Buckeye Trail expansion unites organizations

The Buckeye Trail Association, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Student Conservation Association and American Conservation Experience have joined to create a new off-road trail segment of the Buckeye Trail.

The new segment is a part of the Trails Corridor Project, which is a collaboration between the BTA and MWCD that is working to expand the off-road segments of the Buckeye Trail in MWCD’s footprint.

The Buckeye Trail is more than 1,400 miles of hiking trail linking the four corners of Ohio. The trail follows wooded footpaths, abandoned railroad corridors, historic canal towpaths, rivers, lake shores and country roads within both rural and urban settings. Sections are located within the footprint of the MWCD, including the Beall Farm, regional headquarters for the trail located at Tappan Lake Park.

The SCA crew from Cleveland and ACE crew from Fletcher, North Carolina worked to create a new natural surface trail between the Beall Farmstead and Area 5 Campground within Tappan Lake Park, located near Deersville.

The first trail segment, recently developed, covers 1.2 miles, and the second segment, expected to be complete in the coming year, will result in a total length of 2 miles. Once complete, the new trail segment will be incorporated into the Buckeye Trail, providing a scenic path for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to explore.

By moving the trail off Moravian Trail Road and through Tappan Lake Park, it will provide a safer experience for trail users. Another part of this new reroute of the Buckeye Trail through the park will incorporate the nearby Turkey Ridge Trail, which was originally built by BTA volunteers to connect the BTA Beall Farmstead to the major amenities at Tappan Lake Park.

“We are thrilled to be part of this collective effort to expand the Buckeye Trail. It showcases the power of partnerships in advancing environmental conservation while enriching the outdoor experience for all,” said Craig Butler, MWCD executive director.

The BTA is comprised of a large body of volunteers who maintain and promote the trail. For more information about the Buckeye Trail, visit www.buckeyetrail.org. For more information about MWCD and trail maps, visit www.mwcd.org/trails.