Ohio Just Made Its Biggest River Official: 167 Miles of the Ohio Is Now a State Water Trail

Here's a piece of good news from the southern edge of the state: at the Ohio River Way's annual summit in Ironton this October, 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 Ohio. The river that gave the state its name finally has its name on the map as an official place to paddle.

What happened

The announcement came in early October, per the Ohio River Way's own release, and was picked up by Outdoor News in mid-October. At the summit, ODNR Director Mary Mertz presented the official proclamation recognizing the Ohio River as the newest state water trail, starting at Ice Creek in Coal Grove just south of Ironton and flowing to Cincinnati's Shawnee Outlook Park. Per Outdoor News, the designation establishes the state's longest water trail at 167 miles — number eighteen in a system that already covers rivers all over the state.

Mertz said the designation shows Ohio is committed to "expanding access to outdoor experiences for everyone."

Why it matters

For a long time, the Ohio was the river you drove over, not the river you got on. A water trail designation changes that slowly and practically: it means recognized access points, better maps, and a signal to river towns that paddlers are coming. Mertz called the designation a recognition of the communities, partnerships and people who have put countless hours into elevating one of the region's greatest natural resources — which is a long way of saying a lot of volunteers in a lot of small towns made this happen.

And it's not a one-off. In June 2025, the National Park Service designated the Ohio River Way as a 308-mile National Water Trail, and this new state designation underscores years of community teamwork and regional partnerships. The state proclamation stacks on top of the national one. The river is having a moment.

The towns along the way

Trace the new trail on a map and you get a tour of southern Ohio: Ironton, Coal Grove, the hill country of Lawrence and Scioto counties, Portsmouth, the little river landings of Adams and Brown counties, and finally the big bend into Cincinnati. These are exactly the kinds of places we think about when we design for the Ohio collection — towns with a working river out front and real pride behind it. A water trail stitches them together the way the river always has, just with more kayaks and fewer coal barges.

The group behind it knows the territory. The Ohio River Way started as a group of paddlers and has grown into a coalition of communities working to help people find adventure, inspire care for the land and water, and grow the economies of Ohio River communities.

How to actually paddle it

You don't need to do 167 miles. You need an afternoon. The route offers serious resources for paddlers and boaters, including the Ohio River Way's interactive map, paddling guide, boating safety information, and signage at its 74 public access points. Pick a landing near Portsmouth or Ripley, go out with someone experienced — this is big water with barge traffic, not a farm pond — and give yourself a reason to eat dinner in a river town afterward.

If you want proof it can be done at scale: in May 2026, a volunteer crew of paddlers set out to paddle 488 miles from Huntington, WV, to Evansville, IN, over 23 days as part of the Ohio River Way Challenge. Your Saturday float will feel easy by comparison. Wear your O-H Tee at the takeout and see how long it takes a stranger to answer back.

Common questions

What exactly is an Ohio Water Trail?

It's an official state designation from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources recognizing a river route for paddling and recreation. The Ohio River is now officially recognized as the state's 18th Ohio Water Trail, joining rivers across the state that already carry the title.

Where does the new trail start and end?

It starts at Ice Creek in Coal Grove, just south of Ironton, and flows to Cincinnati's Shawnee Outlook Park — 167 river miles along Ohio's southern border.

Is the Ohio River safe for casual paddlers?

It's a big commercial river, so plan accordingly: go with experienced paddlers, check conditions, and use designated access points. The Ohio River Way maintains a paddling guide, boating safety information, and signage at 74 public access points to help you do it right.

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