Buckeye Trail: Egbert Picnic Area to Alexander Road

This one-way stretch of the Buckeye Trail threads through the wooded ravines of the Cuyahoga Valley, starting at Egbert Picnic Area in Bedford Reservation and working south toward Alexander Road. Despite the 'moderate' rating, the elevation gain is barely noticeable — the challenge here comes from the rocky, root-laced terrain and the sheer length of the point-to-point route. You'll wind through second-growth hardwood forest, cross a handful of small stream drainages, and get occasional glimpses of the valley below through the canopy. The trail surface alternates between packed dirt and ankle-rolling rocks, so watch your footing. This isn't a destination hike with a dramatic payoff — it's a journey hike, the kind where the woods themselves are the reward. Long-distance hikers training for bigger trips and anyone who likes to disappear into the trees for a few hours will feel right at home here.