History

Mike Nicolai along with Brent and Amy Anslinger had a dream, this is their story. Dozens of volunteers and sponsors have shown great support to this idea and continue to be the reason The Junction Trail Festival exists.

The Junction Trail Festival grew out of a realization that Milford, Ohio was located at the convergence of several long distance trails.  This realization and the dream to one day celebrate this unique geographic point was visualized while Brent and Amy Anslinger thru-hiked the Buckeye Trail in the fall of 2003 (you have a lot of time to think of crazy ideas on a long distance hike). 

Brent and Amy passed through Milford twice on their hike as they began in Eden Park on September 9 2003 and headed north towards Toledo before returning to Milford on November 15, 2003, the day before arriving back at Eden Park to complete the 1300 mile Buckeye Trail. 

Throughout the hike the 3 main long distance trails that come through Ohio, the Buckeye, North Country, and American Discovery Trails, were in the forefront of their minds as they share the same route through Southern Ohio before splitting in Milford. 

As Brent and Amy moved through the final weeks of their hike headed towards Milford on these 3 trails, before settling down in Ohio for an unknown future, they joked how fun it would be to have a long distance hiking festival in Ohio (a state not known for long distance hiking, but a state with lots of long distance hikers-3rd most state represented on the Appalachian Trail).  That would be one way to bring their passion closer to home.

As the fall of 2003 wore on they began to also think about how not only do those 3 long distance trails meet in Milford but also the Ohio to Erie Cycling Route from Cincinnati to Cleveland and of course the Little Miami Trail and River. 

This idea remained a fun figment of the imagination to joke about with friends over the next couple years including professional colleagues in the Outdoor Industry like Mike Nicolai of Nature Outfitters in Milford.  Brent worked as a sales rep. in 2004 and 2005 working with Mike and other retailers throughout the Midwest.

Mike and Brent continued to bat the idea around each time they saw each other.  As Mike, Brent and Amy began to take the festival idea seriously, Andy Skurka was completing a thru-hike of the C2C Route from the Atlantic to Pacific over 2004 and 2005 coming through Milford in November '04 and having dinner at Cazadores with Mike, Brent, and Amy where the idea was tossed around further.  The C2C Route being completed would be yet another long distance route to add to the mix. 

At a summer trade show in August 2005 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a group of Ohio retail employees including Tim McMannis, Ryan Hamler, Tim Ausdenmore along with Mike and Brent signed a napkin to commit to the idea of the Junction Trails Festival (original working name was Confluence but was too water oriented and later changed).

Mike, Brent, and Amy met at Cazadores in December 2005 to begin work on the First Junction Trail Festival.  Later meetings would be held at Nature Outfitters as the community was recruited to help; including Tim McMannis of Nature Outfitters, Vince Knueven, Jeanne Anslinger, Suzanne Stagg, and others.   But without Mike's desire and local connections in Milford, this dream would have never turned into reality.

In addition to the C2C, the Adventure Cycling Association was planning to launch the Underground Railroad Cycling Route from Mobile, AL to Owen Sound, Ontario Canada in the fall of 2006.  This would make the 8th and final long distance trail/route to converge on Milford.  All 7 trails meet at one exact point now known as "The Junction" with the river a stones throw away. 

The Junction Trails Festival is and still remains an opportunity to educate local residents about this unique asset sitiuated in Milford while inspiring all ages to be active through hiking, biking, and paddling. 

With the work of Junction Trail Park, Inc. and other local residents picking up the torch, someday Milford may be known for its trails and have a permanent sign, building or structure to share this legacy and continue to inspire people to get out on the trail.

Stop in Nature Outfitters to see the Junction Sign on display throughout the year.

Join a trail association and show your support as each trail needs you to turn thier dreams into reality.

Highlights of Previous Festivals

September 2006

• Andy Skurka delivers keynote and is inaugural member of the Trails of the Junction Hall of Fame
• "The British Guys" Take time out of their walk across America on the American Discovery Trail to present at The Junction

September 2007

• Legendary Hiker Walkin' Jim Stoltz delivers an outstanding performance
• Rain pounds the festival.

September 2008

• The Junction moves weekends to align with Cincinnati's Great Outdoor Weekend
• Families enjoy the camping in Riverside Park
• Prior to the festival l ocal Milford Residents have a vision to theme the "new" Riverside Park after the Trails of the Junction idea and create Junction Trails Park, Inc.
  

September 2009

• Ron Strickland, C2C Founder, travels from the Pacific Northwest to share his own vison for a long distance route across American and his inspirations for starting the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.

Did You Know?

Congress recently designated 3 new National Scenic Trails bringing the total to 11.  The longest remains our very own 4600 mile North Country National Scenic Trail.

The new Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail is part of our own Sea to Sea Long Distance Hiking Route.

New National Scenic Trails

New England

Arizona

Pacific Northwest