Buckeye Trail - Mogadore

Mogadore Section

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Trail Description

Supervisor: Russ Flesher
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74.5 Total Miles / 32.31 Off Road Miles (43.4%)
Map Publication Date: December 2019

Welcome to one of the highest regions of Ohio's glaciated Appalachian Plateau. This section is characterized by its flatness and its glacial features - end moraines, ground moraine, kames, eskers and mature kettle lakes. Often one can barely tell when one passes from one drainage to another. The trail begins along the Headwaters Trail in the Eagle Creek drainage which flows into the Mahoning R. Within a couple of miles, the trail passes bogs in the Cuyahoga R drainage and then crosses the Cuyahoga R itself in Mantua. Mantua is a small Western Reserve village with restaurants and a post office. A few miles later, the trail, now on road, crosses one of the highest points on the BT in the state. Shortly, the trail passes closely by the West Branch of the Mahoning R which the trail stays near through West Branch State Park and on. The trail crosses SR 44 south of Ravenna near Rootstown. Here is a good location for resupply with a major grocery only .5 mi south of that intersection. With planning, the Rootstown post office is easily reached. West of SR 44, the trail returns to the area drained by streams that flow into the Cuyahoga R. This condition lasts all the way into Hartville. The amount of trail off road has recently improved and the trail offers many opportunities to view the natural terrain along the Headwaters Trail, miles of new trail in West Branch State Park where it now travels around Michael J.Kerwin Reservoir, and along Mogadore Reservoir as well as the trails in Quail Hollow State Park. Between Mogadore Reservoir and Quail Hollow State Park, the trail, again on road, passes Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake hangar where all of their blimps have been assembled. You may see the current occupant of the hangar, Goodyear's new semi-rigid Zeppelin airship, Wingfoot Three, as you pass.

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Trail Alerts

  • There are no trail alerts at this time.

Map Updates

  • (1/2/25)West Branch Trail Additions

    An extensive project to create new trail around the Michael J Kirwin Reservior in West Branch State Park has taken many years to complete. The good news is that the trail is now blazed and ready for use. Until a new map has been printed, temporary points are designated. This adds considerable mileage to the Mogadore Section, making it 74.5 miles long. The BTA is reviewing plans to reduce this number of miles by realigning adjoing sections and or the addition of another trail section. This update applies to the Mogadore printed map edition of 2019 and to the current Spring 2024 versions of the FarOut and Avenza maps. To correct the miles on the printed maps, add 19.8 miles to CW miles from Point 11 to Point 29 and 19.8 miles from Point 10 to Point 1 for the CCW miles. See the trail log below for the temporary points designated 10A-10H.

    CW CCW Pt Description
    19.6
    E    		 54.9
    N    		 10 3-Way Trail Junction
    A white blazed trail leads to West Branch State Park Cartop Boat Launch parking at Rock Spring Rd. BT turns NE and meanders the through woods, crossing Rock Spring Rd, several bridges, the Orange Bridle Trail,and more bridges to finally reach Elsworthy Rd.
    21.2
    N    		 53.3
    SSW    		 10A BT at Esworthy Rd
    P at West Branch State Park Office 400' E. From here to the next point, the BT zig-zags in all directions and crosses many bridges and areas with drainage. It comes close to the reservoir before joining the Red Bridle Trail.
    23.9
    E    		 50.6
    S    		 10B BT at Horse Camp Rd
    BT follows the road for a short distance before turning S to enter the woods. Follow trail S, then E, and N again and then crossing utility access roads several times before heading mainly south towards the Horse Camp.
    25.9
    E    		 48.6
    W    		 10C BT at Horse Camp Rd Crosing
    The Horse Camp is 140' S. From here the BT continues meandering through the woods, crossing the Yellow Bridle Trail many times. At the utility access road turn E and in 400' turn S back into the woods. The trail zig-zags across bridges and draingae areas, passes Sitting Rocks, and more or less follows the contour of the lake.
    29.4
    S    		 45.9
    W    		 10D BT at Spillway
    After crossing the spillway, there is a picnic table and a little further south along the dam is a bench.
    30.8
    SW    		 43.7
    NW    		 10E BT at Flag Pole near Visitor Center
    Facilities: Visitor Center, P, PS, Vault Toilet. Follow the road SW for .3mi to where the BT turns slightly NW and meanders on past the Secnic Overlook Picnic Area and through the woods.
    31.9
    SW    		 42.6
    NW    		 10F East Boat Launch Parking
    Parking Facilities: P, PS, Vault Toilet. The BT continues through more woods, across drainage areas and bridges, and past old foundation stones. Cross Marina Dr and continue around the disc golf area.
    34.4
    NW    		 40.1
    S    		 10G BT at Beach Parking
    Parking Facilities: P, PS, Vault Toilet. Exit the parking area S and then W. At Allinace Rd, the BT turns S to traverse roads. At Calvin Rd turn W to walk along the park boundary, and turn N on Porter Rd to reach abandoned Cable Line Rd within the park property. Go W on the remnants of Cable Line Rd through the woods, eventually turning N to reach the West Boat Ramp and Mountain Bike/Snowmobile Trailhead.
    39.0
    NW    		 35.5
    SE    		 10H BT at West Boat Ramp, Small Parking lot
    Parking Facilities: P, PS, Vault Toilet. Leave the trailhead and enjoy this section of the BT which travels through a wooded area with only one drainage issue and no bridges.
    39.4
    W    		 35.1
    SE    		 11 Rock Spring Rd at Pathway
    Continue with information on the maps.
  • (12/10/19)A new map for Mogadore has now been published.
  • (7/29/16)Shaw Woods Campsite

