Peebles Named Ohio’s 22nd Buckeye Trail Town

Covering roughly 1,444 miles across Ohio, the Buckeye Trail has been a point of adventure for trailblazing Ohioans since its inception in the 1950s. The trail is recognized across the state, especially in Buckeye Trail Towns, communities that celebrate the trail and offer a welcoming atmosphere to hikers and visitors.

The Adams County village of Peebles has recently been recognized as the 22nd Buckeye Trail Town, adding to the lineup of communities in the state offering hospitality and additional resources to all who pass through while traveling Ohio’s official hiking trail.

The village is located along the Sinking Spring section of the Buckeye Trail, a roughly 53-mile length of trail that winds through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Hikers who make a stop in Peebles will be able to explore the town’s rich history through  its natural and historic attractions, most notably Serpent Mound, an ancient, 1,348-foot-long effigy earthwork that is also a National Historic Landmark.

“Peebles embodies the spirit of a Buckeye Trail Town,” Andrew Bashaw, executive director of the Buckeye Trail Association, said in a Sept. 12 press release. “With its rich cultural history, natural beauty and commitment to welcoming hikers, it is the perfect destination while you follow the Blue Blazes of Ohio’s Buckeye Trail.”

Founded in 1881, the village also became a railroad hub, thanks to its location along both Zane’s Trace and the Cincinnati & Eastern Railway, while conservation efforts in the 20th century brought advancements like Camp Pine Gap, a civilian conservation group for African American veterans dedicated to promoting soil and forest preservation.

A proclamation ceremony on Oct. 1 will officially welcome Peebles as a Buckeye Trail Town, marking a milestone for the Appalachian Foothill Chapter of the Buckeye Trail Association. The ceremony will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Floyd & Mae McCoy Memorial Park in Peebles.

“Peebles is thrilled to be recognized as a Buckeye Trail Town,” Tom Cross, executive director of the Adams County Travel & Visitor Bureau, said in the same Sept. 12 press release. “We are excited to share our history, our trails and our hospitality with hikers from across Ohio and beyond.”

For more information about the Buckeye Trail and the Buckeye Trail Town Program, visit buckeyetrail.org.

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