Urge Congress to designate Buckeye Trail a National Scenic Trail

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
S. C. R. No. 11

2025-2026

Senators
Ingram, Wilson

Cosponsors:
Senators Chavez, Cirino, Craig, Johnson, Manning, Landis, Reineke,
Wilkin

A
c o n c u r r e n t R E S O L U T I O N

To
urge Congress to designate the Buckeye Trail as a National Scenic
Trail.

BE
IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO (THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING):

WHEREAS,
National Scenic Trails are routes, designated by Congress, that
traverse some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the United
States, providing unique opportunities for hiking, biking, and
experiencing nature. These trails are recognized for their
outstanding scenic, natural, and recreational values, often
showcasing diverse ecosystems, picturesque vistas, and cultural
heritage along their paths; and

WHEREAS,
National Scenic Trails, like the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific
Crest Trail, are managed by various federal and state agencies and
offer well-maintained paths that attract outdoor enthusiasts from
across the country. They often intersect with local communities and
provide significant economic benefits through tourism; and

WHEREAS,
The Buckeye Trail is an existing long-distance hiking trail that
creates a loop extending approximately 1,454 miles from Lake Erie to
the Ohio River, through the farmland of northwest Ohio, the hills of
Appalachia, the Black Hand sandstone cliffs of the Hocking Hills
region, and the Bluegrass region of southwest Ohio; and

WHEREAS,
The Buckeye Trail was established in 1959 by the Buckeye Trail
Association, a nonprofit organization that currently administers the
trail; and

WHEREAS,
The National Park Service is conducting a study to provide
information to Congress on the feasibility and desirability of
designating the Buckeye Trail as a National Scenic Trail. By
objectively examining established criteria, the National Park
Service's study will assess how well the trail aligns with the
federal designation requirements, which emphasize public access to
and the preservation and conservation of the trail's unique
characteristics; and

WHEREAS,
At the conclusion of the study, the National Park Service will submit
its findings to the Secretary of the Interior, who then makes a
recommendation to Congress for consideration; now therefore be it

RESOLVED,
That we, the members of the 136th General Assembly of the State of
Ohio, upon completion of the feasibility study, urge Congress to
designate the Buckeye Trail as a National Scenic Trail; and be it
further

RESOLVED,
That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly authenticated copies of
this resolution to the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the
United States Senate, Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of
Representatives, members of Ohio's Congressional delegation, and the
news media of Ohio.