Hit the Nature Trails of Medina County
Attractions
- Allardale Park
- Plum Creek Park
- Lake Medina
- Oenslager Nature Center
- Chippewa Inlet Trail
- Buckeye Woods Park
- Chippewa Rail Trail
- Lester Rail Trail
Hiking Trails
Medina County has over 50 hiking trails for you to explore that range in length from a half mile to nearly four miles and in difficulty levels from easy to difficult. Be prepared, however, because some of the shortest trails are the most difficult. The half-mile magenta oval nature trail at Allardale Park, for example, is rated difficult, while a paved trail in the same park carries an easy rating.
Among the 25 parks with hiking trails to explore in Medina County, most trails are rated easy to moderate. Plum Creek Park features a primitive trail two miles long that carries a difficult rating, and three moderate trails ranging from half a mile to 1.5 miles. Lake Medina has three trails rated easy that extend from 0.28 to 1.08 miles in length, while the Oenslager Nature Center/Alderfer-Chatfield Wildlife Sanctuary features six trails rated easy to moderate that range from 0.38 to 1.5 miles.
Biking Trails
Biking trails are typically paved with asphalt and crushed limestone and usually extend farther than most hiking trails. Medina features some wonderful trails for new and veteran bike riders, with many open to Class 1 and 2 electric bikes (e-bikes). The Chippewa Inlet Trail runs for 2.8 miles. The trail passes through Buckeye Woods Park but will close through the summer of 2024 for a wetland restoration and trail reconstruction project.
The Chippewa Rail Trail takes a direct route through the countryside, without the ups and downs of many country trails. The paved 10-foot wide trail runs for 2.75 miles. Lake Medina has a paved Greenway Trail that runs for 1.4 miles along the West Branch of the Rocky River. Looking for a longer path? Try the Lester Rail Trail, a converted railroad bed that extends 3.5 miles from Abbeyville Road to Lester Road in York Township. Plum Creek Park has a 1.5-mile Greenway Trail ideal for biking and hiking.
