North Coast Inland Trail

The North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT) is an all-purpose trail built over an abandoned Toledo, Norwalk, and Cleveland Railroad line connecting the rural fields of Western Lorain County to the bustling streets of Elyria and Lorain. The NCIT spans nearly 100 miles across northern Ohio, from Lorain to the Toledo area. The Lorain County Metro Parks’ portion is a completely paved path and runs from Lake Erie in Lorain to the county line in Wakeman. So grab your bike, in-line skates, or cross-country skis and check it out!

Notable Bike Trail Access Points in Lorain County (North East to South West):

MILE 0.0: Lakeside Landing, 401 Lakeside Ave., Lorain, OH 44052**

MILE 1.1: Century Park, 1955 East Erie Ave., Lorain, OH 44052

MILE 6.4: Black River Reservation (Day’s Dam Picnic Area), 2720 East 31st St., Lorain, OH 44055

MILE 9: Black River Reservation (Bur Oak Picnic Area), 6150 Ford Rd., Elyria, OH 44035

MILE 10: Black River Reservation (High Meadows Picnic Area), 1750 Ford Rd., Elyria, OH 44035

MILE 12.5: Cascade Park, 387 Furnace St., Elyria, OH 44035

MILE 14.3: Gateway Trailhead, 6302 Gateway Blvd., Elyria, OH 44035

MILE 19.7: Butternut Ridge Trailhead, 44342 Butternut Ridge Rd., Oberlin, OH 44074

MILE 22.5: Access to the NCIT is available near 265 South Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074**

MILE 27: Access to the NCIT is available near the Kipton Community Park, 57 Rosa St., Kipton, OH 44049**

**PLEASE NOTE: These locations are not owned by the Lorain County Metro Parks, thus visitors should park at their own risk.

Activities/Amenities

• Hiking/Biking Trail

• Bicycle Fix-It Stations

• Picnic Shelters (located at various rest stops. Available on a first come, first serve basis)

Trail Map

The North Coast Inland Trail encompasses nearly 100 miles from Lorain to Toledo. In Lorain County, the trail traverses through various city environments such as Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin, while also offering beautiful rural sections through a variety of countryside including farms, fields, and forests. This 12-foot-wide asphalt path can be picked up at several intersections throughout the adjacent communities. Parking lots maintained by the LCMP are available at Century Park (mile 1.1), Black River Reservation (miles 6.4, 9, & 10), Cascade Park (mile 12.5), Gateway Trailhead (mile 14.3), and Butternut Ridge Trailhead (mile 19.7).

Length: Nearly 100 miles, 29+ in Lorain County
Surface: Asphalt

Park Features & History

The North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT) is a 12-foot-wide, asphalt paved trail built over the abandoned Toledo, Norwalk, and Cleveland Railroad and spans nearly 100 miles across northern Ohio, from Lorain to the Toledo area with some sections still being built. In 1992, seven park districts agreed to develop a system connecting trails in northwest Ohio, each managed by local jurisdictions. The NCIT is the result. The Lorain County Metro Parks’ portion runs from Lake Erie in Lorain to the county line in Wakeman, passing through Elyria and Oberlin along the way.