Route: Burr Oak + Wildcat Hollow Trails (OH)

The Burr Oak Backpack Trail and Wildcat Hollow Long Loop are both accepted FKT trails on their own. They are located in southeastern Ohio; Burr Oak Backpack trail is completely within Burr Oak State Park, Wildcat Hollow is in Wayne National Forest. Both trails are similar in that they contain rocks, roots, creek crossings, beautiful ridge tops and secluded bottoms. Burr Oak provides you a view of Burr Oak lake for most of its 22.2 miles. Wildcat Hollow Long Loop is a popular 15.5 mile backpack destination with many primitive campsites and the aroma of a breakfact campfire on early morning runs is common. Burr Oak is generally better taken care of since it is a state park with many campers in the more contemporary campsites and Burr Oak Lodge visitors taking day hikes. 

Both trails will challenge you; however, neither is so technical that a beginner would not enjoy exploring either trail. One is tailored for primitive hikers and campers, one is tailored to family camping in a camper with amenities like electric. Burr Oak is generally free of deadfalls and Wildcat Hollow has new obstacles every time you run it. Yet, the distance between where Burr Oak Backpack Trail crosses Sunday Creek and the Wildcat Hollow Trail are less than 3/4 of a mile apart. Strava shows them at 0.6 miles to be exact. This proximity makes it possible to connect these two sought after trails into one run by simply leaving one trail, running a short distance on Sunday Creek road, a gravel covered road with a great view of Sunday Creek, and entering the other. Since both the Burr Oak Backpack Trail and Wildcat Hollow Long Loop are both closed loop trails, connected by Sunday Creek road, combining them is essentially one 39.3 mile loop. 

There are multiple road crossings on Wildcat Hollow Long Loop and the Burr Oak Backpack trail intersects with boat ramp parking lots, the Nature Center parking lot and the beach parking lot that can be used for aid station stops for a well supported run that a run of this length would benefit from. If you're not local and traveling in you can choose from lodging at Burr Oak offering both campsites for all types of RVs and Burr Oak Lodge, or Wildcat Hollow offering primitive campsites at the trail head and along the trail itself. This combination route is well suited for any running or hiking enthusiast no matter your preference.