In 2026, the Little Loop Challenge will take place on Saturday June 6. Hikers can register to hike a specific part of the Buckeye Trail’s “Little Loop” in northeast Ohio, so that collectively we set foot on every mile of the 275+ mile Little Loop in a single day.
The Tenth Annual Little Loop Challenge will take place in conjunction with the Buckeye Trail Association’s Biggest Day Hike, where participants collectively hike every mile of the 1440+ mile Buckeye Trail!
What is the Little Loop Challenge and how do I sign up?
- Get all the details from the Little Loop Challenge FAQ
- Skip ahead to register (coming April 15)
- Get familiar with the 275+ mile Little Loop
- Show your support: become a Little Loop Challenge sponsor
- Connect with us on Facebook to stay in the loop
Volunteer event organizers from the Crooked River Chapter of the BTA are already working behind the scenes to coordinate the 2026 Little Loop Challenge. Relevant information will be published on this page, and shared by email with past attendees and sponsors.
Volunteer to support the Little Loop Challenge
Fill out the BTA Volunteer Application to help out behind the scenes.
Register to hike in the Little Loop Challenge
Register today, and help us hike the entire Little Loop!
Note: your registration covers the Biggest Day Hike as well. Check the FAQ for details!
Reserve your lodging
Coming from out of town? Check out Section pages to find a local place to stay close to your hiking destination. (Little Loop Sections: Bedford, Burton, Mogadore, Massillon, and Akron)
Join Little Loop Challenge hikers at the after-party!
Hikers will gather for a potluck after a long day on the trail. Come celebrate with us!
Little Loop Challenge Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question that is not answered below, drop us a line at littleloop@buckeyetrail.org and we’ll get you an answer.
Q: What is the Little Loop Challenge?
This is a cooperative effort to put hikers on the trail to collectively complete the 275+ mile “Little Loop” of the Buckeye Trail in one day - and to raise funds to maintain and improve our little corner of the Trail. It might be… just a little loopy. Sorry not sorry!
Q: Can I participate?
Absolutely! The event is open to anyone interested in participating, and is a great way to introduce family members and friends to the Buckeye Trail. Some segments are flat, paved trails and even ADA accessible. Other segments are hilly, dirt trails and more challenging and strenuous. Read the descriptions to pick the segment(s) you'd like to hike. Please note that Segment descriptions will be updated and accurate as of April 15, 2026.
Check out this year’s Little Loop Challenge Map that identifies exact Segments in the Little Loop Sections that correspond to the Segment descriptions spreadsheet.
Q: What do I get out of participating?
First, you get to hike the Little Loop of the Buckeye Trail! We hope you join us and enjoy meeting other hikers at our potluck celebration in Buckeye Trail Town Chardon. You’ll have the satisfaction of working together as a group to complete an awesome challenge. You also will receive an exclusive 2026 Little Loop Challenge patch that evening, as well as a 2026 Crooked River Chapter bandana with our logo and the logos and names of our sponsors. And hopefully, you get a lasting enjoyment from the day that inspires you to stay connected to Ohio’s longest trail, and the community that’s grown up around it.
Q: So… how do we do this?
Collectively, we plan to hike the Little Loop in one day. Hikers register and claim segments to hike in advance, and then each hiker hits the trail day-of. For areas that are open 24 hours, you could start at midnight or as early as you like! You can begin and end your hike at any time on June 6, but we’d love you to finish and report in before 5:30pm, so you can join the potluck celebration in Chardon.
Q: Will I get to meet other hikers during or after the hike?
After the hike, all hikers are invited to gather for a potluck celebration from 5:30pm to 7pm in Buckeye Trail Town Chardon at the Chardon Rotary Shelter at Geauga Park District’s Mountain Run Station located at 12601 Chardon-Windsor Road, Chardon OH. Look for the Crooked River Chapter feather flag and banner at the shelter! Bring your place setting, silverware, and a dish to share! The Crooked River Chapter will provide the drinks or you can bring your own. (Alcohol is permitted but must only be consumed in the shelter.)
Q: Is there a cost to join the Challenge this year?
The intent of the Tenth Annual Little Loop Challenge is to be both a fun event AND a fundraiser. As the Buckeye Trail Association advocates to become the nation’s twelfth National Scenic Trail, we also continue the work of maintaining, promoting, and upgrading the 1440+ mile trail under our care. Major improvements like the Rapids Road Reroute and the new trail at West Branch are impossible without steady support for volunteers and staff, and the acquisition of needed tools and supplies. So, yes, there is a cost to register - just $20 for BTA members and $25 for non-members. We hope you feel (as we do) that the benefits of the trail make this a real bargain.
