You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't heard of the Appalachian Trail: a 2,200-mile hiking trail that winds through 14 states, from Georgia to Maine.
The Buckeye Trail is lesser known, but a dedicated group of volunteers are working to change that — not only by spreading word about the scenic route that travels the perimeter of the state, but by continuously working to maintain and improve it.
The first 20 miles of the Buckeye Trail were dedicated in 1959 in Hocking County by the fledgling Buckeye Trail Association, whose members continued their work until the trail was completed in 1980.
Since then, the "Blue Blazes" have continued to make their mark in forests, farmlands, small towns and metropolises throughout the Buckeye State.
Though my husband and I would have loved to dedicate a few months to hiking the Buckeye Trail in its entirety this summer, we settled for just a stretch of it to start out with — and were very impressed with what we saw.
Conveniently, since much of our hike ran in conjunction with a portion of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, parking was available in a special lot in town.
Our hike started in the quaint village of Bolivar, from which the blue blazes led us on a stroll through the town before coming to the Fort Laurens State Memorial, where the state's only Revolutionary War fort once stood. The path was clearly marked, though we had consulted the Buckeye Trail Association website beforehand to check our route and be sure of where we were going.
We didn't discover until later that the Buckeye Trail departed slightly from the towpath at this point (we followed it on the way back), but the two merged as we crossed a bridge over Interstate 77 toward Zoar, our destination for the day.
The trail was well-kept and the scenery varied, from grazing fields to forest to marshy areas. It also ran alongside the Tuscarawas River, where we spotted a few sunbathing turtles in our wanderings.
In Zoar, we stopped for lunch at the Canal Tavern of Zoar, built in 1829 by the Society of Separatists of Zoar to feed and house travelers along the canal. The food was delicious, the service impeccable and the grounds inviting and well-kept.
Our hike back to Bolivar (note to self: Next time, arrange drop-off and pick-up) ended with ice cream at another local joint, the Canal Street Diner.
While we didn't have an opportunity to camp along the trail, the Buckeye Trail Association is working to establish campsites about every 10 miles.
If a Buckeye Trail hike is in your future, pick up the book "Follow the Blue Blazes," a comprehensive resource that will serve as your insider's guide to all things Buckeye Trail.
One important piece of advice for newbies: Make sure to get a map, which are available in the "online store" section of the Buckeye Trail website. Also consider visiting at trail event to talk to seasoned hikers.
Most importantly, enjoy your hike and spread the word!
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