Route: Buckeye Trail (OH)

Location
Ohio, US
Description

http://www.buckeyetrail.org/

"For nearly 1444 miles, the Buckeye Trail winds around Ohio, reaching into every corner of the state. From a beachhead on Lake Erie near Cleveland, to a hilltop overlooking the Ohio River in Cincinnati, a hiker can experience a little of all that Ohio has to offer.

First envisioned in the late 1950's as a trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, the Buckeye Trail evolved into a large loop, branching both north and east from Cincinnati. The separate legs rejoin in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland, and complete the trip to the lake. Because it is a loop, it is also in essence, endless. You may start a hike at any point and hike as long as you want without ever reaching an end!"

39.4312558, -82.5386443

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Comments

To my knowledge Andy “Captain Blue” Niekamp’s 88 day hike is the fastest time for the full trail. I will be starting my attempt June 12, 2018 at the Akron/Bedford/Medina junction in the Cleveland Metroparks' Brecksville Reservation and head south on the Akron Section. I will continue south through the Massilon section and will leave Belle Valley at Map Point 25 to circle the 145.2 mile Wilderness Loop clockwise through Road Fork, Whipple, and Stockport Sections back to Wolf Run State Park. Instead of repeating the 29.2 miles of the connector, I will shuttle/taxi back to the Stockport/Whipple intersection at Stockport Map Point 7 and continue west toward Hocking Hills State Park. After completing the Williamsburg section I will hike south on the 12.6 mile Loveland Spur to Eden Park overlooking the Ohio River in Cincinnati. I will shuttle back to Loveland Map Point 9 in Milford and continue north around the state. After finishing the Medina Section where I started I will continue north to Lake Erie at Headlands Beach State Park and complete the 257 mile “Little Loop.” I will end my trek at Massilon Map Point 11 where it meets with the southern terminus of the Akron Section. I have an In-Reach tracker which posts to: https://share.garmin.com/EverettBrandt. I hope to be able to post pictures on the trail to Instagram, username: everett_brandt Instead of PO drop, I will have family meet up with me every two or three days to resupply pre-packaged food, clothing, etc.

I will be beginning an FKT attempt of the Buckeye Trail being today, 9/27/21. I'll be beginning my hike at Akron section point 31 and heading north to complete the little loop in a clockwise direction. Upon finishing the loop I plan to continue south to Belle Valley section point 25, where I will turn east to complete the loop in a clockwise direction. Upon completion of the loop I'll arrange transportation from Belle Valley section point 25 to Stockport section point 7, where I will continue west until I reach the southern terminus at Eden Park. Then I plan to again arrange transportation back to Williamsburg point 29/Loveland point 9 where will continue north until I complete the entirety of the Buckeye Trail at Akron section point 1/ Bedford section point 1. I will be tracking my hike using a Garmin Fenix 3 smartwatch, trying to upload my progress daily or as my cell phone reception allows. 

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Profile picture for user Brandon Weis

I’ll be starting my supported FKT attempt of the Buckeye Trail on November 28th south of the town Wellington. I will start near the end of Norwalk section point 24 and Medina point 1 at the disc golf parking area. This is mile 951.9 on Guthook/Far Out if you have the settings on Southbound for direction. I will be heading counterclockwise to finish at the same point. I will be doing the trail supported as much as possible so when I get to the loop areas hopefully I will be able to arrange a ride with a friend but if not I will just double back and do some bonus miles. I’ll be tracking my route using a garmin in reach. I will try to be doing daily updates on my Instagram @naturalhorsepower 

I'll be starting my FKT attempt of the Buckeye Trail on 10/20/22 at the Bedford Reservation at MM 897.8 heading counter-clockwise.  My goal is 42 miles per day, and I will be doing it supported (that darned Southern Loop).  I have no arranged support apart from a ride to the trail, so I'll technically be self-support until something changes, but if I can arrange something, I wont hesitate to do so.  I'll be uploading on Garmin (In-Reach Mini & New-Fangled Smartwatch if I get it running), Strava, and you can reach me on my Instagram 70LBHammerisoutside.