Ohio’s trail started with an idea
What began as a bold idea in a newspaper column has become the longest loop hiking trail in the United States. The Buckeye Trail is a living legacy, built and sustained by ordinary people with an extraordinary vision: to connect Ohioans to nature, to each other, and to the land they call home.
From its first 35 miles in Hocking County to today’s 1,400+ mile loop, the Buckeye Trail’s story is one of persistence, partnership, and the power of volunteers.
A vision in newsprint
In 1958, wildlife biologist Merrill C. Gilfillan, writing under the pseudonym Perry Cole, published a Columbus Dispatch column titled “A Buckeye Trail: So Far It Is Just an Idea.” He imagined a footpath stretching from Cincinnati to Lake Erie, encouraging Ohioans—especially young people—to slow down and explore their native state.
That vision resonated. By 1959, Gilfillan had joined forces with outdoor enthusiasts including Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, Bill Miller, Roy Fairfield, and William Price to form the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA).
Phase 1:
Laying the first miles
1959 to early 1970s
Later in 1959, Miller and a team of volunteers built the first 35 miles in Hocking County. By 1970, the trail stretched 500 miles from Mentor on Lake Erie to Cincinnati. This period also saw the dedication of the first official lean-to shelter, the appointment of 15 trail supervisors, and the early adoption of what would later be codified as Leave No Trace ethics.
Phase 2:
Expanding the west side
Late 1960s to mid 1970s
After the eastern corridor took shape, planning began for the trail’s western half. A major effort centered on securing access along Ohio’s state-controlled canal lands. Leaders such as Bob Paton and Lee Kreider played pivotal roles. In 1975, a large-scale “trail realignment day” shifted major routes, including a significant reroute through East Fork State Park.
Phase 3:
The Little Loop and national recognition
Late 1970s
Though the statewide loop was not yet complete, momentum grew. In 1978, the “Little Loop” was established in northeast Ohio, connecting the trail to the newly created Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (designated in 1974). Congressman Ralph Regula championed both the park’s development and the trail expansion, cementing the Buckeye Trail’s ties to national conservation efforts.
Phase 4:
Completing the loop
1981
On March 20, 1981, the Buckeye Trail was officially dedicated as a continuous statewide loop. A joint ceremony hosted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the BTA, and Cleveland Metroparks marked the final segment’s completion, linking Medina County to the Akron-Bedford junction and uniting the Little Loop with the larger system.
Phase 5:
Adding the Wilderness Loop and beyond
2005 to present
The trail continued to evolve into the 21st century. In 2005, the Wilderness Loop was added in southeast Ohio, integrating the Buckeye Trail into the American Discovery Trail. Today, with over 1,400 miles of trail, the Buckeye Trail remains a symbol of grassroots vision, community partnership, and Ohio pride.
The Buckeye Trail today
Now more than six decades in, the Buckeye Trail is the largest loop hiking trail in the United States. It continues to grow and evolve through land preservation, reroutes, and new partnerships.
- In 2000, the trail was recognized as a Millennium Legacy Trail, a national honor for trails of cultural and historic significance.
- In 2022, it was named an ODNR State Recreational Trail, underscoring its importance to outdoor recreation in Ohio.
- It also overlaps parts of two national trail systems: the North Country Trail and the American Discovery Trail.
- In 2024, the National Park Service launched a feasibility study to determine whether the Buckeye Trail could be designated a National Scenic Trail.
And the Buckeye Trail’s story is far from finished. Every season brings progress: new miles of trail, new volunteers, and new ways to connect people with the land. From first-time hikers to longtime members, thousands of individuals help protect and promote the Buckeye Trail each year.
Support trail preservation
By giving to the Buckeye Trail’s Preservation Fund, you can support directing resources to critical preservation projects around the state. Support trail preservation →
