GLOUSTER, Ohio — Burr Oak State Park aims to have its newest trail completed by the end of this year.
The Turtle Ridge trail starts at the end of Burr Oak Road, near the park’s campgrounds and office. The 1.1-mile trail is primarily built for equestrian use, but will accommodate hikers as well.
The southwest half of the Turtle Ridge trail is already open to the public. The northeast half’s opening will complete the trail loop present on the park’s maps.
Mark Allen, Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ statewide trails administrator, said the terrain in the area is “typical of southern Ohio, very hilly,” but that the trail itself has less elevation than others within the park.
Development of the trail was thrown into flux after the Department of Government Efficiency reduced funding for AmeriCorps in April 2025, Allen said. Before funding cuts, AmeriCorps volunteers assisted with developing the Sunrise trail and parts of the Turtle Ridge trail, as part of the Ohio Outdoors Corps.
Continued development of the trail has been a combined effort of staff and volunteers from the nonprofit Ohio Horseman’s Council, Allen told the Independent.
One trail on the eastern side of the park, the “Buckeye Trail Loop,” was also recently renamed and split into two smaller trails, the Northern Flicker Trail and Brown Thrasher Trail.
Allen said the change was to “minimize confusion” and “to try to make people feel more comfortable in outdoor spaces.”
