Hello folks, MD Edmonds here with a another hiker hack for you, this time concerning how to do an unassisted thru hike of the Buckeye Trail while covering the Akron Section and not having to walk back redundantly. As I happen to be the author/ webmaster for the Ohio Transit Hiker's Resource and I'll tell you all about it.
- This can only be done on a weekday
- Make sure that you have exact change for your fare
- You might want to schedule a partial day of hiking for this because all of the routes and connections could take 6 hours.
- You can download the GPS data for this on the Ohio Transit Hiker's Resource. You'll at least need data for its coverage of the Bedford, Akron and Massillon Sections, which you can select individually if you'd like. These files will work on most GPS enabled devices as well as desktop computer applications such as "Google Earth" and "ArcGIS Explorer."
If you do it the way that I prescribe, the redundancy in the north will only be 964ft on the Medina Section, barely west of the 3-way BT intersection in the Brecksville Reservation - Cleveland Metroparks. Just west of the BT @ Meadows Drive, turn north on to BR3 (a bridle trail). It will soon pick up a concurrency with the Deer Lick Cave Loop Trail. Follow the Deer Lick Cave Loop Trail and turn north on the Hemlock Loop Trail and hike it until you get to the Chippewa Creek Gorge Scenic Overlook & Trailhead. Exit the trailhead on to Chippewa Rd/ OH-82 westbound. In 0.2mi, you'll reach the intersection with Brecksville Rd/ OH-21 in the center of the City of Brecksville. This hiking route from the Medina Section - Buckeye Trail to the transit stop is 2.6 miles long.
On the west side of Brecksville Road, you should be able to locate a bus stop sign for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (known to locals as simply "RTA"). There, you'll need to board their Route 77F southbound. It will shortly terminate near Katherine Blvd & Miller Rd in Brecksville. When it does, this is an interagency transfer point with the Akron Metropolitan Regional Transit (known by locals as simply "Metro"). From here you have two choices. Both go to the next step, which is arriving at the Robert K. Plaff Transit Center in Downtown Akron. One is the Route 101, which is local, longer, but it pick-up/ drops-off more at this location. The other is more preferred and that is the Route X61, which is an express. Board one of those southbound routes.
They'll terminate at the Robert K. Plaff Transit Center in Downtown Akron. There amongst its several bays, you'll need to locate the stall for the Stark Area Regional Transit's (SARTA) Route 81. They'll be signed overhead of the sidewalk along the outside of building. When it arrives and when permitted, board SARTA Route 81. Southbound is the only direction it runs from there.
Take SARTA 81 until it terminates at the Canton Cornerstone Transit Center in Downtown Canton. Just like Akron, it will have several stalls with the route numbers overhead. Transfer to SARTA 102 bound for Massillon. Massillon is also going to have a transit center, but smaller. Disembark there and transfer to the final bus, which is SARTA 125 bound for Belden Village. Your stop is going to be approximate to Wales Ave NW/ OH-241 & Glendevan St NW.
The walking route that I'll next elaborate on is 2.2 miles. It's routed through several interconnected housing developments.
After you disembark, you'll need to walk and head west on Glendevan St NW for 584ft, where it will then turn north and become Sparrow Ridge Ave NW. In 582ft, Sparrow Ridge will turn west and become Brook Hollow St NW. Brook Hollow will eventually turn south and intersect Audubon St NW. Head west passing Golden Eagle Rd NW, Rainier Ave NW, Snowy Own Cir NW and then comes to a three way intersection with Amherst Ave NW. Jog north and head west on Gladys St NW, passing Timberridge Ave NW. Gladys St NW will terminate at a three way intersection with Revere Ave NW/ OH-236. From there, walk north for 532ft then head west on Forest Trail St NW.
In 758ft, turn NE on to Rapid Falls St NW. This street will terminate at Andette Ave NW. Jog south here and then head west on River Crest St NW. In 343ft, head south on Smithview Avenue. At the next three way intersection, turn and head NW/ W on Erie Ave NW. And in 853ft, you'll intersect the Massillon Section - Buckeye Trail. Turn and head south for 115ft and you'll reach the intersection of the Massillon & Akron Sections.
So, from that, the redundancy in the south is only 115ft.
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