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Interested in bike riding in the Metroparks?

Think you might like to try bicycling off-road? Then join us for an easy, no pressure introductory ride. These guided cycle treks wind down the gravel and dirt trails of some of the most beautiful areas in Lake Metroparks. Bring your bike or hybrid. Enjoy the scenery as we start off with a gentle ride around the park, and then explore some of the more wild terrain with the experienced riders. Each park features its own unique characteristics. Ride them all!

New! 2008 Bike Ride Schedule

Bike ride map guides:

• Flying Burrito Bike Ride
• French Toast Bike Ride
• Banana Split Bike Ride
  
  Biking opportunities within Lake Metroparks
  
  Difficulty Levels:
• Hogback Ridge North - Good for experienced riders; terrain ranges from medium to expert
• Girdled Road Reservation - Good for any rider. Terrain ranges from easy to expert on the mountain bike loop in the valley.

If the weather looks questionable, check the ride status by calling the Lake Metroparks Sports Hotline at 440-256-2255. Be sure to dress for the weather! ANSI/SNELL helmet required Terrain is good for all mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, BMX bikes, and families of all shapes and sizes.

Penitentiary Glen Reservation (Kirtland)
8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road. For more information, call 440-256-1404. Penitentiary Glen is known for the deep gorge that divides the park in two. Enjoy 8 miles of rolling to steep terrain surrounded by hemlock-lined trails, fields, and wetlands. Biking is permitted on all trails except the Gorge Rim Loop.

Chapin Forest Reservation (Kirtland) - Ledges shelter
Enter the park at the Route 306 entrance; follow the drive all the way to the end. For more information, call the Lake Metroparks Registration Department at 440-358-7275, or 1-800-669-9226. From the Ledges shelter, it is a quick climb up to the scenic overlook, where downtown Cleveland is visible 17 miles to the West. Trails range from wide open to narrow, and cover a variety of terrains- flat and smooth, crushed gravel to hilly and rough. There are over five miles of trail available.

Hogback Ridge (Madison Twp.)
Emerson Road in Madison, off of Doty Road. For more information, call the Lake Metroparks Registration Department at 440-358-7275, or 1-800-669-9226. There are two paths to try at Hogback Ridge, both of which lead you to scenic views of the river valley down below. The loop trail follows crushed gravel and boardwalks for your walking or hiking pleasure. Trails cover two miles of terrain.

Bike Trails within Lake Metroparks

Atchinson Property (Hogback Ridge North) (Madison Twp.)
Route 307 between Bates Road and County Line Rd. For more information, call Bill Plessinger at 440-585-2800. This wild park is designed especially for mountain bike riders. Most of the trails are narrow singletrack, and cover terrain suitable for the beginner and the more experienced rider. Trails cover over two miles of terrain.

Girdled Road Reservation (Concord Township)
South Entrance on Radcliffe Road off of Rt 608. For more information, call the Lake Metroparks Registration Department at 440-358-7275, or 1-800-669-9226. There is a lot of ground to cover in this park, which has over 600 acres of property. The south entrance has trails around the pond and the top of the ridge. You may also continue north and drop into the valley, which presents more trails and more opportunities. There is also a section of trail in the valley set up for mountain biking and horseback riding that is especially challenging. Riding from the south entrance only.

Greenway Corridor- (Painesville/Concord Township)
Park at the lot on the corner of Rt 84 and Liberty, across from George's Dinner Bell. For more information, call the Lake Metroparks Registration Department at 440-358-7275, or 1-800-669-9226. The new crown jewel of Lake Metroparks, the Greenway Corridor is an all-purpose asphalt trail which extends from Jackson Street in Painesville to Ravenna Road in Concord Township. Total trail length is 4.4 miles, and has both flat and rolling trail.