Elmore, Ohio 43416
North Coast Inland Trail Official WebsiteThe North Coast Inland Trail is a wide paved multi-use trail that passes through Elmore in a nearly straight-line northwest to southeast diagonal. The trail passes over Portage River on the northwest side of Elmore, providing opportunities to view herons, egrets, and kingfishers.
To the northwest of the river, the trail goes towards Genoa on a new 3.8 mile extension that opened in April 2021. This section generally passes through farmland with a row of trees and brush on either side, making good habitat for field birds like killdeer and edge birds like indigo buntings, orioles, catbirds, and song sparrows. The trail also crosses a few streams and eventually Toussaint Creek about 2.5 miles west of the bridge. Toussaint Creek is a particularly nice area, but is pushing the ideal limit for an eBird checklist distance.
To the southeast of Elmore, the trail passes some woods and a golf course, including a few ponds and Sugar Creek, 1 mile from Portage River. Past the creek, the field on the south side of the trail may have some damp spots that attract shorebirds, at least killdeer in the summer. At 1.4 miles from Portage River, you come to Schultz-Portage Road, which would be a good place to stop your eBird checklist, since you are approaching the county line. The county line is 1.8 miles from Portage River, just before the Wolf Creek crossing.
The OH-51 bridge over the Portage River is .2 miles downstream from the trail bridge, close enough that you may want to also check the view from there, and from the small park by the bridge. This new bridge was completed in 2020 and includes wide pedestrian lanes on both sides of the bridge, with four protruding overlooks of the river.
There is ample parking next to the trail on both sides of Rice Street. A restroom is available in the small park adjacent to the trail southeast of Rice Street. Various food, coffee and ice cream options are available in the block near the parking, and a bike shop is just off the trail to the southeast.
In Elmore, the North Coast Inland Trail is complete from the northwest side of Elmore southeast to the Sandusky County line near Schultz-Portage Road.
Birders should start a new checklist at Schultz-Portage Road when crossing into Sandusky County.
See all hotspots at North Coast Inland Trail
This 28-mile inactive rail line was converted to a paved hike and bike path with Ohio Department of Transportation funding. The path is open year-round for walking, jogging, bicycling, in-line skates, and strollers; no motorized vehicles are permitted (except handicap assistance vehicles).
Restrooms on site
Wheelchair accessible trail
Content from North Coast Inland Trail (Sandusky County Parks) webpage and Ken Clark