The Trumbull County Tourism Bureau sent an email June 1 with a message that was music to my ears, stating “Good-weather Ohio days don’t last forever, so here’s an easy plan: come to Trumbull County, pick a trail, and let the day unfold.”

The Tourism Bureau was offering a trail guide that “includes wooded hikes at Mosquito Lake, paved paths with river views and flat bike routes that are great for families and casual riders.”

On June 1, with summer just getting started, nothing could have captured my imagination more. I have lived in Trumbull County since 1971 and live a short distance from the southern end of Mosquito Lake and the many natural attractions there.

But life is busy, and until June 1 comes, outdoor adventures have to take a back seat. That’s one reason lots of people take early-June vacations apparently — to shake off winter and embrace an adventure.

If the outdoors have been calling you, the tourism bureau suggests some of these ideas: “Drift along serene waterways, conquer the perfect putt or pedal scenic trails.”

Trumbull County is home to the Mahoning River Water Trail — nearly 23 miles of the east branch of the Mahoning River with access to the river at six parks open to the public in locations such as Newton Falls and Warren, including kayak rentals at Canoe City MetroPark, 75 N. Leavitt Road in Warren.

Lots of other ideas are on the Truly Trumbull website at https://trulytrumbull.com/find/things-to-do/outdoors/.

But the tourism bureau email and the promise of a nice walk or hike on a trail was focused on the many and growing opportunities for foot or bike adventures as shown and described on this page of the tourism bureau website: https://trulytrumbull.com/we-love-trumbull/hike-bike-or-stroll-through-trumbull-county/

Former Tribune Chronicle writer Allie Vugrincic suggested in the Tourism Bureau Trail Guide that people try out several of the following Trumbull County gems:

Turkey Run Trail, Mosquito Lake, Cortland

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources maintains over five miles of woodland trails along the east side of Mosquito Lake. The 2.6-mile Turkey Run Trail stretches from the parking lot at West Main Street McCleary Jacoby Road near Hillside Cemetery, north to another parking lot off state Route 46.

Turkey Run is a mostly flat dirt trail that weaves through the woods but, at times, runs right along scenic Mosquito Lake. From it, you can reach three other loop trails: the 0.6-mile Bloodroot Trail, the 0.4-mile Burr Oak Trail and the 1.4-mile Deer Meadow Trail.

Turkey and its accompanying trails are safe for biking and snowmobiling, weather permitting. Plus, the trails connect with Cortland’s Eastland MetroPark, home to one really big hill that’s used for sledding in the winter.

Lakeview Nature Trail, Mosquito Lake, Bazetta

This short, flat loop trail at the Lakeview Recreation Area, off state Route 305 near Wilson Sharpsville Road, is a favorite spot for birdwatchers. You can enjoy an easy stroll through the woods with views of the lake while you look for owls, eagles, finches, and warblers.

At the back of the trail, there is a small dock area that’s great for fishing or keeping an eye on those feathered friends.

Squirrel Run,

Mosquito Lake, Bazetta

Squirrel Run Trail is actually a disc golf course, but it’s a great place to catch all the sights of Mosquito Lake at an easy pace — as long as you watch out for flying discs. You’ll see the beach, the dog park, plenty of picnic spots, and, of course, the lake and the woods on this short, easy trail, which is also maintained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Beaver Trail, Mosquito Lake, Bazetta

You’ll find this 0.6-mile, rugged woodland trail located inside the Mosquito Lake State Park campgrounds. Like the other lake trails, it’s maintained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. You can also mountain bike on these wide dirt paths or dip your toes when you come alongside the lake.

Horse Trail,

Mosquito Lake, Bazetta

Horse Trail, as its name suggests, is used for horseback riding as well as for hiking and snowmobiling. This wide, mostly flat dirt trail winds 8.4 miles through the woods on the west side of Mosquito Lake. On a quiet day, you might catch some wildlife scurrying about. You might also find a lost horseshoe, some antique bottles, or a field of wildflowers by the lake — but only if you’re really looking.

