A person walks through the Bond Creek Tunnel at North Bend State Park in 2019. (File photo)

PARKERSBURG — A national coast-to-coast trail that threads through the Mid-Ohio Valley will take center stage in 2026 as the American Discovery Trail Society marks the nation’s 250th anniversary with a months-long relay spanning the country.

The American Discovery 250 Relay will travel the full 6,800 miles of the American Discovery Trail, beginning in July on the West Coast and concluding around Thanksgiving on the East Coast.

Organizers say the relay will pass through communities large and small — including the Mid-Ohio Valley — inviting residents to participate for a day or more, attend local events or share personal stories of growth and adventure.

“This isn’t about taking the fastest route across the country,” said Dave Whitson, relay director for the American Discovery Trail’s relay to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. “The trail was designed to connect culturally interesting places with good, walkable routes. It’s about experiencing America along the way.”

The American Discovery Trail is the nation’s first non-motorized coast-to-coast trail, running through 15 states and Washington, D.C. It links a network of local, state and national trails, historic backroads, parks and forests, allowing users to experience landscapes ranging from deserts and mountains to forests, plains and riverfronts.

In West Virginia, much of the route follows the North Bend Rail Trail, a key corridor that brings the national trail into the Mid-Ohio Valley near Parkersburg and connects with neighboring Ohio communities along the Ohio River.

Whitson said outreach to local organizations, trail groups and communities in the region is actively underway.

“We’re pushing out that local engagement right now,” Whitson said. “In West Virginia, the North Bend Rail Trail is a natural fit, and we’ll be connecting with biking groups and other partners as plans take shape.”

Participation in the relay is intentionally broad. Runners, cyclists, hikers, wheelchair users and horseback riders are all encouraged to take part, either individually or as part of a team. Organizers are also seeking volunteers to assist with logistics, welcoming events and sponsorships along the route.

Interested participants are asked to register at discoverytrail.org/america-250-relay. Organizers will work with registrants to determine specific relay segments and destinations closer to the start of the event.

As part of the 2026 celebration, the American Discovery Trail Society will make its route instructions and GPS tracks free to the public throughout the year. The files will be available at discoverytrail.org/route, made possible through a donation from Indiana Trails.

Whitson said the original vision for the trail, developed decades ago, was to string together existing corridors that highlight American history and everyday communities, rather than focusing solely on major cities.

“It’s definitely not the most efficient line on a map,” he said. “But it’s rich in places that matter — historically, culturally and geographically.”

More information about the American Discovery Trail and the 250 Relay can be found at discoverytrail.org.