Sierra Magazine celebrates Grandma Gatewood’s lasting legacy on the Buckeye Trail

A new generation continues the Gatewood story

The July 2025 issue of Sierra Magazine features Maureen Gatewood and Caitlin Edwards, great- and great-great-granddaughters of the legendary Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, who cofounded the Buckeye Trail in 1959. Written by journalist Olivia Young, the story traces how the family continues to honor their ancestor’s pioneering spirit through section-hiking, volunteerism, and leadership within the Buckeye Trail Association.

From the Appalachian Trail to Ohio’s blue blazes

Grandma Gatewood became the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 1955, then went on to help establish the Buckeye Trail a few years later. Her vision for a path connecting Lake Erie to the Ohio River grew into today’s 1,440-mile loop—the longest continuous trail contained within a single U.S. state.

Her descendants continue that legacy. Edwards and Gatewood have section-hiked more than 150 miles together and now serve on the Buckeye Trail Association Board of Trustees, encouraging others to discover the trail.

A living legacy of resilience and connection

The Sierra story highlights how the Gatewood family’s connection to Ohio’s landscapes remains deeply personal. They began their Buckeye Trail journey in Hocking Hills, where Grandma Gatewood helped dedicate the first official 20-mile stretch in 1959. Now, as they prepare to hike the Shawnee State Forest section, they continue to embody the same independence and perseverance that made Grandma Gatewood an American trail legend.

“People want to make that connection with her to give them strength,” said Caitlin Edwards. “To know that they’ll survive and can accomplish whatever they want to accomplish.”