Three new additions strengthen Buckeye Trail protection and access across Ohio

Introducing the Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area

This spring, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) began the acquisition process for a new wildlife area that was formerly part of the AEP ReCreation Lands. The new area, known as Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area, is in the process of being acquired with plans to complete the process in early 2021.

Currently, ODNR’s Division of Wildlife has acquired land in Morgan County, where the Buckeye Trail runs between McMannis-Riggs Road (Point 5, Stockport Section) and the Noble/Morgan County line (between Points 1 and 2 of the Stockport Section).

This portion of the trail no longer requires a recreational user permit, although the section north of the county line toward Chapel Drive will still require one until the full acquisition is complete.

An additional change is that the Wood Grove Campground (Campground H) has been permanently closed due to potential flooding issues from upstream dams. The ODNR Division of Wildlife is working with the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) to develop a new primitive campground between the old Wood Grove Campground and State Route 78.

The BTA was one of many partners advocating for the acquisition of these lands by the state over the past several years. This transition represents a major step in ensuring permanent protection and improved access for hikers on this part of the Buckeye Trail.

Renewed partnership with AEP ReCreation Lands

This spring, American Electric Power (AEP) reached out to the Buckeye Trail Association to provide a license agreement for the Buckeye Trail across the AEP ReCreation Lands.

The agreement, signed in April 2020, provides an additional layer of protection for 24 miles of Buckeye Trail running through the former AEP properties. It covers maintenance and use rights through 2030, ensuring that the BTA can continue to steward this important off-road corridor.

The BTA looks forward to working with ODNR’s Division of Wildlife to make further trail improvements and expresses its gratitude to AEP for its long-term support of the trail and commitment to land stewardship.

Expanding the Lockington Preserve

Earlier this year, the BTA expanded its footprint in Shelby County by securing a trail easement to connect its Lockington Preserve with the Ohio History Connection’s Lockington Locks property.

The BTA first acquired the 16-acre Lockington Preserve in July 2020, a crucial link along Loramie Creek near the Miami and Erie Canal corridor. Shortly after the acquisition, the previous landowner, Forest Conservancy Limited, offered an additional five-acre easement to strengthen the trail connection.

The easement, filed in the Shelby County Courthouse in August 2020, provides a 30-foot-wide corridor linking BTA and Ohio History Connection lands and allows for the potential development of a future campsite.

As Forest Conservancy Limited’s Brian Blair explained, “We need to have permanent legal trail easements whenever possible to protect the Buckeye Trail when lands change hands in the future.”

The story behind the preserve

Back in early 2017, the Miami Conservancy District connected the BTA with a landowner interested in selling 21 acres near the Lockington Locks. When no conservation partner was able to purchase the land, the BTA pursued acquisition as a last-resort conservation measure to protect the trail corridor.

The effort succeeded in July 2019, when the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program approved funding for 16 acres of the property, creating the BTA Lockington Preserve.

This preserve will allow the Buckeye Trail to extend off-road, replacing a long section of road walk and adding a new natural hiking segment. Ongoing work includes:

• Planting a native prairie as part of the Clean Ohio grant
• Developing new trail alignments and a bridge over Loramie Creek
• Installing boundary markers and a new access gate