Review

This bikeway connects the University of Toledo Campus with the 493-acre Wildwood Preserve Metropark in Lucas County, Ohio.

I began my visit by parking at the Wildwood Metro Park in Toledo, Ohio. The park lies near the half-way point of the trail and is easy to find along Central Avenue east of I-475.

The trail has a direct connection with Wildwood, but finding your way out of the park and onto the trail can be a little tricky. There's a paved loop trail inside the park as well as some hiking trails. I had to tool around a bit before I found my way out. Just remember that the 12' wide asphalt path is the one that takes you to the trail. The park trails are half as wide. Here's a map of the park trails to guide you.

Much of the bikeway is bordered by fencing, sometimes on both sides of the trail. The construction varies from wooden privacy fence and split rail to chain link. Some sections are overgrown with vegatation creating lush green walls. The reason for much of this fencing is that about half of this bikeway spans residential neighborhoods, so you're literally pedaling along the edge of residents' backyards.

Extensive trail fencing can sometimes give you a cordoned-off or an enclosed feel. But the 12'+ wide berth of the trail surface makes it easily bearable. The only spot I found a bit objectionable was the 8' high chain link section where an adjacent railroad track closely parallels the trail for a very short distance. It doesn't do any harm, it's just ugly.

The corridor cuts right through city neighborhoods. Some mature trees that shade the trail, along with well kept yards, make for inviting and unusual scenery along this rail-trail. (Rail-trails traditionally run through rural and industrial areas.)

There's a nice mix of shade and sun along the trail as well a curve or two to break things up a bit. Aside from the residential neighborhoods, the trail also passes a few small commercial sites and takes you onto the University of Toledo campus.

The campus section has light posts and a few emergency call boxes. The adjacent railroad track here is clearly visible and parallels the bikeway along the edge of the campus.

Both ends of the bikeway have connecting bike routes and there are several small spurs or connectors that link neighborhoods as well. The west end of the trail, at King Road, offers bike lanes along King and Sylvania Avenues that extend over to Franklin Park Mall. The east end, at the Toledo campus, has bike route signs that direct you to nearby Ottawa Park.

There are some safety and maintenance information signs along the trail, as well as a number of donated benches. I believe there are mile markers as well, but they were so unobtrusive that I only remember seeing one, which is fine. A few kiosks and water fountains are strategically placed making for a very good overall layout.

Striping on the trail surface gives it the appearance of a miniature road. The bikeway has two street overpasses as well as a traffic signal for trail users to cross busy Holland/Sylvania Road.

This well-traveled trail was constructed in 1995 and was one of northwest Ohio's early rail-trail projects.

Trail Specs:

King-Rd I-475 Wildwood-Metropark UT-Campus

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