Published June 16, 2013, in the
Mansfield News Journal
Pick up a paddle:
Explore Ohio from network of waterways
By David Kennard
News Journal
MANSFIELD -- The soft gurgle of clear water as
it whirlpools around moss-covered stones is the siren call to Ohio’s canoeing
enthusiasts.
From the earliest days when American Indians began building wood-framed boats
covered with the bark of birch trees, held together with sinew and pine sap,
people have explored the waterways that snake across Ohio.
Stepping into a canoe is stepping back in time.
Virtually unchanged in design, canoes continue to carry modern-day explorers
seeking adventure through remote areas of our state otherwise inaccessible to
humans.
And, as the warm summer months bring more people to the water’s edge, more
explorers will answer the call of the streams and rivers that push through deep
forests, majestic cliffs and historic areas.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, recreational paddle
sports — canoeing and kayaking — account for 20 percent of all watercraft
registrations. However, only within the last 10 years has the state committed
serious resources to help paddlers discover Ohio’s river systems.
The State Water Trail program began in 2003, and in 2006 the
Kokosing River in east central Ohio became the first
river with the designation.
Explorers can put in at Mount Vernon and travel the nearly 28-mile,
mostly-wooded river east though Knox and
Coshocton counties. The trail includes a good
variety of paddling experiences, including deep water and short rapids.
The
Kokosing and its sister to the
north, the Mohican River, are the epicenter of Ohio’s inventory of canoe-able
waterways.
“Thousands of visitors come here every year, if you include all the
commercial liveries in the
Loudonville area,” said Kim Marshall, director of the Knox County Park District.
Marshall is well acquainted with central Ohio’s popular water ways.
“This whole area is rich in Ohio history,” Marshall said. “I know the
Delaware tribes used these waterways. Before that, very early woodland Indians
also were in this area.”
Putting in on the Mohican River at Mohican State Park south of
Loudonville, paddlers will push their crafts under
the dense forest canopy south and soon begin to see remnants of Ohio’s earliest
residents — sandstone bridge piers from vacated railroad grades, stone
foundations from early settlement long abandoned.
At the point where Holmes and Knox counties meet,
boaters will float past the
Greenville
Treaty line that in 1795 established the boundary between the United States and
American Indian land. Drawn after the end of the Northwest Indian War, the line
marked land open to settlers to the south, and northern lands that remained
American Indian territory.
Any one of Ohio’s nine designated State Water Trails is a good way to
introduce yourself to canoeing or test your ability level the same as early
Americans did so many years ago.
Nearby: Mohican State Scenic River
Loudonville has built an industry
around a tourist destination that has — for years — drawn visitors to the
forests, rivers and trails of southern
Ashland County.
Six canoe liveries operate in the
Loudonville area, including the oldest livery in the
state, Mohican Adventures, which began shuttling paddlers along the Mohican
River in 1961.
“This is an essential part of the local economy,” said Bob
Yun, executive director of the
Loudonville-Mohican Convention and
Visitors Bureau.
This year’s canoeing season, which traditionally begins in April or May
depending on water levels, shows all the signs of an excellent year, he
said.
“It’s looking pretty good,”
Yun said.
“Interest in the area is up. We’ve had more phone calls and requests for
information. Our website traffic is up.”
The commercial liveries rent canoes, kayaks, tubes and rafts for floating the
river system. Detailed information about the services provided can be found at
the visitors bureau website,
www.loudonville- mohican.com/river-report.
The liveries are full-service operations designed to provide everything you
need to float the river.
If you bring your own canoe and need shuttle service, call ahead to arrange
transport. Each livery operates a little differently.
If you are planning your own trip, the best place to put in is near the
entrance to Mohican State Park on Highway 3. Park at the Mountain Bike Trail
parking lot. A short day trip — about
11 miles on the river — will take you through Amish country
to Greer, near the Wally Road Scenic Byway.
A longer trip will take you further south toward the confluence of the
Kokosing River.
