It took Steven Newman only one small step in to start an incredible journey that took him on a walk through 21 countries across five continents.
Now backpackers can experience a memorable trek of their own on Newman’s namesake trail in his hometown of Bethel while hearing the stories of his four-year walk around the world – an adventure that earned him a Guinness World Record.
Back in 1983, Newman was newly graduated from Ohio University’s journalism school and full of wanderlust, so he set out to achieve his boyhood dream: to walk around the world. Four years and more than 15,000 exhilarating (and sometimes frightening) miles later, he was honored as the first man to walk solo around the world. Newman was an instant legend in his hometown and is arguably still the most well-known native son of Clermont County – so much so that he inspired a namesake trail in nearby East Fork State Park.
The Steven Newman Worldwalker Perimeter Trail, a scenic 33-mile path that circles Ohio’s largest state park, leads hikers through a diverse landscape of rolling hills, woodland canopies, peaceful prairies and marshy swamps formed thousands of years ago by glaciers. And as of May 2026, the trail offers an even more immersive and unique experience with the launch of the Steven Newman Worldwalker Audio Trail. Now, hikers can scan QR codes posted along the trail and hear Newman himself narrate stories from his book Letters from Steven – tales about the people he met, challenges he faced and reflections on what he learned along the way – as they embark on their own hiking journey.
Newman’s experiences run the gamut from the unconventional (staying with a traveling circus in Greece) to the terrifying (an attack from machete-wielding bandits in Thailand) to the deeply human (a Good Samaritan rescue from a sandstorm in the Moroccan desert). His adventures are woven with observations and wisdom garnered from staying with more than 400 families the world over.
While listening to Newman’s tales along the Audio Trail, hikers may encounter deer, marsh and grassland reptiles and even foxes among the diverse flora and fauna of the area. East Fork is also a hotspot for birders, drawing migratory songbirds, raptors and waterfowl including osprey, bald eagles and great blue herons.
Newman’s namesake trail is the longest hiking path in all of Ohio’s State Parks, but East Fork offers a number of other trail options covering a variety of terrains and lengths, including specialized paths for biking and horseback riding, and a family-friendly storybook trail that features picture-book pages posted along the picturesque shoreline.
Alongside the hiking trails, the 2,160-acre lake is one of the park’s biggest draws, thanks to unlimited horsepower boating and quality fishing, with anglers regularly reeling in largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill and crappie. Visitors can soak up the sun and enjoy a splash in William H. Harsha Lake, a man-made reservoir, from the 1,200-foot swimming beach.
Check East Fork’s events calendar for regular nature programs with ranger guides, camping events and even a popular Bigfoot Bash in September that celebrates the legendary cryptid with a costume contest and sasquatch-themed fun.
Whatever adventure brings visitors to East Fork, Newman encourages travelers not to rush their journeys, and take the time to truly soak up the sights, sounds and flavors of every destination. One small step can lead to incredible places.
