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North Coast Inland Trail
PETE GLADDEN
Pete’s World
Published: March 27, 2023
I’d say it’s about time to start doing a little recreational road trip planning. Because as the warm days of spring get closer and closer and cold days of winter drift further and further into the rear view mirror, you never know when we’ll stumble upon a stellar March weekend and then it’s go time.
So here’s a really easy, one-tank trip suggestion that you can put in your pocket for that magical March day.
What I have in mind is a quickie day trip to the North Coast Inland Trail, one of our state’s many fine rail trail systems.
This trail is located about an hour and a half away out in northwest Ohio, and the specific section that I’m recommending lies in Sandusky and Ottawa counties, between the cities of Bellevue and Elmore.
It’s a 28-mile stretch of paved trail that’s ideal for walking, jogging, bicycling and inline skating/skiing. And I’ll tell you what, it’s flat as a pancake, which is great if you have legs that haven’t seen a hint of hills since the winter months began.
The North Coast Inland rail trail, conceived in 1992, is actually the remnants of an old rail line that was built back in 1851-1853 by the Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland Railroad during a time when railroad construction was at its zenith. This particular line was created in order to provide a connection between Toledo and Cleveland, and ultimately connect with Chicago and Buffalo.
Now the NCIT is listed as a 65-mile trail, but of this, there are several multi-mile sections where the trail is shared space along roadways, and several multi-mile sections where the trail is still under construction or still in the planning stage.
This fact unfortunately shatters the notion that you can just go out and bike a nice long 65-mile traffic-free, point-to-point ride. That’s why I recommend the Bellevue to Elmore section because this is the longest stretch of the trail that contains the least amount of traffic contact.
Now as I said, you’re going to find this flat asphalt trail pretty sweet, because it’s devoid of potholes, gravel and hills. But be aware though that since you’re out in the middle of Ohio farm country with nothing but corn and soybean fields on all sides of you, there isn’t much tree cover to keep you out of the sun.
So if it’s a hot and cloudless day make sure to have your water bottles filled and your sunscreen on hand.
Now one of my favorite parts of this ride is the stretch through Clyde, which is pretty sweet because the trail cuts right through the center of this well kept little town without sending your onto roadways.
There you can stop for food and drink without drifting too far off the actual trail.
West of Clyde is some super relaxing terrain that consists exclusively of farmland.
The only stretch of shared roadway occurs in Fremont, where you have to ride with traffic for about two miles.
Actually, the spin through a couple of the town’s old neighborhoods is enjoyable, but there are a few roads once you’re outside of town––just before re-entering the trail––that can be quite busy.
The stretch between Fremont and Elmore is some of the flattest landscape you’ll come across in Ohio, with nothing but farm fields as far as the eye can see. There is a nice little section here where you’ll could have a bit of shade from the narrow bands of trees that hug the trail.
In Elmore, there's a cool little cafe called Kristy's Corner Cafe (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) on the main street just off the trail where you can grab a gourmet coffee, ice cream, or some amazing specialty sandwiches. There’s also a great trail-side bike shop called SpokeLife Cycles.
Okay, so to get to this NCIT section of trail take I-80/90 west to the Rt. 4 exit south of Sandusky. Go south on Rt. 4, then west on Rt. 20 through Bellevue to the junction with County Rd. 292 (Riddle Rd.). From there you simply take 292 south for about a quarter mile to a trailhead parking area.
If you want to do some shorter round-trip outings then you can use the trailhead parking areas further west in Clyde, Fremont and Lindsey, all of which can be reached off of Rt. 20 west.