"The Portage" (Portage Hike and Bike Trail and Franklin Connector)
The main section of the asphalt-paved Portage Hike and Bike Trail is continuous between the Main Street bridge in downtown Kent and Peck Road on the east side of Ravenna. A bike-friendly staircase leads to Main St in Kent. You can use Franklin Avenue to connect to the southern trail segment beginning at John Brown Tannery Park. During warmer months a portion of this street is closed to car traffic as part of the Kent DORA. Google may incorrectly show a bike trail from Main St along the riverside path behind the mills. This does not yet exist as a bike trail (stairs, roots, etc.). However, you can also use the east sidewalk on River St for a few hundred feet (the roadway is one-way in the wrong direction) and then cut behind the old mill buildings along River St, rejoining the trail at Stow St.
The southwestern segment of The Portage (west of downtown Kent) stretches from John Brown Tannery Park to Middlebury Rd, near the eastern end of the Freedom Trail. A switchback and bridge was constructed in 2025 to connect the two trails. This switchback will be great for wheelchair/ADA access, but will likely be less friendly to inexperienced cyclists (and anyone they encounter going in the opposite direction) due to the short zig-zags and tight inside turns. Time will tell.
This trail system is jointly managed by Portage Park District, the City of Kent, the City of Ravenna and Kent State University. Repairs were made in September 2024 to some significant heaving on Kent's 0.7-mile section east of the downtown bike bridge (near Fairchild Ave and the North Water Street Brewery). The Portage Park District's sections of the trail (Riverbend to Oakwood), and the Franklin Connector were repaired in early October 2024.
A spur of the Portage leads from downtown Kent, through the Kent State University campus, ending at the stadium parking lot. There is a steep grade leaving downtown Kent, and some areas are designated as "walk bikes."
Another isolated segment, The Franklin Connector, connects to the Summit Bike and Hike Trail. Portage County's portion of the trail was completely repaved in late 2024. Future connections through Kent to Portage Park property, and perhaps the main Portage H&B Trail have been proposed.
Download a trail map and get more information at:
www.portagecounty-oh.gov/portage-county-park-district/parks-maps/pages/portage-hike-bike-trail
Connections Within and Among Trails:
The main section of the asphalt-paved Portage Hike and Bike Trail is continuous between the Main Street bridge in downtown Kent and Peck Road on the east side of Ravenna. A bike-friendly staircase leads to Main St in Kent. You can use Franklin Avenue to connect to the southern trail segment beginning at John Brown Tannery Park. During warmer months a portion of this street is closed to car traffic as part of the Kent DORA. Google may incorrectly show a bike trail from Main St along the riverside path behind the mills. This does not yet exist as a bike trail (stairs, roots, etc.). However, you can also use the east sidewalk on River St for a few hundred feet (the roadway is one-way in the wrong direction) and then cut behind the old mill buildings along River St, rejoining the trail at Stow St.
The southwestern segment of The Portage (west of downtown Kent) stretches from John Brown Tannery Park to Middlebury Rd, near the eastern end of the Freedom Trail. A switchback and bridge was constructed in 2025 to connect the two trails. This switchback will be great for wheelchair/ADA access, but will likely be less friendly to inexperienced cyclists (and anyone they encounter going in the opposite direction) due to the short zig-zags and tight inside turns. Time will tell.
This trail system is jointly managed by Portage Park District, the City of Kent, the City of Ravenna and Kent State University. Repairs were made in September 2024 to some significant heaving on Kent's 0.7-mile section east of the downtown bike bridge (near Fairchild Ave and the North Water Street Brewery). The Portage Park District's sections of the trail (Riverbend to Oakwood), and the Franklin Connector were repaired in early October 2024.
A spur of the Portage leads from downtown Kent, through the Kent State University campus, ending at the stadium parking lot. There is a steep grade leaving downtown Kent, and some areas are designated as "walk bikes."
Another isolated segment, The Franklin Connector, connects to the Summit Bike and Hike Trail. Portage County's portion of the trail was completely repaved in late 2024. Future connections through Kent to Portage Park property, and perhaps the main Portage H&B Trail have been proposed.
