HCR 13: Urge Congress to designate Buckeye Trail a National Scenic Trail

As Adopted by the Senate

136th General Assembly

Regular Session

2025-2026

H. C. R. No. 13

Representatives Hoops, Robinson

Cosponsors: Representatives Grim, Rader, Piccolantonio, Lett, Lorenz, Daniels, McNally, Miller, M., Brennan, Pizzulli, Mathews, A., Jones, Troy, Bird, Synenberg, Hiner, Salvo, Johnson, Workman, Abdullahi, Abrams, Barhorst, Brent, Brewer, Brownlee, Callender, Claggett, Click, Cockley, Deeter, Denson, Dovilla, Fischer, Fowler Arthur, Ghanbari, Hall, D., Jarrells, King, Kishman, Klopfenstein, Lawson-Rowe, Manning, Mathews, T., Miller, J., Mohamed, Newman, Peterson, Plummer, Ray, Robb Blasdel, Roemer, Rogers, Russo, Schmidt, Sigrist, Sims, Thomas, C., Upchurch, White, A., White, E., Williams, Willis

Senators Schaffer, Antonio, Blackshear, Brenner, Chavez, Cirino, Craig, DeMora, Gavarone, Hicks-Hudson, Huffman, Ingram, Johnson, Landis, Manning, Reineke, Roegner, Smith, Timken, Wilkin

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

H. C. R. No. 13
As Adopted by the Senate
Page 2

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 House of Representatives 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.

H. C. R. No. 13
As Adopted by the Senate