"The forest is a quiet place and nature is beautiful. I don't want to sit and rock. I want to do something." ~Grandma Gatewood
Emma 'Grandma' Gatewood is America’s most famous hiker and was the best ambassador for the Appalachian Trail. She is credited for helping save the nation’s foremost trail, but she never lost her love for Ohio’s forests and natural places. Emma was one of the founding members of the Buckeye Trail Association. She was there for the group’s inaugural hike in September 1959 when the first 20 miles were dedicated in Hocking Hills.
Originally dreamed up in the late 1950s as a path from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, the Buckeye Trail has since blossomed into an amazing loop. Starting in Cincinnati, the trail branches north and east, reconnecting near Cleveland in Cuyahoga Valley National Park before making its way to the lake. Because it’s a loop, there’s no true end—start your adventure anywhere along the trail and hike as long as your heart desires! The trail is lovingly maintained by volunteers from the Buckeye Trail Association, a dedicated nonprofit. Use this site to plan your next Buckeye Trail adventure!