The Buckeye Trail Association is excited to announce that we are seeking nominations for our Board of Trustees! A Trustee must be at least age 18, a member in good standing of the Buckeye Trail Association, and must maintain their membership throughout the term of office. We are seeking nominations from June 15 - July 15 2025. You can declare or ask questions by emailing Lori Luken at If you are seeking to declare as a candidate, please also include a 250-word bio about yourself when emailing Lori. Our candidates' announcement and election process update will be coming soon!
The 12th annual Buckeye TrailFest is scheduled for September 5‐7, 2025 at Maumee Bay State Park on the shore of Lake Erie.
Visit the TrailFest 2025 website for all the info about programs, lodging and camping, hikes, Friday Fun Day, meals, registration, the silent auction, the annual meeting, and to learn about sponsorship opportunities.
The Buckeye Trail is being considered as our nation’s next National Scenic Trail—a rare opportunity to gain national recognition for a trail built and maintained by local communities.
Your gift supports the volunteers and partners who keep Ohio’s 1,454-mile trail thriving.
Give today and help us meet the challenge ahead. Every dollar makes a difference.
Please contact us by calling 740‐394‐2008 if you would like more information on other ways to benefit the BTA.
You may also mail a check to the BTA at PO Box 5, Shawnee OH, 43782
The National Park Service is conducting a feasability study to determine the status of the Buckeye Trail to become a National Scenic Trail. Although the opportunity to offer comments concerning the study has concluded, community members and stakeholders can still review the feasibility study process. Please visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/buckeyetrailfs for details.
The Buckeye Trail Association's Little Cities of the Forest Chapter is proud to host the 16th Annual E.G.G.S. Hike + Campout at Burr Oak State Park. This event is held in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the North Country Trail Association, American Discovery Trail Society and Wayne National Forest. The event honors a founding member of the BTA and the first female to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, an Ohio native and long time advocate of ultra-light backpacking. She was also the first woman to thru hike the Appalachian Trail two times.
Registration has closed, but all the event details are availabe on the EGGS Hike event page listing
ODNR announces a new resource, Buckeye Trail Anywhere, a free guide to the Buckeye Trail. The guide takes learners of all ages on a journey through scenic trail towns, rich geography, diverse ecosystems, and fascinating historical landmarks while staying physically active through customizable activities. Please visit www.ohiodnr.gov/buckeyetrailanywhere to download the guide.
If you need the Buckeye Trail Section Tracker Map discussed in the document, you may download it here.
Several years ago the BTA provided a pamphlet to assist avid birders with finding good locations along the BT to view a variety of birds. Ohio is part of a large migratory route with many species pausing here on their trek. The pamphlet is updated and once again available as a download. Birds are here throughout the year. This is a great time to plan your hikes.
Downlaod the updated BTA eBirding pamphlet.
The 50+5 Challenge was created in celebration of the Ohio Legislature’s Year of the Trails and the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act in 2018. In 2024, the 65th Anniversary of the Buckeye Trail and Buckeye Trail Association, we again invite Ohioans to challenge themselves to hike 50 miles on Ohio's 1,400+ mile BT and give back 5 volunteer hours to the trail we love. Even though 2024 is over, the challenge continues.
50+5 Hiker-Volunteers that complete the challenge and register their volunteer hours will receive a congratulatory packet including a certificate of completion, a 50 mile hiking patch, and a Buckeye Trail Association 5 hour volunteer patch to commemorate their accomplishment.
All the details are on our 50+5 Challenge page.
There is a lot of great news coming for the BT just around the bend, but we need your support today to help us continue our important work, for you, and for all Buckeyes. If you can, please take that next step and donate today to support the Buckeye Trail Association. Above All, Thank You for Hiking!
Visit the Events page for hiking information.
Visit the Membership page for membership benefits information.
Click on this Join link to join the BTA by credit card online.
Visit the Get Involved page for information on volunteer opportunities.
Visit our Donate page for additional information.
Download the latest donation appeal letter .
Click on this Donate link to make a donation by credit card online.
The BT 101 Video is now available as a YouTube video. You may see the video at this link: https://youtu.be/1z_6bSX2Hdw
BTA's Strategic Plan has been in the development stages since 2017 and the now completed plan called BTA 2025 will provide guidance to take the BTA forward for the next 5 years. The Executive Summary of this plan is now available BTA 2025 for download. Note: It is a large file.
The BTA's Board of Trustees is currently working on the Strategic Plan for the next 5 years.
Some of our past Trailblazer issues are available online, including the very first issue published in 1968! We've come along ways in 60 years! Check them out on our Trailblazer page
Are you looking for ways to help? Our goal is to find you a volunteer position worthy of your unique talents, and one that excites and inspires you. For more information on available opportunities, contact our Volunteer Coordinator at
or register in the Volunteer Portal and you will be notified of opportunities. Remember that signing up in the software does not sign you up for any job, it just allows you to see opportunities. Register as a volunteer now!
We thank you all of our remarkable volunteers. Some of this work is perhaps not as glamorous as making a trail from a path in the woods, but it is rewarding and vital to the success of the Buckeye Trail. THANKS.