Find the top rated bike trails in Buckeye Lake, whether you're looking for an easy short bike trail or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a bike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I took the trail during the last week in August, starting at the west end. It was trashy under the first bridge just at the beginning, but otherwise the trail was fine. I didn't have any problem seeing the chain link fence.
Views of the Basket Building are best going west, especially when even with the white-roofed greenhouses. Longaberger Basket closed in 2018 and it is now empty.
I could not find the parking lot on the west end as mentioned when I was on the corner of E Main St and S Morris St. I ended up parking at the St Vincent De Paul Thrift Store with permission. If one is going to do the whole route, there is better and obvious parking about midway at Marne and Licking Valley Rd NE as mentioned by others. There is a bike fix-it station less than a minute's ride from that parking lot at the trail side of the church. This would be a good place for a port a pot, since there are no restrooms along the way. The east end doesn't have parking either where the trail just ends.
There are a couple fast food restaurants and a convenience store off the path a couple miles from the west end. Some are at the bottom of a hill, so keep in mind you have to go back up the hill to get on the trail again.
Overall a good trail for the area.
The trail itself was in good shape, fairly smooth not a lot of bumps. About 75% of the ride was shaded. It would be pretty in the fall when the leaves change colors. Major complaint is the amount of horse poop on the trail. And because most of the trail being shaped it was hard to avoid. Washed my bike when I got home. Kokosing Gap trail and Holmes County Trail are much better rides.
At no part was the trail paved.. started at the schoolhouse, didn’t know there was a trailhead at the beginning of the trail in Zaleski (think I spelled that right) but the rail was maintained well but it was just tracks of a vehicle that you ride on.. packed gravel on the most part.. rode to the other end.. didn’t see the “little” detour sign.. and soon was ridding in overgrowth., rode that u til the bridge was out.. turned around and had to take the detour up a gravel road.. very hilly.. steep hills at that.. got back on the trail.. that trail was nice.. very packed gravel.. went though the 2 tunnels.. very nice.. It was a good ride.. marking could be I Proved on.. with the detour was about a 20 mile round trip all in all.. had lots of fun on it.. Grandson went with m.. can’t give this trail 5 stars.. needs some improvements.. but I enjoyed
This was an awesome ride.. I did a total of 63 miles of this trail.. trail could use some better markings along the way.. I started at Washington court.. rode though a nice park, but then had to go through an industrial park to get to the trial.. TrailLink did not show another trailhead on it's map that would have saved me about 2 miles going though that industrial park..
It was a very hot day that day.. but mostly the trail was covered in trees, there are a lot of areas or stretch's of trail that are out in open country and hardly any trees to take advantage of shade.. on that hot day, it was kind of rough to get through that area... lots of country side to see.. some of the trial got rough due to braking up of the pavement.. but still wasn't too bad.. road all the way down to Chillicothe, ate at a restaurant called "Sumburger".. cooled off there for a couple of hours (It was really hot out there) people in there was very nice.. they do have charging plugs in there to recharge you phone or battery if you have an e-bike.. thought that was cool...
All in all it was a great ride.. planning to head back there this fall when the fall colors are in..
My brother and myself rode this trail on July 23-24. We started at the Nelsonville Train Station where there is plenty of parking. Took many pictures of railroad cars and there was an active train that added to the fun. Note: The train station was not open and there are limited times so check the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway website. The day was very warm; one thing - there is plenty of shade on this trail until you get to Ohio University where it opens up. The trail is well paved and maintained. Early in the trip, we passed Hocking College and Robbins Crossing Historical Village. From my understanding, the village is open only on weekends. You can still walk around the buildings. A little after the Beaumont-Salina trailhead, we came across a beautiful image painted on a side of a shed (one part is a blue train engine labeled as Conrail Quality) - we stumbled across this riding off the trail just a bit. Next was the town of The Plains. Home of Joe Burrow. You can find his field a little off the trail. We had a great meal and service at the Eclipse Company Store. Both had one of their specialty beers. Ohio University will be next with a golf course right there as well. There are some community gardens that follow. The trail will continue for a few more miles and then ends at S Canaan Rd. The last few miles it runs parallel to a highway and there is not much to see. We had a nice few days staying in Nelsonville at the Primrose B&B. We had wondered where the word HockHocking originated. The Delaware Indians named the river Hockhocking (after which it was changed to Hocking). The word means 'a bottle' in their tongue and was derived from the fact there is a waterfall about 6 miles north of the city of Lancaster. The stream is straight and narrow above these falls but then swells like a bottle below them. Found this in a book where we had stayed at.
did this trail for the first time ever July 23/24. Had a fantastic time riding a well-shaded trail for the most part. It is open once you get to Athens and to S.Canaan rd (end point). Lots of things to see both historically and otherwise. We started in Nelsonville at the western trailhead by the Railroad Station. Plenty of pictures to be had if you are a railroad enthusiast. You can ride the high school connector by The Eclipse restaurant in The Plains and go see the Joe Burrow stadium (about 9/10 of a mile). But DON'T pass this place up. Stop and eat and grab one of the 32 draft craft beers. You won't be disappointed. About the only thing that needs some clarification is the mileage markers. It is a little confusing once you get to Athens and where they added the additional trail to the original 18 miles. I heard that there is plans (in the making) of connecting the Moonville Rail Trail up to Athens and the Athens-Belpre trail. That may be ambitious and I don't know if I'll be around to see it. However, that would be great if it happened.
Well maintained trail. The only thing missing is an ice cream shop.
We try to get to this one every year commuting nearly 3 hours and staying in the area. Flat paved trail runs from Danville to Mount Vernon. Crosses the Kokosing river several times over historic railroad bridges, goes through Kenyan College at Gambier and passes through the old stone arch in Howard. Mostly shaded with some open farmlands. We saw a few deer. Connecting trails are Heart of Ohio in Mt. Vernon and Mohican Valley in Danville. All around great trail!
A beautiful scenery trail shared with Amish horse and buggy riders. Some areas ride a little rough, but overall well worth riding it.
Excellent trail. We parked at the Pickerington Ponds Park trailhead. There are bathrooms there with running water/sewer even though the map doesn't show it. Plenty of parking and nice park in its own right. The trail starts right at the parking lot. If I had one complaint, there could be more pronounced maps and signs along the trail. We missed the trail towards 3 Creeks Park and continued northeast through Portman Park and up Hines Road.
Note: The map shows a break in the pavement for about 200 yards or so just south of Refugee road. It's pavement straight through now.
The section along Hines Road up to Trussing is OK, but the trail is a modified sidewalk along the road, and the road is loud and busy, and crossing the side streets can be concerning. I realized we were going the wrong way when we got to Trussing Rd. and we turned around. Backtracking we saw the sign we missed and got back on course.
The segment starting where the path leaves Hines Road, to the Three Creeks Park trailhead, is fantastic. There is lots of shade. The trail passes a lot of nice parks and things. We saw deer along the trail. The trail goes over or under many busy roads that we would otherwise have to cross. The uphill's and downhills are gradual. All and all this is a great trail. We will definitely come back.
Started on the north part of the trail going south. It switchbacks around a lot of major road infrastructure, but I didn’t have to cross a major road in any of the sections. I ended up getting a bit lost multiple times, but after about 3 miles in, it got a bit easier to navigate. It’s all paved and the part I road on was mostly good with a few sections of bumps. Definitely close to nature - i saw deer, rabbits, and a hawk catch another bird.
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