Cleveland.com editorial supports National Scenic Trail status for the Buckeye Trail

Editorial board calls National Scenic Trail effort “good news”

The Cleveland.com and Plain Dealer editorial board has endorsed the effort to have the Buckeye Trail designated as a National Scenic Trail, calling the proposal “good news” for Ohio.
In its January 17 editorial, “Ohio’s 1,454-mile Buckeye Trail seeks National Scenic Trail status. Good.”, the board praised the potential designation as an opportunity to bring national attention, increased visitation, and new funding to Ohio’s iconic long-distance hiking route.

Recognizing Ohio’s trail heritage

The editorial highlights the trail’s significance, noting that it spans 47 counties and more than 100 communities, connecting Ohioans with the state’s natural diversity—from the Appalachian foothills and Muskingum River watershed to the Miami & Erie Canal Towpath and Lake Erie.

If approved, the Buckeye Trail would become the only National Scenic Trail to form a continuous loop, and only the fourth trail located entirely within one state, joining those in Florida, Arizona, and Wisconsin.

The board cited reporting by Cleveland.com’s Peter Krouse, who explained that the designation would allow the Buckeye Trail Association to partner with the National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service—opening access to federal funding for operations, trail projects, and volunteer programs.

National recognition, local impact

As the editorial put it, the National Scenic Trail status would not only bring “bragging rights” but would also “likely bring national attention and more hikers—and their spending—to Ohio.”

The piece also referenced coverage by WVXU 91.7 FM (Cincinnati), noting that designation could eventually lead to a federal office, staffing, and operational funding for the trail, similar to other National Scenic Trails.

Read the full editorial

The editorial board concludes that the effort to recognize the Buckeye Trail as a National Scenic Trail deserves support—not just for the prestige it brings, but for the practical improvements it can deliver in signage, camping access, and trail maintenance statewide.