Parking
Start at Dunham Trailhead (Olander Lot) on Dunham Road. The official map marks the singletrack entrance from this access, and the circuit returns to the same lot.
Overview
About Bedford Singletrack Loop
Why go
- A full circuit links flowing wooded singletrack with rougher, rooty sections.
- The loop returns to its starting access without a long out-and-back.
Heads up
- At 11.5 miles, it is a substantial outing.
- Frequent connectors and one-way sections make route finding harder without a map.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Cuyahoga Valley map
Full mapElevation825–964 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Cuyahoga Valley alerts
- ClosureTowpath Trail improvement closureThe Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail from Boston Trailhead to Lock 29 in Peninsula is closed for improvements during the August 24–November 20, 2026 closure period.Official details
- CautionCuyahoga River paddling closure and hazardsPaddlers must portage the current river-wide closure near river mile 17 and avoid serious river hazards. - The closure is due to bridge demolition and construction.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Cuyahoga Valley Tour Guide
Your drive to Bedford Singletrack Loop, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Sagamore Creek Loop0:00 / 0:27
“You're approaching the Alexander Road access for Sagamore Creek Loop, a rugged walk into a wooded gorge.”
Plays on the road 0.3 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Cuyahoga Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Why Ohio Has a Western Reserve
- Bridal Veil Falls
- Tinker's Creek Gorge Overlook
- Astorhurst Disc Golf Course
- 97 audio storiesacross Cuyahoga Valley’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, River Otter, Coyote, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 63 trails, 88 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Bedford Singletrack Loop
What this loop isBedford Singletrack is an 11.5-mile one-way circuit through the woods of Bedford Reservation.
Bedford Singletrack is an 11.5-mile one-way circuit through the woods of Bedford Reservation. It links ten singletrack sections with paved All Purpose Trail connectors, then returns to the Dunham Trailhead. It suits a long walk or ride; this is a network loop, not a short stroll to one landmark.
Plan for a long outingAllow about five to six hours on foot.
Allow about five to six hours on foot. The circuit has a mix of smooth, rolling tread and rougher stretches with roots and rocks, plus frequent transitions between singletrack and paved path. It is manageable for a fit hiker, but the distance and route finding make it a moderate day out.
Follow the marked directionThe singletrack is one way.
The singletrack is one way. Follow the posted signs and white blazes, and keep a current trail map handy as the route passes through several named sections and uses All Purpose Trail to connect them. The mapped loop starts and finishes at Dunham Trailhead. Natural-surface trails may close when wet, so check the park's trail status before setting out.
Shared trail etiquetteHiking and mountain biking are allowed.
Hiking and mountain biking are allowed. Some sections meet or share bridle trails; give horses room and yield to riders. Leashed pets are allowed in Cleveland Metroparks, with a leash no longer than eight feet.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Cuyahoga Valley
319 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
103 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
248 sightingsBeaverMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
492 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
99 sightingsTrumpeter SwanMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Cuyahoga Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
