If you have hit the trails in Southeast Ohio recently, you’ve probably noticed how clear, fast, and accessible they are. That isn’t by accident. The year 2025 was a historic, monumental year for trail stewardship in our region, powered heavily by the Athens Bicycle Club (ABC) and our incredible network of regional volunteers and park partners.
From intense seasonal storms to routine corridor maintenance, our community showed up like never before. Across our three primary regional trail networks—the Baileys Trail System, Lake Hope State Park, and Strouds Run State Park—volunteers pooled their efforts to tackle downed trees and keep our beloved dirt pristine.
2025 By The Numbers:
- 4,773 Total Volunteer Hours Logged ⏱️
- 941 Downed Trees Removed 🪓
Where the Impact Happened
While Athens Bicycle Club members log independent club hours across the entire region, our collective impact drove deeply into the local state parks and trail systems we ride every single week:
- Baileys Trail System: A massive hub of activity, drawing 2,047 volunteer hours and resulting in the removal of 365 downed trees.
- Lake Hope State Park: Volunteers put in 1,068 hours of hard labor to clear away 266 trees across the park’s classic, wooded trail network.
- Strouds Run State Park: Though smaller in total hours at 664 hours, Strouds Run presented a heavy physical challenge, requiring volunteers to chain-saw and remove an incredible 310 trees to keep our neighborhood loops running smoothly.
A Four-Year Trajectory of Growth
What makes the 2025 data truly stunning is the trajectory of our community’s commitment. Over the last four years, volunteer hours have skyrocketed, showcasing a powerful culture of giving back.
- 2022: 2,865 hours
- 2023: 1,952 hours
- 2024: 3,668 hours (886 trees cleared)
- 2025: 4,773 hours (941 trees cleared)
In total, over this four-year span, our local trail community has given back an astronomical 13,776 hours of labor and cleared 1,827 trees! That represents thousands of dollars in infrastructure maintenance saved, ensuring Southeast Ohio remains a premier destination for trail users across the Midwest.
Want to get involved?
Whether you are an experienced sawyer or just want to help throw branches off the trail corridor, there is a place for you! Keep an eye on our website calendar and Facebook page for upcoming group trail days, or reach out to see how you can log your independent hours.
Thank you to every single person who picked up a tool, snipped a branch, or logged an hour this past year. See you on the dirt!