Slippery Elm Trail
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
| name = Slippery Elm Trail
| embed =
| cellstyle =
| photo =File:Black Swamp Preserve Slippery Elm Trailhead.jpg
| photo_size =
| photo_alt =
| caption =
| title = Rails to Trails
| length = 13 miles{{cite web|publisher=Google Maps|title=Slippery Elm Trail, Ohio|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Slippery+Elm+Trail,+Ohio|access-date=8 April 2016}}{{cite web|publisher=Trail Link|title=Slippery Elm Trail|url=http://www.traillink.com/trail/slippery-elm-trail.aspx|access-date=8 April 2016}}{{cite web|publisher=Ohio Bikeways|title=Slippery Elm Trail|url=http://www.ohiobikeways.net/slippery.htm|access-date=8 April 2016}}
| location = Bowling Green, Wood County, Ohio
| designation =
| trailheads = {{Parking symbol|bg=blue|size=15}} Bowling Green, Portage, Rudolph, North Baltimore
| use = hiking, bicycling and in-line skating
| elev_gain_and_loss =
| elev_change =
| highest =
| lowest =
| grade = flat railroad grades
| difficulty = 20px Wheelchair accessible
| season =
| months = 12
| waymark =
| sights = Rudolph Savanna, Cricket Frog Cove, Black Swamp Preserve
| hazards =
| ROW = Baltimore & Ohio
| website = [https://www.wcparks.org/parks/slippery-elm-trail/ Wood County Park District: Slippery Elm Trail]
}}
The Slippery Elm Trail is a rail to trail conversion in Wood County, Ohio that runs 13 miles from Bowling Green, through Portage and Rudolph, to North Baltimore, Ohio.
History
File:1898_ohio_railroad_map_excerpt.gif
{{GeoGroup}}
The Bowling Green Railroad Company was founded in 1874. It functioned as a spur line to link Bowling Green to the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railway (C.H. & D.) that ran northwest of Bowling Green, through Tontogany, Ohio. In 1887, the CH&D railroad purchased enough stock to control the Bowling Green line. In 1890, the Bowling Green Railroad Company absorbed the portion of railroad that makes today's trail, which was then called the Toledo, Findlay and Springfield Railroad. The line was later purchased by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1917, and operated as B&O until 1978.
{{cite book |last=Camp |first=Mark |date=2005 |title=Railroads Depots of Northwest Ohio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uqSGiF_r64sC&dq=Toledo,+Findlay+and+Springfield+Railroad&pg=PA9|publisher=Arcadia Publishing |page=9|access-date=8 April 2016|isbn=9780738534015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.abandonedrails.com/Tontogany_to_North_Baltimore|title=Tontogany to North Baltimore|publisher=AbandonedRails.com|access-date=8 April 2016}}{{cite book |last=Ohio Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs|date=1906 |title=Annual Report of the Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs |publisher=L.D. Meyers & bro.|page=64}}
The Wood County Parks District opened the rail trail in 1995.
Location
The trail is maintained by the Wood County Parks District, and the routing is per the following table:
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan=2 | Crossing | |
| (mi) | (km) |
|---|---|
| Montessori School, Bowling Green, Ohio
| {{convert|0|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | {{Parking symbol|bg=blue|size=15}} Parking, non-school hours only. Northern terminus | {{coord|41.366670 | |
| 83.656851|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, northern terminus, Montessori school|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} | |
| Black Swamp Preserve
| {{convert|0.5|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | {{Toilet icon|15px}} {{Parking symbol|bg=blue|size=15}} Bathrooms and parking off S. Maple St., via Gypsy Lane. Bike repair station.{{cite web |title=[Wood County Park District] Slippery Elm Trail |url=http://www.wcparks.org/parks/slippery-elm-trail/ |website=www.wcparks.org |access-date=30 May 2019}} | {{coord|41.360554 | |
| 83.660222|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, Black Swamp Preserve|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} | |
| {{jct|state=OH|US|6|dab1=Bowling Green}}
| {{convert|1.3|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | Underpass | {{coord|41.349176 | |
| 83.659976|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, US Route 6 underpass|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} | |
| Portage, Ohio
| {{convert|2.8|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | {{Toilet icon|15px}} {{Parking symbol|bg=blue|size=15}} Bathrooms and parking. Bike repair station. | {{coord|41.326725 | |
| 83.660012|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, Portage, Ohio|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} | |
| Rudolph, Ohio
| {{convert|4.9|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | {{Toilet icon|15px}} {{Parking symbol|bg=blue|size=15}} Bathrooms and parking.{{cite web|title=Slippery Elm Trail to get stop-off site|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/frontpage/2006/09/12/Slippery-Elm-Trail-to-get-stop-off-site.html|date=12 October 2006|publisher= Toledo Blade|access-date=8 April 2016}} Rudolph Savanna, with sand dunes, and native savanna meadow of tall prairie grasses, under mature trees.{{cite web|url=http://nbc24.com/news/local/slippery-elm-trail-offers-13-miles-of-natural-beauty?id=522508|publisher=NBC 24|title=Slippery Elm Trail offers 13 miles of natural beauty|access-date=8 April 2016|date=2010-10-07}}[http://www.woodcountyparkdistrict.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=112 Wood County Park District: Rudolph Savanna] | {{coord|41.298445 | |
| 83.669709|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, Rudolph, Ohio|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} | |
| {{jct|state=OH|SR|281|name1=Defiance Trail}}
| {{convert|6|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | | {{coord|41.283172 | |
| 83.672131|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, State Route 281|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} | |
| Cygnet Road
| {{convert|8.9|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | Cygnet, Ohio is 1 mile east. Between Cygnet Rd. and Freyman Rd, path follows winding creek instead of old railroad bed. | {{coord|41.240939 | |
| 83.674133|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, Cygnet Road|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} | |
| Freyman Road
| {{convert|9.5|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | Cricket Frog Cove,[http://www.woodcountyparkdistrict.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=70 Wood County Park District: Cricket Frog Cove] half mile west of trail, bathroom and parking. {{Toilet icon|15px}} {{Parking symbol|bg=blue|size=15}} | {{coord|41.233657 | |
| 83.673110|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, Cricket Frog Cove|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} | |
| North Baltimore, Ohio
| {{convert|12.8|mi|km|disp=table|sortable=on}} | {{Toilet icon|15px}} {{Parking symbol|bg=blue|size=15}} Bathroom and parking at southern terminus.{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/frontpage/2001/02/12/North-Baltimore-seeks-to-balance-past-with-future.html|publisher=Toledo Blade|title=North Baltimore seeks to balance past with future|date=12 February 2001|access-date=8 April 2016}} | {{coord|41.183399 | |
| 83.674929|format=dms|display=inline|name=Slippery Elm Trail, North Baltimore, sorthern terminus|type:landmark_region:US-OH}} |
External links
- [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Slippery+Elm+Trail,+Ohio Google Maps: Slippery Elm Trail, Ohio]
- [http://www.traillink.com/trail/slippery-elm-trail.aspx TrailLink: Slippery Elm Trail]
- [http://www.ohiobikeways.net/slippery.htm Ohio Bikeways: Slippery Elm Trail]
- [https://www.wcparks.org/parks/slippery-elm-trail/ Wood County Park District: Slippery Elm Trail]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Ohio hiking trails}}
{{Toledo}}
Category:Protected areas of Wood County, Ohio
Category:Tourist attractions in Wood County, Ohio
Category:Rail trails in the United States
Category:Transportation in Wood County, Ohio
{{Ohio-transport-stub}}