New app helps Ohioans find walking trails

SANDUSKY — Ohio has thousands of miles of trails in natural settings, and some of them are in Erie County. If you like to walk outdoors or seek new trails to try, the state of Ohio is ready to help. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources released the new DETOUR mobile phone app, available at the Apple app store and the Google Play store for Android phones. A web version for computers is available at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website, ohiodnr.gov. Looking at Sandusky on the app's map reveals a number of trails in the immediate area, including at Pipe Creek Wildlife Area within the city, Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve east of town, at Resthaven Wildlife area near Castalia, at Willow Point Wildlife Area west of the city and at Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area, off of U.S. 6 on the way to Fremont. Many other trails, in the area and all over Ohio, also are depicted, such as a network of trails at East Harbor State Park, which is not far from Sandusky in Ottawa County. Once a login is created, trails can be marked as favorites. Having a profile also allows users to upload photos, save information on trips and report problems such as downed trees. While Ohio has many short trails, there are also long trails in the state, such as the Ohio to Erie Trail, which runs 326 miles and connects Cleveland to Cincinnati, and the Buckeye Trail, which runs 1,400 miles through much of the state. Locally, the Buckeye Trail runs south of Sandusky, passing through Fremont and Norwalk. See Buckeyetrail.org for information. "This new app will help bring friends and families together by connecting them to Ohio's abundant trail system and natural outdoor beauty," Gov. Mike DeWine said. "With the DETOUR app, it's like having a personal trails guide in your pocket," ODNR director Mary Mertz said.