The Buckeye Trail’s Biggest Day Hike
Frequently Asked Questions
With an attempt to collectively hike 1,400+ miles on National Trails Day, we realize that you may have a couple of questions. Hopefully this FAQ will help answer some of the more frequently asked questions. If you cannot find your answer here, feel free to send us an email at
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What is the Biggest Day Hike? How do you hike 1,400 miles in one day?
This is a cooperative effort to put hikers on the trail in order to collectively complete the entire Buckeye Trail in a single day. Each hiker signs up for a small fragment of the trail that they want to hike, either by themselves or with a group of people. Each hiker is only covering a small portion of the entire Buckeye Trail, be it a single Segment or multiple Segments, but we have lots of hikers signing up for different portions of the trail, and with hundreds of hikers on the Buckeye Trail on National Trails Day, we hope to cover the entire 1,400+ miles.
How is the Buckeye Trail split up?
The Buckeye Trail is divided into 26 different Sections and each Section is further divided into smaller Segments, generally around 30, with the Points between these Segments given a number. Breaking up the Trail like this gives us 703 total Segments, ranging from as little as a tenth of a mile up to as much as seven miles. These existing map Segments are the easiest way for us to coordinate the coverage of the Trail.
Who can participate?
The Biggest Day Hike is open to everyone interested in participating. Some portions are flat, paved Rails-To-Trails corridors that may be ADA accessible. Participating can also include paddling waterways that run parallel to the Trail. You can also bike or horseback ride on portions that are approved for that use.
When is the Biggest Day Hike?
The Biggest Day Hike is on National Trails Day, which is the first Saturday in June of every year. The exact date for this year as well as the signup link can be found on the Buckeye Trail Website.
When can I start hiking?
Whenever you want to on National Trails Day. In areas that are open 24 hours, you could technically start at midnight or as early as you would like.
Do I have to hike in a particular direction?
Not at all. The Points on each Section are numbered in a clockwise direction, but that shouldn’t stop you from hiking in the anticlockwise direction.
Where does the Biggest Day Hike take place?
The Biggest Day Hike takes place on the Buckeye Trail, which runs along the inner perimeter of Ohio, reaching all four corners of the state. There may be a bit of the Buckeye Trail closer to you than you think! Take a look at the map on the Buckeye Trail Overview Map page. You may want to order a Section Map for the area you plan to hike prior to National Trails Day.
How much does the Biggest Day Hike cost?
There is no cost to participate in the Biggest Day Hike. But you may want to purchase maps for the location you plan to hike. Buckeye Trail maps can be purchased for your phone on FarOut or Avenza and physical Section Maps can be purchased at the Buckeye Trail Shop in addition to Biggest Day Hike shirts and other gear.
Where does the money go?
Profits from Buckeye Trail Shop merchandise goes to the Buckeye Trail Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization dedicated to building, maintaining, preserving, and promoting the use of the Buckeye Trail, Ohio's longest hiking trail, for our citizens, communities and partners.
How do I sign up?
Take a look at the spreadsheet on the Biggest Day Hike Page and find a Segment that has not been pledged that you are interested in hiking. Next, go to the signup form and enter in the start and end points of the portion of the Trail that you would like to hike. You will receive a confirmation email after submitting the form and you are all signed up. The email will include resources to have a safe hiking experience as well as links to find Buckeye Trail Section Maps and more information about the Buckeye Trail Association.
The Segment I wanted to hike is already taken. Now what?
That’s a bummer. Consider 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.
Where do I park?
Not every Point on the Buckeye Trail has parking. You may need to hike-in to your start point from a parking lot. You can look for notes about parking in the spreadsheet for each Point and can also email the Section Supervisor for more information. You can find the page for your Section on the Buckeye Trail Overview Map page with contact information for the Section Supervisor, Trail Alerts, and Map Updates.
I don’t know much about the Segment I’ve signed up for. How can I get more information?
You can order a map prior to National Trails Day. Buckeye Trail Section Maps can be purchased at the Buckeye Trail Shop. Buckeye Trail maps can also be purchased for your phone on FarOut or Avenza. You can also email questions to the Section Supervisor of the Section you plan on hiking. You can find the page for your Section on the Buckeye Trail Overview Map page with contact information for the Section Supervisor, Trail Alerts, and Map Updates.
What does Trail Alert mean on the spreadsheet?
Trail alerts mark areas of the Trail where it may be impassable to hikers due to downed trees, washed out trail, or some other reason. Check the Buckeye Trail website’s Trail Alerts or Map Updates for more information in order to plan an appropriate reroute for your hike.
How many Segments can I sign up for?
As many as you think you can reasonably hike in a day.
How should I hike my Segments?
A few Segments of the Buckeye Trail may allow you to hike your Segments and take a different trail back to your car, making a looped hike. But many other Segments may require you to hike out and then back again on your Segments. We encourage hikers to work in pairs so that you can drop off a vehicle at your end point, drive a second vehicle to your start point, and hike from car to car. This way you can knock out several Segments at once and don’t have to hike out and back.
Why are my initials not on the spreadsheet?
We work on updating the list as hikers sign up. We try to get the spreadsheet updated daily, so let us know if something is wrong after a few days by sending an email to BigDayHike@BuckeyeTrail.org.
What if I sign up and can’t make the hike?
We’re sorry to hear that you can’t make it, but things do come up. Be sure to let us know as soon as you can so we can open up the Segment for other hikers.
What happens if I get hurt or something happens?
Call 911 if you need it. Many parts of the Trail may not have great cell reception, so moving to higher ground to get a signal may be prudent. Be careful on your hike and carry your cell phone in case of an emergency.
How do I report and prove that I finished my portion of the hike?
We’re doing this on the honor system and we trust you because hikers are trustworthy.
What can I do with all of the photos that I took?
We would love to see some photos of your Biggest Day Hike adventures, so be sure to share them on the Buckeye Trail Association Facebook Group and tag your social media posts with #BiggestDayHike.
What can I do after my hike?
Although you will be hiking your portion of the trail by yourself or with a small group, it’s always fun to meet up with other hikers. We will be having celebrations throughout the state for people to hang out with other hikers and trail enthusiasts. As we get closer to the Biggest Day Hike, check in on the Biggest Day Hike Page and find a nearby celebration to join.