53.7 mi total 5.8 certified 0.0 connecting 48.9 marked 0.0 bare
BUCKEYE TRAIL: The majority of the NCNST in Ohio follows the Buckeye Trail. Over 1100 miles long, the trail encircles the state. Planned, marked and mapped by volunteers, the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) was established in 1959, originally to complete a trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie; the association's goals were later modified to circle the state. While much of it is off-road, a great deal is roadwalking. The Buckeye Trail connects many parks, forests and wildlife refuges, reclaimed mines and other conservation areas. It follows woodland trails, back roads, and miles of canal towpaths. Covered bridges, abandoned canal locks, wayside inns and mills are some of the historic places it passes. For more information on the Buckeye Trail, contact Buckeye Trail Association PO Box 254, Worthington OH 43085, or see their website on the Internet at http://ne-ohio.net/bta/.
THE BUCKEYE TRAIL is marked with blue vertical paint blazes _ the standard NCT blaze. Access trails and side trails are blazed with white paint. Off-road segments are more completely blazed than on-road ones. Camping is permitted only at designated campsites; these are not frequent enough to enable backpackers to camp beside the trail every night. Horseback riding is allowed in many places on the trail, and there have been resulting erosion problems. To follow the NCNST on the Buckeye Trail, a set of maps of the Buckeye Trail are very useful. These maps are available from the BTA or the North Country Trail Store, and are generally adequate, although of rather small scale, and are on waterproof paper. The long-distance hiker will need 16 of these: from west to east, Defiance, Delphos, St. Marys, Troy, Caesar Creek, Loveland, Williamsburg, West Union, Sinking Spring, Scioto Trail, Old Man's Cave, New Straitsville, Stockport, Belle Valley, Bowerston and Massillion. OTHER INFORMATION: The Hutchins Guide series has two sections on the NCNST in Ohio: on the BT south of Delphos, along the Little Miami Scenic Trail south of Dayton, and from Sinking Spring to Old Man's Cave. These are a very useful supplement.
When the NCNST makes its turn onto the Buckeye Trail in Independence Dam State Park, it's turning onto a trail rich with history. The area once was a rich hunting and fishing land for the Indians, which included Hopewell, Erie, Iroquois, Miami, Shawnee, Wyandot, Delaware and Ottawa. President Washington believed that Indian power had to be reduced, so he sent General "Mad Anthony" Wayne northward from Cincinnati with 2500 men in 1793. Wayne built Fort Defiance at the juntion of the two rivers. From Fort Defiance, Wayne advanced down the Maumee Valley, to "Fallen Timbers", where, on August 20, 1794, Wayne fought the greatest Indian battle in the east. Half a century later came a development that further shaped the countryside, and incidentally provided a route for the North Country Trail, when the canal building era came to northwest Ohio. The Miami and Erie Canal, 248.8 miles in length, was built 40 feet wide at the top and 26 feet wide at the bottom, with a minimum of four feet of water. At the peak of operation, 400 boats plied the canal, and cascading water at the locks turned the wheels of hundreds of mills and factories. The use of the canals continued until 1913, when a flood destroyed much of the canal; it never reopened. It's still possible to trace many miles of the canal far down into Ohio, and the Buckeye Trail and NCNST make use of many of the miles still held in public hands, of which the state still holds about 400 miles.
0.0 [0.0] TURN WEST ON INDEPENDANCE DAM TRAIL
Turn west at the north side of the bridge in Florida, and to the first meeting with the Buckeye Trail. The trail follows along the old towpath for 3.0 miles, on an embankment between the canal and the river, with SR424 on the far side of the canal. As with all canal lands, it's essentially a level walk; this one provides some great views of the river.
3.0 [3.0] ENTER INDEPENDANCE DAM CAMPGROUND
The narrow embankment between the river and canal widens, and the next mile or so is a virtually linear 40-site fee campground; the fee station, unfortunately, is three miles down the trail. The trail continues, sometimes right along the campground access road, sometimes on a separate treadway a few yards away. After a mile or so, the park widens and becomes a long picnic area, with the trail on the south side of the clearing. About 2.0 miles from the point that the trail emerges into the campground is Independance Dam, completed in 1924. Just past the dam, the trail passes an old, well-preserved canal lock, with the gates still in working order _ Lock Number 13. The trail continues on the towpath for a short distance, crossing over an original stone bridge, and emerges at the parking lot for the boat launch. At the far end of the parking lot, the trail turns onto SR424. For more information, contact Independance Dam State Park, R4, 27722 SR424, Defiance OH 45312 (419) 784-3263.
