FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Buckeye Trail Association Announces Effort for National Scenic Trail Designation with Feasibility Study Underway

SHAWNEE, OHIO — The Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) is thrilled to announce progress in its effort to secure National Scenic Trail (NST) designation for the 1,454-mile Buckeye Trail, which spans Ohio's diverse landscapes, connecting 47 counties and more than 100 communities.

The National Park Service is now conducting a feasibility study—approved with bipartisan support Congress 2022—with public meetings slated for mid-January. Completion of the study is expected before the end of 2026.

National Scenic Trail designation would see the Buckeye Trail join an elite group of 11 existing trails, making the Buckeye Trail the 5th largest in the nation, the only circumferential trail, and the first trail to receive this designation since 2009. This recognition would unlock significant benefits, including increased federal support, enhanced visibility, and expanded opportunities for community and economic development across Ohio.

"Thanks to generations of BTA volunteers, staff, and a vast network of partners, Ohio's Buckeye Trail is already a force of nature,” said Andrew Bashaw, Executive Director of the BTA, “National Scenic Trail status would ensure greater resources and recognition for our trail, enriching lives and fostering even greater volunteerism, sustainable tourism, and incomparable outdoor recreation opportunities around Ohio."

"This designation would recognize what we already know about the Buckeye Trail, that it’s a premier hiking destination in the Midwest that offers unique opportunities to explore the entire state,” added Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz, “The loop around Ohio allows adventurers to visit our beautiful collection of state parks, wildlife areas, nature preserves, and forests".

Public Meetings

The National Park Service will host public meetings to gather input for this initiative. Ohioans are encouraged to attend and show support:

• Monday, January 13, 2025 from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M.
  Cuyahoga Valley National Park
  Hines Hill Conference Center
  1403 West Hines Hill Road
  Peninsula, Ohio 44264

• Tuesday, January 14, 2025 from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M.
  Henry County Hospital
  Heller Community Room
  1600 East Riverview Avenue
  Napoleon, Ohio 43545

• Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M.
  Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
  Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center
  2380 Memorial Road, Dayton, Ohio 45433

• Thursday, January 16, 2024 from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M.
  Digital Futures Building
  Level 1 Conference Room, Room 140
  3080 Exploration Avenue
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45206

• Friday, January 17, 2025 from 3:00 until 6:00 P.M.
  Athens Community Center
  Rooms B and C
  701 East State Street
  Athens, Ohio 45701

• Thursday, January 23, 2025 from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M.
  This will be a Virtual Meeting using Microsoft Teams.
  Visit the NPS planning page for the Virtual Meeting Link

The public can learn more about the public meetings and, if unable to attend a public meeting, leave comments. Please visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/buckeyetrailfs for details and to share comments. The public comment period will be open from January 6th to February 19th, 2025.
View the full press release from the National Park Service. Press Release.

About the Buckeye Trail
Since its establishment in 1959, the Buckeye Trail has grown from a 500-mile route into the nation’s largest loop trail, closing the loop in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in 1980. Free and open to all, 1,454 miles of the Buckeye Trail pass through 21 designated Buckeye Trail Towns and landmarks such as Wayne National Forest, Serpent Mound, and Fort Ancient, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Buckeye Trail is within 90 minutes of every Ohioan, providing an accessible connection to Ohio’s Great Outdoors and showcasing the state’s scenic and historical diversity. buckeyetrail.org

About the Buckeye Trail Association
Established in 1959, the Buckeye Trail Association builds, maintains, preserves, and promotes Ohio’s Buckeye Trail as a sustainable resource connecting people to the state’s scenic and historical diversity. The BTA inspires conservation and outdoor recreation across the state. buckeyetrail.org