Q: What are registration costs used for?
Registration costs and sponsorship contributions go to support the Buckeye Trail Association’s mission, a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization dedicated to improving, protecting, and promoting Ohio’s longest scenic hiking trail for the health and fitness of our citizens, communities, and partners. Our vision is that the Buckeye Trail is recognized as a world-class outdoor destination, showcasing Ohio’s natural and cultural heritage for all to enjoy.
Q: Is the Little Loop Challenge happening on the same day as the Biggest Day Hike? Do I have to register for both events?
You’re right - this year the Little Loop Challenge is part of the Buckeye Trail Asosciation’s Biggest Day Hike! You do not need to register separately as a part of the Biggest Day Hike. Once you register here, your Little Loop Challenge miles hiked count towards Biggest Day Hike miles hiked. The Little Loop Challenge team will report all LLC miles hiked to the Biggest Day Hike team.
Still have questions? Dig into the extended Little Loop Challenge FAQ
Little Loop Mapping
Here is this year’s Little Loop Challenge map
And the up-to-date list of Segments hikers can claim at registration.
Volunteer event organizers are working behind the scenes to make sure the trail information we use is accurate and up to date.
Get familiar with the Crooked River Chapter and the Sections that make up the Little Loop: Bedford, Burton, Mogadore, Massillon, and Akron.
Thank you for your interest in the Little Loop Challenge
We look forward to connecting with you after hiking the Little Loop together on June 6, 2026!
Extended Little Loop Challenge FAQ
Q: Isn’t 275+ miles a long way to hike in one day, how does that work?
A: Good point! That’s why we’ve divided the Challenge into 86 easily manageable segments. Here’s the approximate breakdown:
| Length | Number of segments | Totals |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 mile | 4 | Total segments: 86 |
| 1-2 miles | 17 | Average length: 3.23 miles |
| 2-3 miles | 23 | Total miles: 275 miles |
| 3-4 miles | 18 | Shortest segment: 0.5 miles |
| 4-5 miles | 34 | Longest segment: 7.6 miles |
| 5-6 miles | 4 | |
| 6-7 miles | 2 | |
| 7-8 miles | 8 |
Q: Do you have 2026 Tenth Annual Little Loop Challenge t-shirts available?
Yes! The official Buckeye Trail Shop will have the 2026 Tenth Annual Little Loop Challenge t-shirt available for purchase. Go to the Buckeye Trail Shop for more information. Please order early to allow time for shipping, so you can wear your shirt the day of the challenge.
Q: What are the details on this potluck celebration you mentioned?
Hikers love to share stories… and food… so, we’re meeting in Buckeye Trail Town Chardon at Mountain Run Station from 5:30pm to 7pm that evening for some camaraderie and food. Exact location: 12601 Chardon-Windsor Road, Chardon OH. We will meet at the park’s Chardon Rotary Shelter. Participants are asked to bring their own place settings and silverware as well as a dish to share. There is limited electricity for crockpots at the shelter. The Crooked River Chapter will provide the drinks or you can bring your own. (Alcohol is permitted, but must be consumed only in the shelter.)
We’ll also have a large map of the Little Loop where we’ll mark off segments as they are completed. Patches and bandanas will be passed out during the potluck. For those who have completed their segments but have scheduling conflicts that don’t allow them to attend, we’ll announce alternative ways to obtain those items.
Q: I’m coming from out of town, is there a place to spend the night?
Although there is no camping permitted at Mountain Run Station in Chardon, the Geauga Park District does have limited camping available at several other county parks. Sites are available by reservation only. There are a variety of other accommodations in the Little Loop area, including hotels, rental options like VRBO and Airbnb, RV parks, and tent camping options.
Q: After I finished hiking my segment, will someone come pick me up?
The logistics of your hike are entirely up to you. You can do an out and back hike from your own vehicle if you wish, or arrange to have a friend drop you off and pick you up. You could team up with someone doing another segment - drop their car off at the end, drive them to the beginning and let them hike back to their car - meanwhile, you start the next segment. Once your teammate has hiked back to their car they can come pick you up. Alternatively, you could team up with someone, drop their car off at your end point, drive to your start point, and do the “car to car” hike together. There are any number of ways of doing this, but each hiker or hiker group is responsible for transport to and from your hike.
Q: How many segments can I sign up for?
