Join a Chapter of the BTA . . .
Chapters are localized efforts taking on the challenge of the mission of the Association along the Buckeye Trail around Ohio. Chapters are busily building, maintaining, protecting and promoting the use of Ohio’s longest scenic hiking trail for our citizens, communities and partners in Ohio. They are providing outdoor recreation, opportunities to volunteer, education, access to the varied resources Ohio and local economic benefits along the Buckeye Trail.
The BTA chapters use Meetup as a means of communicating event details. Please visit the BTA Meetup page at http://www.meetup.com/pro/buckeyetrail/ to find chapter events.
Appalachian Foothills Chapter
Sections: Scioto Trail, Sinking Spring, Shawnee, West Union
The Appalachian Foothills Chapter is encompassed by Highland, Adams, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Brown Counties.
In the Appalachian Foothills region, four different physiographic regions come together, creating a diverse experience of geology, flora, fauna, human history, and beauty. The Buckeye Trail has its greatest elevation changes in “Ohio’s Little Smokies” located in Shawnee State Forest (Ohio’s largest state forest) and Shawnee Wilderness Area (Ohio’s only State Wilderness Area). The BT in the Appalachian Foothills region also crosses the site of an ancient meteor crater, which spans for several miles, and passes next to the largest earthen effigy mound in the world, Serpent Mound. The Nature Conservancy’s 21,000 acre Edge of Appalachia Preserve as well as other smaller preserves are located in this region. The Appalachian Foothills region contains incredible biodiversity, the likes of which can’t be found anywhere else in Ohio.
The Appalachian Foothills Chapter invites you to join us for one of our organized Buckeye Trail hikes, work parties or events. If you are interested in becoming a Chapter member or interested in volunteer opportunities contact:
Appalachian Foothills Facebook Group
Appalachian Foothills Chapter Meetup
Ohio River Chapter
Sections: Williamsburg, Loveland
The Ohio River Chapter of the Buckeye Trail Association is our newest chapter and is for those who live near or along the Williamsburg and Loveland sections of the Buckeye Trail (greater Cincinnati area). This chapter was established by splitting the Miami Rivers Chapter into two separate chapters. Both support the Buckeye Trail through hiking, backpacking, and volunteer events.
The Ohio River Chapter includes a region of the Little Miami River watershed. This region of Ohio is rich in cultural and natural history and opportunities for a variety of trail experiences. Between Fort Ancient earthworks, Milford, the Ohio River’s Queen City, Cincinnati, Batavia and East Fork State Park there is so much to explore in southwestern Ohio. The Ohio and Miami River are the dominant natural forces in the region, creating hills by carving out gorges and valleys and providing transportation for each wave of settlement. The area has been settled by moundbuilding cultures, the Shawnee Nation, frontiersman, Revolutionary War veterans, and early American industry each weaving together the fabric of an American story best experienced on foot.
Hiking the Buckeye Trail in this region, for a day or several week long backpack trip, reveals how the enduring landscape, artifacts of our history, and present day life flow together to create an enriching experience. There is so much to do, so close to home, and so much to be proud of along the Buckeye Trail in southwest Ohio. Volunteer and hike with the Ohio River Chapter by using the chapter email address at:
Ohio River Chapter Facebook Page
Ohio River Facebook Group
Visit the The Ohio River Chapter Meetup
The Wilderness Chapter
Sections: Road Fork, Whipple
The Wilderness Chapter area includes the counties of Monroe, Washington of Ohio, then Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood and Wirt of West Virginia. Noble County is shared with the Muskingum Lakes & Little Cities of the Forest Chapter. Morgan County is shared with the Little Cities of the Forest Chapter. Use the following to connect with The Wilderness Chapter supporters:
The Wilderness Chapter Facebook page
The Wilderness Chapter Facebook Group page
The Wilderness Chapter Meetup
By email:
Miami and Erie Canal Chapter
Sections: St Marys, Delphos, Defiance
The Miami and Erie Canal area includes the counties of Auglaize, Shelby, Allen, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert, Defiance, Lucas, and Henry. Use the following to connect with the Miami and Erie Canal Chapter supporters:
Miami and Erie Canal Facebook Group page
Miami and Erie Canal Chapter Meetup
By email:
Lake Plains Chapter
Sections: Pemberville, Norwalk, Medina
The Lake Plains area includes the counties of Medina, Lucas, Sandusky, Ottawa, Wood, Huron, Lorain, Cuyahoga, and Summit. This is a new chapter and more details will follow soon. Use the following to connect with the Lake Plains Chapter supporters:
Lake Plains Facebook Group page
Lake Plains Meetup
By email:
Central Ohio Chapter
Encompassing the Counties of: Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union
The Central Ohio Chapter is unique in that it does not contain any parts of the Buckeye Trail, but is a relatively short drive to all sections of the Buckeye Trail, allowing the Chapter to highlight various portions of the Buckeye Trail for outdoor adventures and volunteer opportunities. Along with serving the central Ohio audience, the Chapter also serves as a catch-all and addresses unmet trail needs around the state.
You can also visit the Chapter Facebook Group page , Meetup Group, and 
Instagram Page.
Contact the Central Ohio Chapter at
.