Download a trail map and get more information at:
www.portagecounty-oh.gov/portage-county-park-district/parks-maps/pages/portage-hike-bike-trail
Connections Within and Among Trails:
- 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.
- Road connections from the Main Street Bridge Bike Stairs to either John Brown Tannery Park or Fred Fuller Park in Kent provide access to another segment that nearly aligns with Summit County's Freedom Trail at Middlebury Road. A spur off this segment also leads to Kent State University and the stadium parking lots.
- Road connections using Hudson Rd. from either Fairchild Avenue or Riverbend Blvd (and from Riverbend through the Roosevelt HS and Stanton Middle School access road) lead to a trailhead at Hudson and Judson Roads. This trail segment is continuous with the main (northern) route of the Summit County Bike and Hike Trail. A future trail connection between the Hudson-Judson trailhead and Kent is on a wish list.
- A Road connection to the Headwaters Trail (HWT) just east of Mantua is possible using Peck Road. Technically, you are still on a (hiking) trail if you use this route, which is also part of the The Buckeye Trail. The hills are not terrible going north. Southbound travelers note that when traveling south on Peck Rd after exiting the HWT, you will encounter a triple threat of hills for the first 2.5 miles. The second and third climbs have a maximum grade of 8%, with the middle hill being the longest. Infirmary Rd is busier, but somewhat flatter.
- In late 2021 a short segment of trail was opened that connects the HWT to Mennonite Road at that trail's current western terminus. There is no parking here. Wall St./Infirmary Rd. can be accessed from the Portage H&B Trail and will take you north to this Mennonite Rd. access point. HOWEVER, In my opinion, Peck Rd. is a safer cycling route with less car traffic, but again...bigger hills southbound.
The Headwaters Trail (HWT)
The original, crushed limestone trail runs from Mennonite Road in Mantua to Route 82 in Garrettsville. Expansion to the west into Aurora is funded and the paved "Aurora Trail" is partially constructed. This first segment from Rt82 to Chamberlin Rd opens in late June 2025. Portage Parks is expected to begin construction on the Chamberlin to Diagonal Rd segment of the HWT in 2025. A protected trail alongside roads from Diagonal to Mennonite Rd (current western terminous of the original HWT) is slated for 2029. Further extensions through Solon to the Emerald Necklace trail system are also planned. A short connector between the parking lot at the Garrettsville library and ball field parking area and route 82 was paved in 2021, and the ramp to Mennonite was opened in 2022. Note that the apparent extentions west of Mennonite Rd and east of Rt 82, marked by Google as "Headwater Trail" (note there is no "s" on "Headwater"), do NOT actually exist, at least as of 2025. Adding to the mis-labeling confusion, there are some driveways marked as "Headwater Trail" just north of the McDonalds on 44. Getting Google to remove such things is nearly impossible, as I've heard they want to mail confirmations to trail street addresses (which of course trails do not have). Makes you wonder how it was added in the first place. Using Google Maps with "Biking" mode turned on is a better option than just looking at labels on the default map view.
