8 mile hike on Shenango Trail from Big Bend to New Hamburg and back. Temp around 57° at Noon; perfect for a longer hike. 17 other hikers had the same idea to get out of confinement on a sunny Saturday. Many new faces on the trail; including two former students! Wildlife absent due to increased numbers of hikers. Performed some brush clearing while walking.

4/17/2020 Late afternoon hike during wet snowfall. Spotted immature bald eagle perched near riverbank. Lots of deer sign, no other hikers. Examined recently installed grade dips to channel water from the trail. Further work curtailed due to health guidelines.

3/22/2020. Decided to hike Shenango Trail to break away from home and isolation. Began hike at about 9:30 AM hoping to hike about four miles and relax; maybe do a little trail work along the way. Usually on a clear, bright Sunday I see about 8-10 fellow hikers. NOT TODAY! 28 hikers, 2 bikers, and 1 horseperson were seen on trail by the time I finished my hike/work at 2:30 PM. It seems a lot of others had the same idea to escape home and boredom after being cooped up for at least a week. Trail was in great shape; little muddy and slightly high streams but very passable. Glad to see so many people with children on the trail; at least 15 elementary and Jr high age hikers; the future of hiking, biking, etc.

3/8/2020. Began a trail survey hike in AM, 35° temp. Hiked in 2.0 miles to midway point. One downed tree blocking trail at eye level, trail dry and clear. Nine other hikers enjoying the day. Hiked back out and drove to New Hamburg after lunch and hiked in 2.0 miles to midpoint again. Trail temp around 60° by 2 PM. Met another eight hikers on the second leg; all enjoying the unseasonably warm/sunny weather. Several mature bald eagles circling around on the river. Two fishermen trying their luck on far side of river. Explored possible reroute of trail north of bridge number 1. Hikers from Grove City, Hermitage, Fredonia, and Masury, Brookfield, and Cortland, Ohio.

Hiked 1.5 miles in from Big Bend to complete a small wooden 'seep' crossing which has been a nuisance for quite some time. Trail snow covered, weather sunny and bright; 18° at 8:45 AM. Set puncheons for crossing in AM. Returned at 3 PM to complete installation. A total of 13 other hikers and runners enjoying the beautiful day; some looking for "Bigfoot". Temp in afternoon around 45°. Hiked forward to mile 2.0 for snacks and a break. Explored original route of towpath and remnants of canal lock near bridge crossing.

2/29/ 2020. Midday hike on the Shenango Trail. 20 ° and bright sunshine. 2.5 miles in and back from Big Bend. Side trip up a creek drainage to Pew Rd. looking for mid-trail access. Trail in great shape, frozen surface, no tree obstructions. Saw three deer near Camp Nazareth and two immature bald eagles on the river. Evidence of two other hikers from previous day.

I walked from Big Bend to the covered bridge and back. I started at 10:45am and arrived back at Big Bend at 6:00pm When I made it to the covered bridge at the end my phone said 8.62 miles. I'm not sure if this is 100% but it gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect if you do the whole trail to the end. I want to thank each and everyone that has volunteered to make this trail so great your work is greatly appreciated.

This trail is actually closer to 8 miles long, point to point running from kidds mill bridge to big bend. It's a great trail for all levels of hiking or trail running, with great views of the river and wildlife along the whole length of the trail, and is the only primitive hiking trail in the area. A great group of volunteers and the Shenango River Watchers put in alot of work getting the trail cleared up and bringing it back to life. When its wet out, it can be muddy in spots, and when its warm out, there are bugs, because well you are in the great outdoors! 😁

1/8/2020 Decided to take a little hike on Kidds Mill trail intending to scout out a proposed loop trail and then hike on to the Shenango Trail. Scouted past eroded bluff and rejoined Kidds Mill trail. 25° degrees and sunny, fresh trackless snow. About a half hour in, a dense snow squall dumped another inch of snow on the previous blanket. Snowed hard enough to limit visibility to 50 yards. Wildlife was absent during the height of the squall which lasted 30 minutes. After the band moved through, spotted three doe and a perched bald eagle. Hiked total 5 miles out and back. Great day, quiet, no fellow hikers.