Biking

Challenge yourself with a variety of terrain including paved, gravel and dirt trails.

Bicycles are permitted on park trails unless otherwise posted as prohibited.

No person shall operate a bicycle or motorized bicycle within the park without due regard for the safety and rights of pedestrians and drivers and occupants of all other vehicles, and so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person while in the lawful use of the roads or bicycle paths, without exercising reasonable and ordinary control over such bicycle and at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. Click here for the complete list of rules and regulations pertaining to motorcycles, motorized bicycles and bicycles.

Lake Metroparks Bike Trails

Limited biking is available at the following parks:

Beaty Landing (Painesville)
This wooded parcel encompasses 3,300 feet of frontage on the Grand River. Visitors can enjoy low-impact recreational activities such as picnicking, hiking and fishing at this park. A new entrance drive and larger parking lot is now open, providing additional access to the Grand River.

Chagrin River Park (Willoughby/Eastlake)
Most of the park’s natural areas are made up of dense shrubs with pockets of mature forest bordering wetland areas. Look for great blue herons, kingfishers, bank swallows and sandpipers near the river. Two wetland areas support frogs, salamanders and a variety of songbirds. Park land on the east and west bank of the Chagrin River are linked by a pedestrian bridge. Access is provided to more than 2.83 miles of trails.

Chapin Forest Reservation (Route 306 and Hobart Road entrances, Kirtland)
This park is known for its distinctive rock formations and majestic forests. Trails range from wide open to narrow, and cover a variety of terrains–flat and smooth, crushed gravel to hilly and rough. There are more than five miles of trail available.

Concord Woods Nature Park (Concord Township)
Enjoy a short excursion into nature at the neighborhood park. Fishing is permitted in the stocked pond. No license is required.

Jordan Creek Park (Concord Township)
Beautiful views of ravines, creeks and an expansive wooded area await you on your journey through this park. Enjoy a variety of trail surfaces including natural surfaces and well-manicured trails.

Girdled Road Reservation (North, South and Skok Meadow entrances, Concord Township)
Experience the beauty of dense forests, fields and wetlands in this beautiful park. There is a lot of ground to cover in this park, which has more than 600 acres of property. The south entrance has trails around the pond and the top of the ridge. You may also enter from the north and drop into the valley, which presents more trails and more opportunities. Another 1.17-mile loop trail is found at Skok Meadow, located on the western end of Girdled Road Reservation (Rt. 608).

Greenway Corridor (Painesville/Concord Township)
The Greenway Corridor is a 4.8-mile paved trail that links the municipalities of Painesville, Painesville Township and Concord Township allowing visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of these communities in a safe environment. Travelers will cross two bridges and experience varied levels of terrain ranging from a 660 ft. elevation in Painesville to an elevation of 895 ft. in Concord Township. The southern end of the trail connects the Greenway Corridor with The Maple Highlands Trail to Chardon. There are five locations to access the corridor along the trail including the Environmental Learning Center in Concord Township.

Gully Brook Park (Willoughby Hills)
For nearly 100 years, nature enthusiasts of all ages have sought inspiration and knowledge in this valley. Gully Brook Park protects a valley, stream, wetland and forest. Visitors can enjoy more than a mile of improved trails and the chance to reconnect with nature.

Hell Hollow Wilderness Area (Thompson)
This park offers impressive views of the 360-million-year-old Chagrin Shale cliff above a deep river valley.

Hidden Lake (Leroy Township)
Hidden Lake features nearly a mile loop trail, a nine-acre pond and a pier extending into the pond for fishing and wildlife observation.

Hidden Valley Park (North entrance, Madison Township)
This park offers excellent access to the Grand River below a spectacular exposed Chagrin Shale cliff. Views of the scenic river are visible from a flat riverside trail.

Hogback Ridge Park (North entrance, Madison Township)
This wild park is designed especially for mountain bike riders. Designated trails are narrow singletrack and cover terrain suitable for the beginner and the more experienced rider. Trails cover more than two miles of terrain. Terrain ranges from easy to expert on the mountain bike loop in the valley.

Hogback Ridge Park (Madison Township)
Emerson Road in Madison, off of Doty Road. There are two paths to try at Hogback Ridge, both of which lead you to scenic views of the river valley below. The loop trail follows crushed gravel and boardwalks for your walking or hiking pleasure. Trails cover two miles of terrain.

Indian Point Park (Leroy Township)
Discover Paine Creek, enjoy spectacular views of the Grand River valley and more at this diverse park.

Lake Erie Bluffs (Perry Township)
This park features the natural wonder of Lake Erie in Lake County’s front yard.

Lakeshore Reservation (North Perry Village)
This park features a naturally stable beach with a mature stand of trees along Lake Erie.

Penitentiary Glen Reservation (Kirtland)
Explore an awesome display of nature featuring forest, fields, wetlands and more than 8.5 miles of trail. Biking is permitted on all trails except the Gorge Rim Loop and Halle Home Loop.

Pete’s Pond Preserve (Wickliffe)
An improved trail provides exercise and exploration in a 70-acre oasis for suburban wildlife.

Riverview Park (Madison Township)
This park is situated along the Wild and Scenic Grand River. A 0.5-mile gravel trail follows the ridge above the river through a mixed forest of hardwood and hemlock trees.

Veterans Park (Mentor)
The park offers four accessible fishing piers, a 1.78-mile loop trail through native wetlands with 830 feet of boardwalk and a wetland/wildlife viewing area.

MapMyRide.com is a community website for cyclists who want to stay healthy, lose weight or train more effectively. MapMyRide.com provides easy-to-use, comprehensive web-based cycling tools and cycling maps to measure distance and count calories from cycling. With cycling forums, cycling goals, training logs and tips from experts and coaches, MapMyRide.com is the site where the cyclists are.

Bicycle Trail Safety & Etiquette

To stay safe and make the experience more enjoyable for everyone, here are a few guidelines for sharing trails with hikers, joggers, dog walkers and fellow cyclists:

• Travel at a safe speed. Multi-use trails are not for speed and time trials.
• Bicyclists yield to ALL users.
• Don’t risk a head injury–wear a helmet when cycling.
• Always ride/walk on the right.
• Pass on the left with caution. Many people wear headphones when walking and jogging and therefore may not hear you approaching.
• Give an audible warning before passing. Many riders ring a bell then call out “on your left” and the number of riders passing.
• Ride single file.
• Don’t block the trail. When you need to stop, step off the trail.
• If biking on a shared-use trail for horses, EVERYONE yields to horses. Slow down before passing and make sure the rider knows in advance that you are passing. Horses can be startled by sudden movements, so use caution.