The Ohio River Is Now Ohio's Longest Official Water Trail

Here's a good one. In early October, at the Ohio River Way's annual summit in Ironton, Ohio, a 167-mile stretch of the Ohio River was designated as the state's 18th Ohio Water Trail by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources—the longest water trail in the state. That means one of the hardest-working rivers in America is now, officially, a place Ohio invites you to go paddle.

What happened

According to the Ohio River Way's October 5 announcement, ODNR Director Mary Mertz presented the official proclamation recognizing the Ohio River as the newest state water trail, which starts at Ice Creek in Coal Grove just south of Ironton and flows to Cincinnati's Shawnee Outlook Park. The story was also picked up by Outdoor News, which reported that the Ohio River Way awarded a symbolic paddle to the ODNR director in honor of the designation.

This isn't just a plaque on a wall. ODNR's water trail program is designed to expand public awareness while improving safety on Ohio's waterways, and each designation relies on community leadership, a commitment to safe recreation, and clear, accessible guides that help paddlers find points of access, understand local hazards, and discover nearby places of interest. In plain terms: better maps, better launches, and a lot more people in boats.

Why it matters

For most of living memory, the Ohio was something you drove over, not something you got in. This designation flips that script along 167 miles of southern Ohio shoreline—a stretch that runs from Appalachian river towns like Ironton all the way down to Cincinnati. As the People's Defender reported, Director Mertz said the designation shows Ohio is committed to "expanding access to outdoor experiences for everyone."

It also caps a remarkable run for this river. A year earlier, the Ohio River Way was designated a National Water Trail, recognizing 308 miles of the river and its communities as a nationally significant destination for outdoor recreation, conservation, and river-based travel. Now the state has matched that momentum with its own longest-ever water trail.

The bigger current

The people behind this didn't just file paperwork—they got wet. In May 2026, the Ohio River Way launched its most ambitious Challenge to date: over 23 days, a volunteer crew paddled 488 miles from Huntington, WV, to Evansville, IN—the first thru-paddle of the Ohio River Way since its National Water Trail designation, celebrating both ecological restoration and river recreation.

And the vision keeps growing beyond the water. The Ohio River Way has been awarded funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation to develop a comprehensive plan for a safe, connected, scenic cycling corridor along the Ohio River. A river you can paddle, with a route you can ride beside it—that's a very different Ohio River than the one your grandparents were warned away from.

Go see it for yourself

The whole point of a water trail is that you don't need to be an expert to use it. Rent a kayak, find a public launch between Ironton and Cincinnati, and spend an afternoon looking at Ohio from the water instead of the bridge. River towns along the route will be glad to sell you lunch. If you want to show up in the right uniform, our Ohio collection has you covered, and the O-H Tee dries fast enough to survive a splashy launch.

If paddling's not your thing, the designation still matters to you: it signals cleaner water, more public access, and more reasons for small river towns to thrive. That's worth a drive down the Ohio River Scenic Byway on its own.

Common questions

What stretch of the river is the new water trail?

The trail starts at Ice Creek in Coal Grove, just south of Ironton, and flows to Shawnee Outlook Park in Cincinnati—167 miles in all.

Is this the same as the National Water Trail designation?

No—it's a second honor. The Ohio River Way earned National Water Trail status a year earlier, covering 308 miles of the river. The new state designation is Ohio's own recognition, and at 167 miles it's the longest of the state's 18 water trails.

Do I need to be an experienced paddler?

The water trail program is built for regular folks. Designations come with clear, accessible guides that help paddlers find access points, understand local hazards, and discover nearby places of interest. Start with a short stretch, check conditions, and go with a buddy.

Reported by Ohio River Way. Details as published at the time of writing.