The Chapter Leadership consists of: Brian Batchelder (Chapter Chair), Petra Schmalbrock (Chapter Vice-Chair), Michael McKinley (Chapter Treasurer-Recorder), Joe Carter (At-Large Member), Linda Paul (At-Large Member), Pat Snyder (At-Large Member), Başak Durgun (At-Large Member), Cindy Somer (At-Large Member).
Crooked River Chapter
Sections: Akron, Bedford, Burton, Mogadore
These sections comprise the majority of the "Little Loop". Hikers who complete the "Little Loop" are eligible for a patch! The CRC’s extent includes the Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Summit, Ashtabula, Trumbull, Portage and Stark Counties (Stark County is shared with the Muskingum Lakes Chapter). Use the following to connect with the Crooked River members:
Crooked River Chapter Facebook Group page
Crooked River Meetup
Or send an email to:
Miami Rivers Chapter
Sections: Caesar Creek, Troy
The Miami Rivers Chapter extent includes the large region of the Great and Little Miami River watersheds. This region of Ohio is rich in cultural and natural history and opportunities for a variety of trail experiences. Between the historic Miami & Erie Canal, downtown Dayton, and Yellow Springs, the Little Miami National Scenic River and Little Miami State Park bike path, Xenia, and Caesar Creek State Park there is so much to explore in southwestern Ohio. The Miami Rivers are the dominant natural forces in the region, creating hills by carving out gorges and valleys and providing transportation for each wave of settlement. The area has been settled by frontiersman, Revolutionary War veterans, and early American industry each weaving together the fabric of an American story best experienced on foot.
Hiking the Buckeye Trail in this region, for a day or several week long backpack trip, reveals how the enduring landscape, artifacts of our history, and present day life flow together to create an enriching experience. There is so much to do, so close to home, and so much to be proud of along the Buckeye Trail in southwest Ohio. Volunteer and hike with the Miami Rivers Chapter by contacting Darryl Smith, Miami Rivers Chapter President, using the chapter email address at:
You may also visit:
Miami Rivers Chapter Facebook Page
Miami Rivers Meetup
Stay tuned to www.buckeyetrail.org/events for news of Chapter activities!
Muskingum Lakes Chapter
Sections: Massillon, Bowerston, Belle Valley
The Muskingum Lakes Chapter of the Buckeye Trail Association is for those who live near or along the Buckeye Trail from Hartville in Stark County to near the village of Belle Valley in Noble County. We support the Buckeye Trail through hiking, backpacking, community and volunteer events. Our efforts to promote use of the Buckeye Trail in our footprint area include scheduled events such as group hikes, scavenger hunts, geocaching, kayaking and canoeing, work parties and campouts along with offering a shuttle service for hikers that travel from other areas so that it's not necessary for them to bring an extra vehicle when they come.
The Muskingum Lakes Chapter focus area includes a part of the Tuscarawas River watershed and most of the lakes of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. This region of Ohio was one of the first areas settled after Marietta and has a rich historical background. Many of these historical sites are easily accessed from the Buckeye Trail as it it traverses the hills of Eastern Ohio and touches on seven of the Muskingum Lakes. The Muskingum Lakes offer some of the best recreational fishing in the Eastern United States. The Ohio & Erie Canal was built in this area in the early 1800s and the Buckeye Trail follows its path through parts of Stark County. As in much of Ohio, water is the dominant force for creating the landscape as it is today. Prior to its settlement by pioneers, the area was a crossroads for the many Indian nations living around here as they traded with or fought the coming of European migration and each other.
There are numerous opportunities for all kinds of recreational and entertainment activities as well as many great places to eat. Volunteer and hike with the Muskingum Lakes Chapter by contacting Steve and Karen Walker, Muskingum Lakes Chapter Leaders, at 330-833-9365 or by e-mailing
.
You can also visit:
Muskingum Lakes Chapter Facebook Page
Muskingum Lakes Meetup
Stay tuned to www.buckeyetrail.org/events for news of Chapter activities!
Little Cities of the Forest Chapter
Sections: Stockport, New Straitsville, Old Man's Cave
This segment of the BT includes the co-located Buckeye Trail, North Country National Scenic Trail, and American Discovery Trail in portions of Morgan, Athens, Perry, Hocking and Vinton Counties in the Muskingum and Hocking River watersheds. The BT passes through AEP ReCreation Lands, Burr Oak State Park, Wayne National Forest, O'Dowd Wildlife Area, Boch Hollow Nature Preserve, Lake Logan and Hocking Hills State Park, private lands and the little cities of Stockport, Chesterhill, Murray City and Shawnee. Known for it's coal boom history the region is now a forested outdoor recreation paradise.
For more information on activities of the Chapter, visit the Chapter website at
Little Cities Chapter Meetup
Create a Buckeye Trail Chapter in your Region
Are you interested in working with other Buckeye Trail Association members and volunteers to help build, maintain, protect and promote the use of Ohio’s State Trail in your region? While it doesn’t happen overnight the benefits to creating a local or regional effort of the BTA are great; building new relationships, camaraderie, support, fulfillment of a job well done, an increased sense of place, being an important part of something much bigger. All chapters of the Buckeye Trail Association will be unique, so if you have some interest please contact us and we will try to gather like-minded folks together.
, 740-777-6282.
