the University, the trail is mostly on bike lines constructed on widened city sidewalks.  Once past the university, the trail goes through some parks and then neighborhood streets that are well-marked.  Finally the limestone Iron Horse Trail continues south to Cenfield St NE.   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50159080​

The Iron Horse Trail may eventually continue south to Minerva, and a short segment of the trail already exists near that town.  It conveniently bypasses some steep climbs, but at this point is mostly grass and roadbed gravel.  There are plans to improve this segment in the future providing a better connection to downtown Minerva.

Road Connections:  If you are familiar with Portage County roads, take Industry south to Price.  This will take you across 183 to the Deer Creek parking area.   Aeonian Brewing Company is a couple of blocks from the trail in Alliance.  This is a good spot to start and finish a 25-30-mile road loop out towards Sebring that includes all of these trail segments as well.