Singletrack-Minded in Southeast Ohio

On May 30, 2020, amid COVID-19 lockdowns, the trail officially opened to the public—bringing the first 14-miles of a new trail network, optimized for mountain bike (MTB) use, to Wayne National Forest in Southeast Ohio. At a time when outdoor activity was one of the few things we were “allowed” to do in lockdown, having somewhere new to explore was welcomed by those living nearby.

Interest grew as post-ride reports, videos, and photos were shared on social media, revealing the beauty of the terrain and the quality of the trails at Baileys Trail System. During its first season, as the pandemic dragged on, activity steadily increased, and more trails were built. By the end of the summer in 2020, on any given day, you could spot out-of-state plates on vehicles with bikes hanging off the back. Even West Virginians were leaving their state’s abundance of MTB trails to see what all the buzz was about in Athens County, Ohio.

READ THE STORY: www.globalheroes.com/southeast-ohio-baileys-trail-system/