    A primitive campsite with a picnic table is available off the main entrance trail at Shaw Woods Park by reservation and special permit from the Portage Park District. Contact the Park District at (330) 297-7728 or admin@portageparkdistrict.org .
    Assuming that you have your special permit, the campsite may be reached from Pt A (See below.) which is located between Pt 5 and Pt 6 on your Mogadore Section Map, Edition of July 2011. Follow the main trail W past the parking lot into the woods. After 0.2 mi, turn S. After 0.15 mi, follow white blazes that mark a footpath that heads W to campsite above a stream. Please carry out all trash including any that you may find there.

    CW CCW Pt Description
    10.6
    NE    		 44.8
    N    		 5. Peck Rd at SR-88
    Leaving Peck Rd, go NE on SR 88 heading NE past Maplewood Christian church with ball field and picnic shelter. After 0.28 mi, exit SR 88 onto Beechwood Rd. Head E across West Branch Mahoning R (0.16 mi). After 0.8 mi at a sharp turn, Beechwood Rd ends. Go S on road that is named Beery Rd. The fenced property along the E side of Beery Rd is named Ravenna Training and Logistics Site (RTLS).This property under various names, including Ravenna Army Ammunition Plant (RVAAP), has produced munitions for World War II, the Korean War and the Viet Nam Conflict. In recent years, RVAAP leases a small part of RTLS on which to decommission military ordnance. The Ohio Army Guard uses more and more of the site for various training exercises.
    12.5
    S    		 42.9
    N    		 A. Beery Rd at Entrance to Shaw Woods Park C, P, PT) [81.19286°W, 41.18307°N]
    Continue S on Beery Rd. After 0.4 mi, Beery Rd ends. Turn E onto McCormick Rd. And in 0.3 mi where road and trail turn sharply S, road is renamed as Garrett Rd.
    14.2
    E    		 41.2
    N    		 6. Garrett Rd at Newton Falls Rd
    Turn E onto Newton Falls Rd, etc.

Trail Towns

Village of Mantua

On July 14, 2018, Andrew Bashaw, Executive Director of the Buckeye Trail Association welcomed the village of Mantua as the 10th Buckeye Trail Town. The festivities took place at the bridge at the Headwaters Trailhead. Bashaw commended the village for becoming a Trail Town, welcoming Buckeye Trail travelers with hospitality during their visits to the area. He noted the opportunity this partnership provides, the prospect “for us to do more and more over time.” Mantua Village Mayor Linda Clark concurred, sharing; “This is an excellent opportunity for your community.”

Section Blogs

  • (3/30/25) Mogadore Section Blog—The Mogadore Section: The Sights (Village of Mantua), Company We Keep (Family), and Memories, Past and Present (Silly to Sublime)
    Mantua brought back silly, fun childhood memories; as we hiked, we made happy memories as adults—1,000 Buckeye Trail miles and silly fun with siblings. We loved the idyllic forests through Marsh Wetlands State Nature Preserve and Mantua Bog. A sign alerted us to the Triple Trail Fest. Read Victoria Livingston's blog from when she and husband Dave hiked this section.