5.5 [2.5] TURN WEST ON SR424
The roadwalkpicks up again. After 0.3 miles of roadwalking, the route enters the village of Independence (no services). It continues westward along SR424. Hikers should use caution on this narrow, twisty road along the riverbank, as there are guard rails on either side of the road for much of the distance, and the route is usually only a few feet from the river. The roadwalk ends at Pontiac Park, in the city of Defiance.
DEFIANCE, OH 43512 (Pop. 16,800) is the largest city the long-distance hiker on the NCNST has passed through since Battle Creek; most services except for exotic hiking gear are available. In addition to the Ft. Defiance site, which the trail passes, there are other historic sites in the city. LODGING: Ravines Motel, 408 Ralston Ave, (419) 782-8801; Motel Westwood, 2002 Baltimore St., (419) 784-1661; Days Inn, 1.5 mi N. of trail; SR66 at US24, (419) 782-5555. RESTAURANTS: Many, from very good to McDonalds. OTHER: Bank, pharmacy, laundry, discount stores, mall, hardware,doctor, dentist, hospital.
9.0 [3.5] TURN SOUTH ON SR66 OVER BRIDGE
The trail turns back to the east immediatly after the bridge, and follows the river back downstream for two blocks, reaching Old Fort Defiance park, where Mad Anthony Wayne built his timber fort in 1794. The site of the fort is marked by plaques and stones, and old earthworks are visible.
10.4 [0.4] TURN SOUTH ON JEFFERSON ST
This is a sidewalk walk, crossing SR15 and SR18, St. John's School and St. Mary's School, then the Chessie System railroad tracks before reaching Downs Street.
10.5 [1.1] TURN WEST ON DOWNS ST
The sidewalk walk continues, crossing SR111 and reaching Jackson Ave.
11.0 [0.5] TURN SOUTHWEST ON JACKSON AVE.
The route is starting to get into the suburban area, now, and has turned back into a roadwalk. After 0.9 mi, the city limits are reached, and the route joins the canal and Canal Rd.
11.9 [0.9] CONTINUE SOUTHWEST ON CANAL ROAD.
The dry canal is just to the east, privately held. This was a lot of excavation for the 1840s!
13.6 [1.7] CROSS THREE MILE CREEK.
The route passes by a large sanitary landfill. At Ball Road, the route plunges into the woods, away from the road on the towpath for 0.6 mi. before emerging on Hammersmith Road.
14.8 [1.2] TURN WEST ON HAMMERSMITH RD.
The route leaves the old canal ditch to avoid private property crossings, and follows Hammersmith Road west as a roadwalk.
16.2 [1.4] TURN SOUTH ON TR 153 (COUNTY LINE RD.)
This road is on the county line between Defiance and Paulding Counties, with Defiance County to the east. After a mile and a half of roadwalk, the canal route is rejoined. The canal turned south at this point. Half a mile farther south, the canal crossed Six-Mile Creek on an aquaduct that still exists under the road. At this point, cross into Paulding County.
18.2 [2.0] COUNTINUE SOUTH ON BLANCHARD RD.
Upon entering Paulding County, County Line Road becomes Blanchard Rd. At the north edge of the village of Junction, the route jogs to the west, then continues south on TR 163. The village of Junction is where the Wabash and Erie Canal, coming from the Wabash River via Ft. Wayne, joined the Miami and Erie Canal. After crossing SR111 in Junction, the route goes for a short distance southeast, then continues south along the old canal route. Appx. 1.5 mi south, the roadwalk crosses Flat Rock Creek, then angles southeast along the old canal route until reaching CR138. The canal continued southeast from this point, but there's no good way to follow it off of private property.
23.8 [5.6] TURN EAST ON CR138.
The roadwalk heads east into the village of Charloe.
