In 2026, the Biggest Day Hike will take place on Saturday June 6, National Trails Day. Hikers can register to hike a specific part of the Buckeye Trail all around Ohio, so that collectively we set foot on every mile of the 1440+ mile trail in a single day.

National Trails Day, sponsored by the American Hiking Society on the first Saturday of June, is a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service, celebrating the local, state, and federal trails that provide people access to nature and recreational activities. The BTA is happy to host this free event in conjunction with the American Hiking Society and our Buckeye Trail partners.

Let’s see how much of the Buckeye Trail we can hike together! Join in the Biggest Day Hike by signing up to hike a segment of the Buckeye Trail on National Trails Day, joining in one of the post-hike celebrations throughout the state, helping with trail maintenance, or all three! Some parts of the Buckeye Trail are open to biking or horseback riding and other parts of the Buckeye Trail run parallel to a river for canoeing/kayaking. These alternatives are valid ways to cover a segment where such activities are allowed.

New this year! The Tenth Annual Little Loop Challenge takes place in conjunction with and as part of this Biggest Day Hike. All 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.

How do I sign up?

Volunteer event organizers from the Buckeye Trail Association are already working behind the scenes to coordinate the 2026 Biggest Day Hike. Relevant information will be published on this page, and shared by email with past attendees and sponsors.

Volunteer to support the Biggest Day Hike

Fill out the BTA Volunteer Application to help out behind the scenes.

Register to hike in the Biggest Day Hike

Registration is now live! Sign up here to join the Biggest Day Hike

Reserve your lodging

Traveling to join the hike? Check out Section pages to find a local place to stay close to your hiking destination.

Get ready to hike!

Plan your journey: collect the maps you’ll need, reserve the segment(s) you want to hike, and ask a friend or three to join you on June 6!

Biggest Day Hike Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question that is not answered below, drop us a line at BigDayHike@buckeyetrail.org and we’ll get you an answer.

Q: What is the Biggest Day Hike?
This is a cooperative effort to put hikers on the trail to collectively complete the 1440+ mile Buckeye Trail in one day - and to raise funds to maintain and improve the Trail.

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. Dive deeper and read the segment descriptions to pick a segment(s) that is right for you.

Q: What do I get out of participating?
First, you get to hike part of the Buckeye Trail! We hope you join us and enjoy your adventure. You’ll have the satisfaction of working together as a group to complete an awesome challenge. And you’ll 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. Plus, our limited-time event swag is already available in the BTA Shop! Check it out and order soon so you can hike and represent on June 6.

Q: So… how do we do this?
Collectively, we plan to hike the Buckeye Trail 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.

Q: Will I get to meet other hikers during or after the hike?
Check the area where you’ll be hiking - there may be a celebration local to you. If you’re hiking in northeast Ohio, you’re 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.) If you’re hiking in a different corner of the state, check in with a local Chapter leader or Section supervisor to see if other hikers are planning to gather closer to where you’re at.

Q: Is there a cost to join the hike this year?
There is no cost to register for the Biggest Day Hike. All are welcome to join the fun! However, the intent of the Biggest Day Hike 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 endless work of maintaining, promoting, and upgrading the 1440+ mile trail under our care. We encourage all hikers to become BTA members, donate to support the trail, and to tell friends and family about your hiking plans, and ask them to make a donation to the BTA in honor of your hike. Please also note, some events that fall under the Biggest Day Hike umbrella have separate registration, and may charge a fee to participate.

Q: What are membership costs and general donations used for?
Membership costs and donations go to support the Buckeye Trail Association’s vision and mission. The BTA is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization dedicated to improving, protecting, and promoting Ohio’s longest trail. 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: How do I plan my hike?
Let’s get into the details! To plan your hike, you will need to find the Section Name and Section Number of your start and end points.

  • Consider getting a Buckeye Trail map for the Section you’re planning to hike. Waterproof paper maps can be purchased at the Buckeye Trail shop, or you can get digital maps for your phone through FarOut or Avenza.
  • Review this year’s Biggest Day Hike Spreadsheet to see which segments have been pledged and which are still open. (Multiple people can sign up for the same segment, but if everyone hikes different segments, we can cover a larger portion of the Buckeye Trail in one day. Volunteers will update the spreadsheet regularly as hikers sign up for segments)
  • Check the Buckeye Trail website for Trail Alerts that may impact your segment
  • Registration is now live! Sign up here to join the Biggest Day Hike and claim your segment from the Spreadsheet
  • Make sure you have all the resources you need to have a successful and fun hike - maps, a transportation plan, sturdy gear, water, food, and a friend or two to hike with. If you’re new to hiking, please reach out to our community and ask for their suggestions, or check the hiking resources we’ve collected.
  • Order your Biggest Day Hike shirts and other event swag from the Buckeye Trail Shop
  • Take photos during your hike, and share your adventures on the BTA Facebook Group
  • Tag your social media posts on any platform: #BiggestDayHike #BTA #BuckeyeTrail

Still have questions? Dig into the extended Biggest Day Hike FAQ

Biggest Day Hike celebrations around the state - more coming soon

Little Loop Challenge

Sign up to hike a portion of the Little Loop in northeast Ohio on June 6

Little Loop Challenge potluck

Join hikers for a potluck dinner in Chardon at 5:30pm on June 6

Thank you for your interest in the Biggest Day Hike

We look forward to connecting with you after hiking the Buckeye Trail together on June 6, 2026!

Extended Biggest Day Hike FAQ

Q: Isn’t 1440 miles a long way to hike in one day? How does that work?
A: Good point! That’s why we’ve divided the Biggest Day Hike into easily manageable segments. Most segments are between 1 and 5 miles long. Depending on how far you want to go, you can select any number of segments to hike.

Q: How many segments should I sign up for?
As many as you think you can reasonably hike in a day! 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: Do you have Biggest Day Hike t-shirts available?
Yes! The official Buckeye Trail Shop already has Biggest Day Hike t-shirts 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 event.

Q: I’m coming from out of town, is there a place to spend the night?
There are camping and hotel options close to the Buckeye Trail in most corners of Ohio. We recommend checking the BTA Sections and Trail Town pages to see if the community there has any local recommendations.

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: The segment I wanted is already taken. Now what?
That’s a bummer. Consider signing up to hike another nearby segment, or use this chance to explore a part of the Trail that is completely new to you. One of the benefits to the Biggest Day Hike is that it exposes hikers to parts of the Trail that they may not know about. The Buckeye Trail connects countless interesting and historic locations. If nothing else, continue to sign-up for the same segment. We want you to join us on the Buckeye Trail for the Biggest Day Hike!

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.

Q: Does the BTA plan to host this event every year?
YES! And we’d love to have you help us plan next year’s hike! Reach out to event organizers at BigDayHike@buckeyetrail.org and we’ll share how you can get involved.