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Published: June 14th 2010
Slippery Elm Trail, Bowling Green Ohio
Basics: Last time biked: September 2012
Number of times biked: 6 times
Length: 21 kilometres (13 miles)
Surface: Asphalt
Width: 3 metres
Trail head: Bowling Green, Ohio
Parking: Lots (see below)
Signage: Yes Lots
Bathrooms: at parking areas
Water: at parking areas
Benches: Yes, lots
We discovered this “rails to trails” path by accident. We stopped to camp near Bowling Green, Ohio on our last night of a month long trip and just happened to go by this trail. We consider it one of the
top trails of all the trails that we have biked. It has a good combination of wide open fields and heavily forested areas. Water, bathrooms, garbage pails, benches, signs, mileage markers and parking are all widely available.
The Slippery Elm Trail is almost 21 km (13 miles) and is asphalt, paved and very smooth. The trail runs parallel to state road 25 but is not visible from the trail. Interstate 75 is 1-2 km east but also not visible. In fact about the only thing that is visible most of the time are corn or wheat fields with Huckleberry trees and many, many
wildflowers along the trail (at least in early June)
On the trail you might encounter, joggers, bikers, inline skaters and wheel chairs. Horseback riding is allowed along the shoulder. Simple benches and garbage barrels are provided along the way.
The
Slippery Elm Trail gets its name from the slippery elm trees that were used as rails in the 1870s.
The trail runs from Bowling Green Ohio (Sand Ridge Road and Maple Street) to North Baltimore (East Broadway and Beecher Street.
Heding south the first road crossing is Gypsey Lane Road. You can ride east (left) on the sidewalk for about 300 metres to walmart, Wendys, Pizza Hut etc etc. Parking might be easier here.
Around Mile 3 is the Portage Road staging area with parking, water, benches and porta potty.
Around Mile 6 is the village of Rudolph with a covered area, water and porta potty.
The southern Terminus at North Baltimore has ample parking, very clean washrooms with running water and picnic tables.
Go west (right) for about 100 yards to Main Street
for food, library, banking etc;
There are a number of county roads that also have some parking.
If you are camping, we would recommend (
Fire Lake Camper Park, 13630 West Kramer Road. 1-888-879-2267 The campground is very clean, on a small lake and has Wifi available. Kramer Road is about a mile from the Bowling Green terminus.
For more information on the Slippery Elm Trail:
email@wcparks.org and www.wcparks.org
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