Follow the Blue Blazes - A Guide to Hiking Ohio's Buckeye Trail

"Many changes have taken place in the decade since Follow the Blue Blazes was first published, changes in the trails themselves and in the way we hike them. The Buckeye Trail still wends its way around the state of Ohio, following the course marked out by the characteristic blue blazes on trees, rocks, and other signposts along the way. In the intervening years, however, sections of the trail have changed their route, added amenities, or just grown more interesting. From the startling rock formations andgraceful waterfalls of Old Man's Cave, to Native American mounds, battlefields, and scenic rivers, Connie and Robert J. Pond provide a captivating guide to often-overlooked treasures around the state. Each chapter features an overview of a 100-mile section of the trail and three self-guided featured hikes. The overviews and the accompanying maps may be read consecutively to acquaint the reader with the entire course of the trail. But most readers will best enjoy the trail by taking the guide along on oneof the featured hikes. Each route is outlined on an easy-to-read map with GPS coordinates and waypoints to guide the hiker, as well as explicit directions from parking lot to trailhead"--

List of contents

Contents

Foreword to the Second Edition

Preface to the Second Edition

Acknowledgments

How to Use This Guide

Chapter 1 Hiking the Buckeye Trail

The Need to Hike

Planning Is Crucial

Day Hiking Checklist

Safety and Comfort on the Trail

Bicycling and the Buckeye Trail

Trail Markings

The Buckeye Trail Association

Contacts

Chapter 2 Southern Wonderland

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls

Featured Hike 2—Tar Hollow State Forest

Featured Hike 3—Scioto Trail State Park

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 3 The Bluegrass Region

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Pike Lake State Park

Featured Hike 2—Fort Hill

Featured Hike 3—Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 4 Ohio River Country

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Shawnee State Forest

Featured Hike 2—Ripley

Featured Hike 3—East Fork State Park

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 5 The Little Miami River Valley

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Eden Park

Featured Hike 2—Fort Ancient State Memorial

Featured Hike 3—Glen Helen and Clifton Gorge

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 6 Canal Boats to Trains and Bicycles to Planes

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Eastwood MetroPark and National Museum of the USAF

Featured Hike 2—Johnston Farm and Indian Agency Historic Site and the Locks at Lockington

Featured Hike 3—The Miami and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, St. Marys

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 7 The Great Black Swamp

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Fort Defiance and Independence Dam State Park

Featured Hike 2—Oak Openings Metropark

Featured Hike 3—Providence Metropark to Roche de Bout

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 8 The Watershed Trail

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Wolf Creek Park

Featured Hike 2—Findley State Park

Featured Hike 3—Hinckley Reservation

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 9 Connecticut’s Western Reserve: Big Loop to Little Loop

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Brecksville Reservation

Featured Hike 2—Canal Fulton

Featured Hike 3—Chapin Forest

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 10 The Upper Cuyahoga River: East Branch of the Little Loop

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Mentor Marsh

Featured Hike 2—Mogadore Reservoir

Featured Hike 3—Quail Hollow State Park

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 11 Lake Country

Overview

Featured Hike 1—Fort Laurens to Zoar Village

Featured Hike 2—Clendening Lake

Featured Hike 3—Salt Fork State Park

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 12 Hill Country

Overview

Featured Hike 1—American Electric Power ReCreation Land

Featured Hike 2—Scenic River Trail in Wayne National Forest

Featured Hike 3—Burr Oak Backpack Hike

Local Contacts

Waypoint ID’s

Chapter 13 Making It All Possible—The Blue Blazes, of Course!

The Pioneers

The Maintainers

Appendices

Bedrock Geologic Map of Ohio

Physiographic Provinces Sections of Ohio

Index

About the author

Connie Pond is an Ohio native and Ohio State University graduate with a career in federal government. She has thirty years of experience with the Buckeye Trail as a board member and officer.

Product details

• Authors: Connie Pond, Connie/ Newman Pond, Robert J. Pond
• Publisher: University of ohio press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 15.10.2014
• EAN: 9780821421215
• ISBN: 978-0-8214-2121-5
• No. of pages: 276
• Subjects: Guides > Nature; Travel > Travel guides