Buckeye Trail (Road Fork) landscape

Photo: Photo by Marvin Yoder on Unsplash

Buckeye Trail (Road Fork)

~5 days · 59.1 mi · strenuous · Point-to-point

Quick facts

Distance59.1 mi
Days out5
Elevation gain7,172 ft
Gain / mile121 ft
High point1,201 ft
Difficulty index26/100

What the Buckeye Trail (Road Fork) is known for

The Road Fork section of the Buckeye Trail covers about 62 remote miles of forested ridges and quiet back roads through Noble, Monroe, and Washington counties in southeast Ohio. Roughly forty percent of the distance is off-road trail, with the rest on lightly traveled country roads. Point-to-point, typically 4-5 days.

Route map & campsites

Route map of the Buckeye Trail (Road Fork) on OpenStreetMap terrain Open in Planner →

Route shape from OpenStreetMap geometry. Start · End · Camp

Elevation profile

Elevation ranges from 2,251 ft to 3,917 ft over 59.1 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).

  • Uphill 23.4 mi · 40%
  • Downhill 21.4 mi · 37%
  • Flat 13.3 mi · 23%

Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.

How hard is the Buckeye Trail (Road Fork)?

26 / 100

On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Buckeye Trail (Road Fork) scores 26/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.

Frequently asked questions

How many days does the Buckeye Trail (Road Fork) take?

Most backpackers hike the Buckeye Trail (Road Fork) in about 5 days (4 nights out) over its 59.1 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.

How much elevation gain is on the Buckeye Trail (Road Fork)?

The Buckeye Trail (Road Fork) climbs roughly 7,172 ft total — about 121 ft per mile, topping out near 1,201 ft.

Related trails

Sources & attribution

Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.

Plan the Buckeye Trail Plan Free →