As many as you think you can reasonably hike in a day, and be finished by 5:30pm! We encourage hikers to work in pairs to hike multiple segments by dropping off a car at the finish point, driving to the starting point and hiking from car to car. Two people can reasonably knock out 3-4 segments this way.
Q: The segment I wanted is already taken. Now what?
Well, isn’t that a bummer! Consider hiking another segment nearby or better yet, explore part of the trail that is completely new to you. One of the benefits of this event is to expose people to parts of the trail they might not know about or have reason to visit. The Buckeye Trail connects countless interesting historic and scenic locations.
Q: Do I have to hike in a particular direction?
Not at all, either direction will work. Keep in mind, the directions on the Buckeye Trail Section maps are written in a clockwise direction (with reference to the larger Ohio loop, so Akron is written from North to South), but that doesn’t stop you from being able to hike in the “opposite” direction.
Q: I only have a vague idea of where my segment is. How can I get more information?
Order paper or electronic maps well in advance. Waterproof section maps are available at the Buckeye Trail Shop and also are available at REI in Beachwood, Appalachian Outfitters in Peninsula, and The Backpackers Shop in Sheffield, among others. You can also email us any questions you may have. Before you hike, please check the BTA website for any last-minute trail alerts and map updates, especially if you are using an older map.
Q: Will the trail go through the parking lot you suggested that we park at?
Not always. Sometimes you may need to travel a short distance to get to the trail. Exact directions will be explained in the comments on your map. Study the map ahead of time, and let us know if you have questions about where you’ll be heading after you park. A call center hotline will be available during the event to help walk you through if needed.
Q: What if I sign up and then can’t hike my segment?
We’re sorry to hear that, and we understand things do come up. If it’s before the day of the hike, please let us know as soon as you can so we can get someone else to sign up for that segment you had claimed. On the day of the hike, call in and let us know immediately so that we can find someone to hike your segment, but please make every effort to hike what you sign up for!
Q: What happens if I get hurt?
Call 911 if you need to. Carry a cell phone and hike with caution!
Q: How do I prove I hiked the entire segment?
For better or worse, right or wrong, we’re doing this on the honor system. All you must do is tell us that you did it! We would love for you to take pictures and share them with us, but there is no proof required beyond your word. We trust you because hikers are trustworthy! Please remember to email littleloop@buckeyetrail.org to let us know once you have finished your segment(s).
Q: Does the BTA plan to do this challenge every year?
YES! And we’d love to have you help us plan the 2027 Little Loop Challenge! Chat with us during the gathering in Chardon and we’ll share with you how you can help.
Q: What about hiking the entire Buckeye Trail in a day?
We do that, too! The Tenth Annual Little Loop Challenge is being held as part of the Buckeye Trail Association’s Biggest Day Hike this year, and we will actually be trying to hike the entire Buckeye Trail in one day. While the Little Loop Challenge has been successfully hiked in its entirety, the entire Buckeye trail has not - yet. We’re getting closer every year. Maybe 2026 is the year it will happen!
Q: Didn’t they try this on the Appalachian Trail? Are you trying to be like the AT?
The Appalachian Trail and the Buckeye Trail are totally different trails, there is no way we could be like the AT and the AT can’t be like us. That said… okay, you got us, their idea did inspire this challenge!
Thank you to the sponsors of the Little Loop Challenge
Aligned Chiropractic (2025, 2026)
Appalachian Outfitters (2025)
Arcaro’s Auto Clinic (2025, 2026)
Cavell and Associates (2026)
Citizens Bank (2025, 2026)
Crooked River Chapter (2025, 2026)
Lake Erie College (2025)
The Love Family (2026)
Pat Long (2026)
Matrix Massage Company (2025, 2026)
Ocelot Cafe (2026)
Painesville Credit Union (2025, 2026)
Phoebe L. Ras Fund (2025)
Precision Orthopedic (2025, 2026)
Seventy Hills for Seventy Years (2026)
Steele Mansion (2025)
Dr. Henry Vucetic (2025, 2026)
Walkinman Tim Murphy (2025, 2026)
Western Reserve Racing/Vertical Runner (2025)
Dr. Wilhelm Van Heeckeren (2025)
Zappitelli’s (2025, 2026)
Want to see your name or your organization’s name here?
Show your support! Become a “Big Friend to the Little Loop” today. 100% of your donation helps the Buckeye Trail Association improve, protect, and promote the Little Loop of the Buckeye Trail, and beyond.
Email llcsponsorcoord@buckeyetrail.org for more information.
