Great Guernsey Trail and Habitat Maintenance and Upkeep Program

Program Summary

The Guernsey County Development Corporation (CDC) owns and maintains the 7 mile (7 mile paved) Great Guernsey Trail as well as over 2,700 acres of land. The CDC is the sole entity responsible for maintaining the trail and the land so that trail users and wildlife can benefit from our work.

Program Capabilities:

The goal of this program is to maintain the Great Guernsey Trail so that the nearly 1,000+ users per day that enjoy the trail, will always have a safe trail to utilize.

The CDC also owns and maintains over 2,700 acres of land (600+ along the Great Guernsey Trail)

The Program is Capable of:

Mowing, weed eating, tree trimming, debris removal, flood control and more;

Building and maintaining of wildlife habitat;

Removal of evasive species of flora;

Building of breeding boxes for waterfowl and the Indiana Brown Bat;

Examples of Success:

Paved 7 miles of trail

Opened an additional mile of trail by redeveloping the old rail bed

Built 6 shelter houses along the trail

Built dozens of breeding boxes for the Indiana Brown Bat

A portion of the trail near the Corduroy Rd trail head

Our trail has been designated as a National Recreation Trail by the Department of the Interior and is a paved flat 7 mile (14 down and back) walking trail that is open to walkers, runners, skateboarders, and bicyclists. Parking and restroom facilities are located at 63500 Corduroy Rd. Cambridge, Ohio 43725 and at Leatherwood Park 205 Main St. NW Lore City, Ohio 43755. There is also a portable restroom located at roughly the 2.5 mile marker.

Garbage & recycling receptacles are located at multiple locations along the trail. Pet waste sanitation stations with disposal bags are located at the Great Guernsey Trail Dog Park (at the Corduroy Rd. trailhead), at the beginning of the trail, near the Deerfield Rd. crossing and at the Leatherwood Park trailhead.

Also, located at the Corduroy Rd. trailhead is overflow parking, the Guernsey County Archery Range (with elevated shooting platform), the Trailside Skate Park suitable for skateboards and rollerblades and the Trailside Concession stand which sells prepackaged snacks, drinks and bicycle repair kits (hours of operation varies).

Near the 1.5 mile marker is a connector trail that links the Great Guernsey Trail with Coal Ridge Park and Trails (open and free to the public) that contains unimproved trails, observation platforms and a large pond for fishing and kayaking.