Description: In the event a US Government Shutdown commences on October 1, 2025, the Buckeye Trail Association is providing this FAQ document to address questions you may have concerning the effect the shutdown may have on the BT, our volunteers, and partners. Please read the document and then if you have any questions contact Aidan Reagan at or Alexys Nolen at .
Description:The Village of Shawnee hosted the Buckeye Trail “Blue Blaze Festival” on September 26-27, 2025. If you would like to see the results for the various races and hikes, you may view them on the race results page. Thanks to all who participated and volunteered for the event.
The Crooked River Chapter of the Buckeye Trail Association thanks all the Buckeye Trail members who participated in the Little Loop Challenge - for hiking, for help preparing the trail, and for all the behind the scenes activities. We reached our goal to have 100% of the Little Loop Sections reserved to be hiked. We also reached our goal to raise $1000 for the Buckeye Trail. Two great accomplishments!
The Buckeye Trail Association just launched Volgistics/VicNet, a volunteer portal for easily logging volunteer hours, viewing volunteer opportunities, and accessing a variety of resources.
Visit our Become Involved Page to learn how to access our new portal.
Information coming soon with details for TrailFest 2026. Stay tuned!
The 12th Annual Buckeye TrailFest occurred September 5‐7, 2025 at Maumee Bay State Park on the shore of Lake Erie.
Visit the TrailFest 2025 website for a thank you to all our sponsors and partners this year.
This signature event provides our members the opportunity to visit with old friends, meet new ones, participate in unique adventures, attend informational presentations, and hear the latest updates about the trail. We hope you had a great time!
NOTE:Please be aware that along the length of the Buckeye Trail, many parks, trail managers, historic and public locations, etc., maintain hours or days of operation which limit access to their facilities. BEFORE you head out to hike, check the web site for the location you intend to visit for any restrictions. Please respect their stated access policies.
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.
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
The Buckeye Trail Association just launched Volgistics/VicNet, a volunteer portal for easily logging volunteer hours, viewing volunteer opportunities, and accessing a variety of resources.
Visit our Become Involved Page to learn how to access our new portal.
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.