Download a Headwaters Trail map and get more information at:
www.portagecounty-oh.gov/portage-county-park-district/parks-maps/pages/headwaters-trail
Connections to Other Trails:
Turn by Turn Directions to the Western Reserve Greenway from Garrettsville (heading east):
The Headwaters Trail appears to end at a parking lot for some ball fields. As you turn right towards the lot, you will note a short, narrow paved trail leading down to Route 82 on your left. Take this path (A). Cross 82 and turn right on the sidewalk. Immediately turn left into the supermarket parking lot and go behind the building and past the car wash. Turn left onto Liberty St. Turn right onto Silica St. This continues as Pierce Rd. When this road ends, turn left onto Newell Ledge Rd. At the end, turn right onto Knowlton Rd. At the tee, turn right to stay on Knowlton Rd. At another tee, turn left onto Shanks Downes Rd. Continue around a right bend where the road becomes Herner County Line Rd. Turn left onto Phalanx Mills Herner Rd. Turn right onto County Line Rd/County Line Turnpike Rd. Turn left onto Hoffman Norton Rd NW. Turn right onto G P Easterly Rd and continue onto Bristol Champion Townline Rd. Turn left onto the Western Reserve Greenway (heading north toward Ashtabula). Also see: Connecting to the Western Reserve Greenway and Cleveland Bypass for the Northern Tier Route
The original, crushed limestone trail runs from Mennonite Road in Mantua to Route 82 in Garrettsville. Expansion to the west into Aurora is funded and the paved "Aurora Trail" is partially constructed. This first segment from Rt82 to Chamberlin Rd opens in late June 2025. Portage Parks is expected to begin construction on the Chamberlin to Diagonal Rd segment of the HWT in 2025. A protected trail alongside roads from Diagonal to Mennonite Rd (current western terminous of the original HWT) is slated for 2029. Further extensions through Solon to the Emerald Necklace trail system are also planned. A short connector between the parking lot at the Garrettsville library and ball field parking area and route 82 was paved in 2021, and the ramp to Mennonite was opened in 2022. Note that the apparent extentions west of Mennonite Rd and east of Rt 82, marked by Google as "Headwater Trail" (note there is no "s" on "Headwater"), do NOT actually exist, at least as of 2025. Adding to the mis-labeling confusion, there are some driveways marked as "Headwater Trail" just north of the McDonalds on 44. Getting Google to remove such things is nearly impossible, as I've heard they want to mail confirmations to trail street addresses (which of course trails do not have). Makes you wonder how it was added in the first place. Using Google Maps with "Biking" mode turned on is a better option than just looking at labels on the default map view.
Download a Headwaters Trail map and get more information at:
www.portagecounty-oh.gov/portage-county-park-district/parks-maps/pages/headwaters-trail
Connections to Other Trails:
- 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.
- SOUTH: As noted above, road connections to "The Portage" can be made via Infirmary or Peck Roads. In my opinion, Peck is a bit quieter and is also designated as part of the "Buckeye Trail." Shoulders are mostly narrow or non-existent. If you don't like steep hills, Infirmary may be an option southbound.
- EAST: Quiet road connections to the Western Reserve Greenway are feasible (see a RidewithGPS link, static map and directions below and also see more information and an interactive map here: Connecting to the Western Reserve Greenway). This is a low-traffic option (I saw about 6 cars on a Sunday morning). It crosses a few busy roads. The RidewithGPS link includes this connection in the center of a longer route: ridewithgps.com/routes/49895571
- WEST: Future connections to the Cleveland Metroparks' Emerald Necklace via mostly trail are in planning or under construction. One option will continue on the current alignment towards Bedford Heights, and potentially into Cleveland. The other will lead from Solon to Chagrin Falls.
Turn by Turn Directions to the Western Reserve Greenway from Garrettsville (heading east):
The Headwaters Trail appears to end at a parking lot for some ball fields. As you turn right towards the lot, you will note a short, narrow paved trail leading down to Route 82 on your left. Take this path (A). Cross 82 and turn right on the sidewalk. Immediately turn left into the supermarket parking lot and go behind the building and past the car wash. Turn left onto Liberty St. Turn right onto Silica St. This continues as Pierce Rd. When this road ends, turn left onto Newell Ledge Rd. At the end, turn right onto Knowlton Rd. At the tee, turn right to stay on Knowlton Rd. At another tee, turn left onto Shanks Downes Rd. Continue around a right bend where the road becomes Herner County Line Rd. Turn left onto Phalanx Mills Herner Rd. Turn right onto County Line Rd/County Line Turnpike Rd. Turn left onto Hoffman Norton Rd NW. Turn right onto G P Easterly Rd and continue onto Bristol Champion Townline Rd. Turn left onto the Western Reserve Greenway (heading north toward Ashtabula). Also see: Connecting to the Western Reserve Greenway and Cleveland Bypass for the Northern Tier Route