Clarence Darrow Metropark, Champion

This is another disc golf course, but it’s worth the trip even if you aren’t a player. You can follow the Youngs Run Disc Golf Course or just wander through the grassy fields, past the shrubs and into the woods. There’s even a meandering creek with picturesque views along this dirt and grass trail, located off Educational Highway in Champion. You may have to go up or down a few small hills here.

Howland Wildlife Preserve and Boardwalk Trail, Howland

Located by the baseball field in Howland Park, this short out-and-back boardwalk trail takes you deep into Howland’s wetlands. It’s a great place to take in nature without getting your feet wet. If you’re lucky, you’ll see birds, fish and maybe even an otter.

Story trails, Cortland, Warren, Niles

Trumbull County has three story trails that bring children’s tales to life. Discover where nature meets exploration as you travel these short, easy trails — reading panel by panel. Storybook trails let families walk their way through some of Ohio’s most picturesque trails while learning about different aspects of nature from authors who were inspired by it.

Mosquito Lake State Park Storybook Trail

Located at 3372 Warren Meadville Road in Cortland, this trail takes you on a trip through the thick woods across from the Imagination Station Playground.

Perkins Park

StoryWalk Trail, Warren’s Perkins Park

Located at 689 Perkins Drive NW, this trail runs near a playground and the Warren Community Amphitheatre, offering views of the scenic Mahoning River.

Stevens Park StoryWalk

Located at North Crandon Avenue and Hughes Street, this trail takes you out of the park and into the woods for a short, safe adventure.

Riverwalk, Warren

This paved, out-and-back trail begins near the Trumbull County Veterans Memorial on Mahoning Avenue in downtown Warren and takes you along the scenic Mahoning River. You pass through vibrant Perkins Park, home to the Warren Community Amphitheatre, before heading under the Summit Street Bridge, where you can see Warren’s own “Sleeping Giant” — a mural located on the other side of the river.

Western Reserve Greenway Bike Trail

This paved bicycle and walking trail runs more than 16 miles across Trumbull County, from Warren heading north to Bloomfield, and then it keeps going into Ashtabula County, almost all the way to Lake Erie. This flat, easy trail is great for families and leashed pets, as well as runners and cyclists. The trail is also open to equestrians and cross-country skiers.

There are three trailheads with ample parking and easy access:

• Sunside Trailhead, on state Route 305, Champion Township.

• Oakfield Station, about a mile east of state Route 45 along Hyde Oakfield Road, Bristol Township.

• Lockwood Trailhead, state Route 87, Bloomfield Township.

This often-secluded trail takes you past farms, fields, forests and wetlands.

Warren Bikeway

Connecting to the Western Reserve Greenway Trail, the Warren Bikeway runs from a trailhead on North River Road south to Burton Street SE. This is another paved, mostly flat trail that takes you right through Warren. Some sections run on the road through neighborhoods, so be sure to watch for cars in those areas. Walkers, runners, scooters, skaters, bicycles and leashed pets are all welcome.

Niles Greenway

Bike Path

The four-mile Niles Greenway Bike Path begins at Church Street near downtown Niles, where there is a parking lot, pavilion and benches. This paved, mostly flat path heads south out of the city, through Weathersfield Township, and ends at the county line, where the Mill Creek MetroParks Bikeway begins.

This multiuse trail takes you from city to countryside, with a bit of everything in between. Currently, it does not connect to the Warren Bikeway. But the Trumbull County MetroParks has begun work to make that connection.

Howland Township Park Loop

The paved, 1-mile walking loop around Howland Park is a great place to get in some laps without going too far. This flat, easy trail circles the park. You’ll pass sports fields, playgrounds and scenic spots as you go.

TOURISM PERSPECTIVE

Trumbull Tourism marketing manager Samantha Ensminger said the organization first included a Trumbull trail guide on its website about 13 months ago but updated it for this year.

She said all of the trails on the list are open to the public, including historic cemeteries and other locations that are not typical hiking locations but still “outdoor-based.”

When the hiking guide appeared on the website a year ago, the storybook trails section became popular enough that Trumbull Tourism created a separate document just on storybook trails and created a separate flyer on those kinds of trails, she said.

