Commentary: Wabash Cannonball Trail
Overview:
This is one of my favorite rail-trails to cycle in Ohio.
This trail travels through parts of the old Black Swamp Forest which surrounds the Oak Openings Preserve which has sandy soil and Oak trees. The flora is quite varied here and deer and rabbits, both often seen from the paved trail, are prevalent in the area. Bonus: The people utilizing this trail are the friendliest I have come across on any trail!
The Toledo Metro-parks is responsible for trail maintenance and they do a terrific job. The Oak Openings Preserve is a 3700-acre park of woodlands, savannas, remnant prairies and floodplain forest. In addition to bicycling this trail, the Preserve also has an extensive system of trails for biking, horseback riding, and hiking.
Trail Conditions:
This trail is generally clean, the berms are mowed and tended, no litter, and only minimal tree/plant debris on the trail.
The Asphalt is in very good condition in most places, with a few spots having tar-patched cracks, but nothing to be concerned about. Very good for the cycling, rollerblades, strollers, and walkers.
Distances:
The North Fork is paved for 9 miles, and the South Fork is paved for 10 miles, so if you did an out and back it totals 38 miles. There is also the option of looping the North and South Fork. The current Western Terminus for both trails is on Fulton-Lucas Road which actually is shown on their map. It is a low traffic road which you can use to connect the North and South Forks. When I bicycled this, there were several cyclists doing just that. The distance between the two forks on this road is about 5 miles. When cycling the loop this last time the total distance on my odometer was 25 miles.
Parking access:
North Fork
Fallen Timbers Monument:
Plenty of parking here with access to the trail over a bridge crossing Rt. 24 and using Jerome Road to ride about 1 mile north to the trail.
Monclovia School:
At the intersection of Black Road and Waterville-Monclovia Road.
Oak Opening Preserve 2 Locations:
The main preserve parking area on Reed Road between Girdham Rd and Wilkins Rd., and at Springbrook Lake Area on Waterville-Swanton Road (Rt. 64) just south of Monclovia Rd.
South Fork
Whitehouse Park has several multi-vehicle spots in which to park adjacent to the trail.
See the map for additional details.
Restrooms and Water stops:
North Fork
There are nice restrooms w/water at the Springbrook Lake parking area on Waterville-Swanton road.
South Fork
New Restrooms have been installed at the Whitehouse Park and water is available here also.
Traffic:
Traffic on most of the cross-roads is light, though Rt. 64 is busier than the county roads, as can be expected. As always, take caution and double check yourself when crossing any road.
Highlights:
Most of the trail is nicely rural, traveling through woodlands, grasslands, and farms. Deer and rabbits and groundhogs can be seen on and off the paved trail, and there is a nice diversity of flora and fauna in the area. Overall, this is a clean, well-maintained trail which is very enjoyable to ride.
Concerns:
No major concerns, just a few wishes: It would be helpful to have a few more rest benches scattered along the trail for folks who need to take more frequent rests, or to just stop and enjoy the views.
Sometimes horses cross the trail near the Oak Openings preserve which has many multi-use trails, so be aware of that possibility.
Another restroom/water stop near the eastern end of the North and South Forks would be helpful.
Summary:
Even though I have about a 2-1/2 hour travel time to this trail, it is well worth it. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an excellent rail-trail.
Good cycling
-Mark
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