Take plenty of water and always wear a life jacket, as the last 17 miles of
the trail take you into a very remote natural area.
Getting started
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has detailed information, including
maps and descriptions, on the nine waterways designated as State Water
Trails.
East Sandusky Bay
Water Trail: This is the only open water trail in Ohio and provides
scenic views along
Sandusky Bay
on Lake Erie. (15.3 miles, circular route)
Great Miami River Water Trail: This is
the longest trail in the state, connecting Indian Lake to the Ohio River in
Cincinnati. In Dayton, the Great Miami is joined by the
Stillwater and Mad rivers, which make up the Great
Miami River Watershed Water Trail, collectively offering 265 miles of waterway.
(157 miles, north to south)
Kokosing
River Water Trail: The trail passes through historic areas in Ohio and
includes long lengths of remote river with no human population. (28 miles trail,
west to east)
Mad River Water Trail: From
Bellfontaine to Dayton, this trail includes sections
of fast water as it moves paddlers south toward its confluence with the Great
Miami River. (65 miles, north to south)
Mahoning
River Water Trail: The trail winds through wooded, rural and urban
areas in Trumbull County in northeast Ohio. It’s location near the Western
Reserve
Greenway Trail and Bicycle Route J
make it a nice paddle/pedal destination. (23 miles, south to north)
Mohican River Water Trail: The state’s
premier paddling destination, The Mohican State Scenic River is a must-visit for
anyone serious about canoeing. The trail provides a true wilderness experience
through Ohio’s Mohican
backcountry. (28 miles, north to south)
Muskingum
River Water Trail: The trail connect
Coshocton to the Ohio River along the longest
navigable river wholly in the state. It includes the hand-operated locks of the
Muskingum River Parkway and passes
through the historic communities of Dresden,
Zanesville,
Malta-McConnelsville, Beverly and
the port town of Marietta. (112 miles, big river paddling, shared water ways
with power boats)
Stillwater
River Water Trail: This trail begins in remote
Darke County on the west side of the state. The
meandering river flows through several small farming communities before merging
with the Great Miami River in Dayton. (65 miles, west to southeast)
Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail: This unique
trail begins in northern Ohio and includes both river and open water travel on
Lake Erie before going back inland toward the town of
Lorain. (27 miles, south to north)
Find a canoe
Like most outdoor sports, equipment can be the difference between a great
trip or a soggy failure.
Consumers can purchase a decent river canoe for $400 to $2,500. Used canoes
also can be purchased for much less. Add to that the expense of paddles and life
jackets, and the cost can get pretty high, pretty fast.
A good alternative is renting, especially if you are planning to only
occasionally venture off shore or would like to get a taste of the sport.
A simple online search will point to any number of canoe liveries that will
quickly get you onto Ohio’s back country water ways. These companies offer every
variety of services you may need on your adventure, from equipment to shuttle
services.
What to know before you go
There are a number of things you should know before you set off into the
wild. Here’s a short list:
- Wear your life jacket: Water seems cool
and inviting, but canoes tip easily, putting you and hard rocks within close
proximity.
-
Mind the weather: A little rain won’t
sink your canoe, but wind, heavy rain and lightning can be deadly. Seek shelter
when necessary.
- Stay off private property: You’ll see the
signs posted.
- Pack it in, pack it out: Carry a litter
bag. Don’t bring glass and if you find some, pack it out. Canoes can haul a lot;
do your part to keep our water ways clean.
- Wear shoes or sandals at all times: Foot
injuries are no fun on a canoe trip.
Resources
Ohio has many resources to help canoeing enthusiasts travel the state’s
waterways.
A good place to start your adventure is with information from the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources. You can find just about anything you need to
know at
watercraft.ohiodnr.gov.
Talking to experts at sporting goods stores or a visitors bureau also will
point you in the right direction.
dkennard@
centralohio.com
Twitter: @
davidbkennard