The three “official storybook trails” in Trumbull County are “short, easy, usually paved trails that are easily accessible and then have a children’s story going along the trail,” Ensigmer said. “They are mostly popular with younger families with children.”

The storybook trails at Mosquito Lake and Perkins Park rotate out the stories in their storybook park, so that they stay new, she said. “Mosquito Lake just updated theirs to a story about owls that is really sweet.”

As for hikes popular with older children or adults, Ensminger said, “We have a great mix of longer hikes, especially along Mosquito Lake, especially if you are into birding in any way. Turkey Run trail and some of the longer trails along Mosquito Lake are known for bird sightings, especially right along the trail, which has such an incredible population of various birds. May and June is especially a great time for that because of the migration patterns coming through our area.”

Mosquito Lake State Park presented its Fourth Annual Big Birding Weekend May 15 to May 17, she noted.

For people who have never tried to walk or hike the Turkey Run trail near Hillside Cemetery in Cortland, the staging area is at a large parking lot on Mosquito Lake at the corner of McCleary Jacoby and Main Street in Cortland.

Ensinmiger, who uses the trails in Trumbull County herself, said Turkey Run Trail has a “quick loop you can do that is not that long. But if you do the full thing, it’s like almost three miles. I’ve done it where I’ve stayed out there for hours. That is a grassy terrain.”

This reporter walked the beginning of the Turkey Run Trail near the parking lot for the first time last week and found it pleasant, as the waves lapped against the shoreline and birds sang all around. At various points on this trail there are openings in the foliage making it possible to see the lake, the waves and the sky.

When Ensmiger was asked if she thinks hiking and other outdoor opportunities have increased in Trumbull County over the years, she said, “I have lived here 30 years, and I have watched it improve. I’ve watched it improve this year. They’ve been updating in Niles, the Western Reserve Greenway in the last few months, additional work. They are actively right now putting more work into our trails in the county.”

She said, “What we all could use is a little bit of fresh air and nature, and we have those opportunities right here in our community. It’s a great way to meet others with a like-minded need to just get out there.”

She said there are many accessible options for people who have limited mobility or whatever their range of motion is. It’s a great way to get out and connect without having to be locked onto that phone.”

Ensmiger said one of the walking/hiking locations she likes to highlight is the Western Reserve Greenway Bike trail. which runs north from North River Road in Warren to the Ashtabula County line.

“It has a bike trail in the name, but it’s not just for biking. I’ve walked it with my dog. It’s safe for me to be on my own with a dog as a young woman,” she said.

She said runners use it often. “I know they have had cross-country skiers along it as well. It is a 16-plus-mile trail. “If someone has mobility issues in any way, you could take a wheelchair out on those trails and have no problem. It is extremely paved and well-maintained,” she said.

“I’ve seen parents pushing strollers too.”

The trail is on the western side of Mosquito Lake.

“You could walk the whole length of the lake,” she said, though the lake is not visible from the trail because the trail is a couple of miles to the west of the lake.

Warren and Niles also have their own sections of the bikeway.

Ensminger, who said she is from Ohio, said this time of year draws people to the outdoors. “From an Ohioan perspective, we hit this point of the year and start needing to just get outside and have the sun on our face, especially when we are sun-deprived for so long.

“I think there is a noticeable push, especially this year over past years to just be outside. It could be related to the rising gas prices. Getting outside, disconnecting from the internet, getting away from the television and going out and enjoying nature seems to be something that sounds really desirable to a lot of folks right now,” she said.

WARREN RIVERWALK

She noted that the Riverwalk in Warren is an easy hike that “I think some people don’t realize is considered a walk. This is a paved out-and-back style trail that starts behind the Trumbull County Veterans Memorial on Mahoning Avenue (downtown) and allows you to walk down the path beside the Mahoning River, and you get to walk along the river the entire time.”

She said she expects that when the work near the Sleeping Giant mural on Summit Street north of Perkins Park is complete in the area where a low-head dam was removed, the river will be easier to access for kayaking.

“I expect when that project is finished, the river walk will be especially fun to walk along,” she said.

The tourism bureau office is located near Perkins Park, where a pedestrian bridge over the Mahoning River downtown is being built. She said it is fun being able to watch the construction of the bridge.