Buckeye Trail Pemberville Section: to ignore or go forth at detours

Victoria Livingston recounts her hike on the Pemberville Section of the Buckeye Trail between Lindsey and Elmore, where she and her husband Dave encountered “trail closed” signs that sparked a debate: take the mile-long detour or carefully continue ahead. Drawing on past experiences with similar closures across Ohio, she highlights the balance between safety and practicality when navigating detours.

While they ultimately chose to proceed—finding only dirt piles beneath the Ohio Turnpike—they recognized that conditions can vary and hikers should always use common sense, check official Buckeye Trail alerts, and monitor updates on FarOut or social media before setting out.

Victoria’s story illustrates both the humor and tension of making decisions on the trail, and reminds hikers that the Buckeye Trail, even on its most straightforward stretches, is full of surprises.