24.2 [0.4] TURN SOUTH ON CR171
In the village of Charloe, the route turns to the south, and the roadwalk continues southeast, overlooking the Auglaze River. After 0.4 mi, the route crosses Blue Creek near where it empties into the river. Another 1.4 mi farther as the route bends to the east, the trail crosses the Little Auglaze River near where it enters the main stream. Following this point, the route bends back to the south through level, open farmland until reaching SR 613 just west of the village of Oakwood.
28.5 [4.3] TURN EAST ON SR 613.
Continue east to the corner of SR 613 and SR 66 in the village of Oakwood.
OAKWOOD, OH, 45873 Limited services
28.6 [0.1] JUNCTION OF SR66 AND CR205 IN OAKWOOD
The Buckeye Trail map changes from Defiance to Delphos at this point, although there's a little overlap. Proceed southeast on CR 205, on the east side of the AuGlaize River. After 1.2 mi, pass intersection of TR 86; 1.2 mi further, pass intersection of TR211; 0.6 mi farther, reach intersection of CR 25. This is the Paulding-Putnam County Line.
31.6 [3.0] TURN SOUTH ON CR 25
Go south on CR25, crossing the Auglaize River, and continuing south to the next intersection, Putnam T23.
32.5 [0.9] TURN EAST ON T23.
The route heads east, after one mile reaching the junction of T158, where the New Bethany Cemetery is on the north side of the road. The route continues east, after 1.1 mi recrossing the Auglaize River on the south side of the village of DuPont.
DUPONT, OH 45837 Convenience store.
34.6 [2.1] TURN SOUTH ON SR 634
The route turns southeast on State Route 634, after 2.1 mi reaching the junction of SR 114 and TR171. The village of Cloverdale is 0.7 mi. west. 0.2 mi east is Cascade Park on the Auglaize River, with water, toilets, picnic area and parking.
CLOVERDALE, OH 45827 Small general store.
36.7 [2.1] CONTINUE SOUTHEAST ON TR171
The route briefly follows SR114 southeast, then leaves the state road to follow the single-lane blacktop county road with a wide berm on either side. After 1.2 mi, pass intersection with TR72. A half mile further, pass intersection with TR168. 1.3 mile farther, pass intersection with TR85. Another 1.1 mile farther, and the intersection with CR5 is reached. The route bends to the south, and after another mile the junction of TR101 is reached. The route bends slightly to the southeast, and after another 1.1 mi, US224 is reached. There is a roadside park with picnic tables, toilets, water and parking.
41.9 [5.2] TURN EAST ON US224
Follow the highway east to cross the bridge over the Auglaize River. On the east side of the bridge is TR107.
42.1 [0.2] TURN SOUTHEAST ON TR107
The route heads southeast, until, after half a mile, the junction with TR169 is reached.
42.6 [0.5] TURN SOUTHWEST ON TR169
The route heads southwest. After 1.2 mi., the junction of TR112 is reached. After another 1.1 mile, the junction of CR74 is reached. After another mile, the junction with CR70 is reached. After another 0.7 mile, the junction with SR189 is reached.
46.6 [4.0] TURN WEST ON SR 189.
After 0.2 mile, the route turns northeast and enters Ft. Jennings Park.
46.8 [0.2] ENTER FT. JENNINGS PARK
There are tables, toilets, water and parking at the park. The route crosses a foot bridge over the Auglaize River into the village of Ft. Jennings, emerging at the firehouse, and reaching SR190.
FT. JENNINGS, OH 45844 Limited services.
47.1 [0.3] TURN SOUTHWEST ON SR190After 0.1 mi, the junction with SR 189 is reached. Continue southwest on SR190. After another 0.6 mi, reach the intersection with CR23-T.
47.8 [0.7] TURN SOUTH ON CR 23-T
The roadwalk continues south along CR23-T. The route passes two road junctions, and after 2.3 miles reaches TR137.
50.1 [2.3] TURN WEST ON TR137
The roadwalk turns west. After 1.1 miles, the road turns south, and continues south for another 0.3 miles, crosses US30 at an underpass, and continues west until reaching SR190.
53.0 [2.9] TURN NORTH ON SR 190
After about 200 feet, turn west on TR136. Continue west and south on TR 136 to Pohlman Rd., at the north end of the city of Delphos. Continue west on Pohlman Rd., until reaching the Miami and Erie Canal towpath.
53.7 [0.7] REACH MIAMI & ERIE CANAL TOWPATH.
Description of this section ends at this point.