North Ridge Scenic Byway

information adapted from the Proposal to Establish a North Ridge Scenic Byway for Lorain County, Ohio, prepared by EcoSphere Associates
(Photos by Charles E. & Ricki C. Herdendorf)

The North Ridge Scenic Byway runs along Ohio State Route 254 in Lorain County, Ohio. Variously know as North Ridge and Detroit Roads, these nine miles of historic highway pass through a divers assemblage of agricultural, residential, commercial, and natural settings as it traverses the northernmost beach ridge of Lake Erie's ancient glacial predecessor. Travelers along this stretch of highway are treated to pleasing views of many cultural and natural features.

The Natural Setting
The North Ridge Scenic Byway follows the northernmost ancient beach ridge across Sheffield and Avon at an elevation ranging from 670 to 690 feet above sea level. The ridge rises about 30 feet above the relatively flat, former lake-bottom land to the north. The present shoreline of Lake Erie, 3.5 to 5 miles farther to the north, lies at an elevation approximately 100 to 120 feet below North Ridge.

The byway passes through several areas where exposed geologic layers are visible, revealing the bedrock geology found in the vicinity of the North Ridge. The bottomlands and valleys of Black River, French Creek and other tributaries bisect the route and provide a forest canopy . Notable flora and fauna in the area includes sycamore trees (some approaching 100 feet tall), black walnuts, red elms, willows, mallard and teal ducks, Canada geese, great blue herons, several species of hawks, wild turkeys, ring-necked pheasants, and owls.

Natural History of the Corridor
Originally, nearly all of Lorain County was covered with mixed hardwoods, part of the great deciduous forest of eastern North America. Most of the forest has been cleared, and by 1967 only 13% of the county’s land area was wooded (Ernst et al. 1976, p. 15). Fortunately, several sizable woodlots occur along the North Ridge Scenic Byway corridor, notably the valleys of the Black River and French Creek and along an abandoned railroad right-of-way in Sheffield

Selected Photos (more in the PDF documents linked below)

Cultural History
The history of human occupation of the area stretches back thousands of years, starting with Native Americans in the Prehistoric Period. Archeological investigations and artifacts from the area, some of which are on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, provide evidence of a long and varied chronology of Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland, Late Prehistoric and Early Prehistoric era inhabitants.

Western civilization's history in the region traces back to the establishment of the Connecticut Western Reserve after the War of Independence, and subsequent surveying and settling of the area began in earnest in the early 1800s. By 1815, the townships of Troy (later Avon) and Sheffield were created. The rich soil and abundance of suitable running water for milling welcomed pioneers who cleared the land and began the areas enduring history of productive farming.

More on the cultural history of the area is available through the historical societies of Avon and Sheffield Village.

Description of Scenic Byway Corridor and Scenic Byway Tour
Chapters 4 and 5 from the Proposal to Establish a North Ridge Scenic Byway for Lorain County, Ohio, prepared by EcoSphere Associates, offer a very detailed and highly useful guide to the byway. Although the file sizes are large, please consider taking the time to download and use these resources, which include maps, images and descriptions of the features and attractions on the North Ridge Byway:

Description of Scenic Byway Corridor (3.4 MB PDF document) |  Scenic Byway Tour (2.2 Mb PDF)