HomeOhioTallmadge › Summit MetroParks Freedom Trail Middlebury Lot

Summit MetroParks Freedom Trail Middlebury Lot

4.7 ★★★★★ 149 Google reviews · Running trail in Tallmadge, Ohio · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Loop distance
150 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Summit MetroParks Freedom Trail Middlebury Lot's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Paved150 miLoopShadedScenicFlat & fastRestroomsTrailhead parking

Paved and unpaved trails, plus a lake, for hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities.

What runners say about Summit MetroParks Freedom Trail Middlebury Lot

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (149 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 5 mentions

“Overall Its very wide flat paved and at this point only a mild elevation (you probably feel) and its always very well kept!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“The new parking lot is fantastic & the wildflowers around it are beautiful.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Really really nice paved and mostly shaded hike and bike trail.”

Really really nice paved and mostly shaded hike and bike trail. The trail is built on former railroad tracks. So it is a rather for trail. Perfect for biking, jogging, roller blading or for little kids learning to ride their bikes. There is no water at the parking lot, so be sure and bring water with you.

★★★★★ — Michael , Jun 2019

Very nice paved Bike/Hike trail. Well kept and very well used. We passed a good number of people on our walk. The scenery was very nice. Definitely a great alternative when natural trails are muddy from weather.

★★★★★ — S , Apr 2025

I've been using this trail for years. It is relatively flat and approximately 2-miles out to Howe Road. So a good 4 mile out and back loop if you're not looking to cross the road (Howe). It's paved and well maintained.

★★★★★ — Rachel , May 2023

Absolutely Love this trail. I start at Middlebury and head towards downtown. Overall Its very wide flat paved and at this point only a mild elevation (you probably feel) and its always very well kept!! Great place for a walk for beginners or handicapped. I love it so much walk this Year Round ( yes-February!

★★★★★ — Doug , Mar 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 149 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🛣️ Paved surface 8 mentions

“Overall Its very wide flat paved and at this point only a mild elevation (you probably feel) and its always very well kept!”

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🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“The new parking lot is fantastic & the wildflowers around it are beautiful.”

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Flat & fast 6 mentions

“Overall Its very wide flat paved and at this point only a mild elevation (you probably feel) and its always very well kept!”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 6 mentions

“In the last couple of years they have added a significant amount of additional parking (a whole other lot off of Middlebury).”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Really really nice paved and mostly shaded hike and bike trail.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“You can also catch the Portage trail into Kent, very scenic along the river.”

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🔁 Loop trail

“So a good 4 mile out and back loop if you're not looking to cross the road (Howe).”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)

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Plan your run at Summit MetroParks Freedom Trail Middlebury Lot

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • Loop distance150 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitesummitmetroparks.org
  • Phone+1 330-867-5511
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–9 pm
Saturday 6 am–9 pm
Sunday 6 am–9 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Summit MetroParks Freedom Trail Middlebury Lot

Tallmadge, Ohio

Get directions

Running trails near Tallmadge

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Portage county Bike and hike trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Kent, OH

under a mile away

Fred Fuller Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 70 reviews

Kent, OH

PavedShadedLitScenic

Public park with a playground, picnic pavilions, and trails, plus a river.

1.5 miles away

Franklin Mills Riveredge Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 576 reviews

Kent, OH

Scenic

Riverfront recreation area with historic signage as well as waterfalls and biking trails.

2.0 miles away

Cooperrider-Kent Bog State Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 272 reviews

Kent, OH

BoardwalkScenic

Popular destination for nature walks along a boardwalk with benches & informative signs.

2.1 miles away

Tallmadge Meadows Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 229 reviews

Tallmadge, OH

2 miLoopMixedScenic

Park with a meadow and woods, plus picnic facilities, grills, a public restroom, and walking paths.

2.2 miles away

Brady's Leap Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 13 reviews

Kent, OH

2.2 miles away

All running trails in Tallmadge, OH →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.