Zaleski State Forest Backpack Trail Renamed

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(ODNR) – One of Ohio’s most popular backpack trails has a new name. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has dedicated the backpack trail at Zaleski State Forest as the Selinde Roosenburg Memorial Backpack Trail.
 

 
“Selinde Roosenburg had such a significant impact on our team at Zaleski State Forest,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “It is our hope that others can appreciate the beauty of Ohio’s outdoors, the way she did, while exploring the trail that bears her name.”
 

 
Selinde Roosenburg worked as a forest technician with the Division of Forestry and trained as a wildland firefighter. She tragically died in a UTV rollover during a prescribed burn at Richland State Forest in March of 2021.  ODNR dedicated the trail in her memory and as a reminder to forestry crews to ensure everyone goes home safely. 
 

 The new trail provides backpacking adventures that introduce the educational, scenic, and historic aspects Zaleski State Forest has to offer. Several improvements have been made to the trail to accompany the renaming. The trail now has two new foot bridges that take hikers over wetlands, as well as updated waypoint letters (points of reference that can be used for location and navigation) related to points of interest, including how to get to the Moonville Rail Trail Tunnels from the backpack trail.  Hikers are encouraged to use the new map found posted on ODNR’s website to plan their trip and navigate the updates.
 
“Ohio trails are a gateway to some of the best sights and recreation this great state has to offer,” Director Mertz said.  “We’re excited to give people a new and improved space to explore and enjoy the outdoors.”
 
Standing at the head of the trail is a new kiosk with several informative panels, including one highlighting Selinde and her contributions to the Division of Forestry.