Wayne National Forest Wants Your Input

The Athens Ranger District of Wayne National Forest is asking for public comments on plans to build 1.8 miles of trail directly connecting the village of Shawnee with the Buckeye Trail and North Country Trail, and to add 6.4 miles of new trail.

The plans would add a short, accessible loop around Tecumseh Lake and a longer loop trail south of the lake. Those trails, totaling about 3 miles in length, are part of the effort to provide hiking opportunities at varying difficulty levels to serve community health.

Furthermore, the rerouting of the trail is intended to improve safety for hikers by moving trails off of roads and discouraging motor vehicle use on walking trails.

Changes to the Buckeye Trail are part of an ongoing initiative to make the trail more friendly and accessible to backpackers and thru-hikers from the local area and from afar.

For more information about the proposed trail changes, click here.

Public comments can be made to Dawn McCarthy at Wayne National Forest, 13700 U.S. Hwy 33, Nelsonville, Ohio by Friday, September 29, 2017, specifically stating that they are in reference to the scoping period for the Buckeye Trail/North Country Trail Project.

Individuals should submit comments with their full name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and a signature, or other verification of identity. They should directly relate to the proposed trail reroutes and should include supporting reasons.

Comments can also be given by phone at (740) 753-0101 during normal business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or submit comments electronically to: comments-eastern-wayne-athens@fs.fed.us. All comments given will be considered but will be more effective if submitted before September 29, 2017.

For more information about Wayne National Forest, click here.

Visit these websites to learn more about the Buckeye Trial and the North Country Trail.