Buckeye Trail Association

The Buckeye Trail 

For nearly 1444 miles, the Buckeye Trail winds around Ohio, reaching into every corner of the state. From a beachhead on Lake Erie near Cleveland, to a hilltop overlooking the Ohio River in Cincinnati, a hiker can experience a little of all that Ohio has to offer.

First envisioned in the late 1950’s as a trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, the Buckeye Trail evolved into a large loop, branching both north and east from Cincinnati. The separate legs rejoin in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland, and complete the trip to the lake. Because it is a loop, it is also in essence, endless. You may start a hike at any point and hike as long as you want without ever reaching an end!

The Buckeye Trail Association 

The Buckeye Trail Association is a large, strong body of volunteers who maintain and promote the trail. Though the entire route is marked, the Buckeye Trail continues to change and improve. The BTA looks for ways to move road sections off the roads, and to upgrade those off-road sections to high quality trail.

But the Buckeye Trail Association is more than just a management organization. It is also a social group. Several events are planned each year, both formally by the association, and by individual members.

Annually, the Association holds a gathering for all members, usually at a location near the trail. For three days, members are entertained and educated through a series of workshops and presentations. Several hikes are usually scheduled around the area. Finally, the annual business meeting, open to all members, is held during the gathering, giving every member a voice in the operation and future of the Association.

Crooked River Chapter

The Crooked River Chapter of the Buckeye Trail Association is the chapter for those who live near or along the Akron, Bedford, Burton, and Mogadore sections. 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).