Ohio Just Got Its Longest Water Trail Yet — 167 Miles of the Ohio River

Here's a good one for anybody who has ever stood on a riverbank in southern Ohio and thought, somebody ought to make this easier to paddle. This month, 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, according to an announcement from the Ohio River Way dated October 5.

What happened

The news came out of the Ohio River Way's annual summit in Ironton, Ohio, down in Lawrence County where the river bends along the state's southern edge. ODNR 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. That's 167 miles of big, slow, working river — past Portsmouth, past Ripley, past the hills of Adams and Brown counties — now carrying an official trail designation from the state.

If you're keeping count, that makes eighteen designated water trails in Ohio, and this one is longer than any that came before it.

Why it matters

A water trail designation isn't a ribbon on a fence post. 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 guides that help paddlers find access points, understand local hazards, and discover nearby places of interest. In plain terms: better maps, better put-ins, and a lot more people who know where to launch a kayak on a Saturday morning.

For the river towns strung along this stretch — Ironton, Portsmouth, Manchester, Ripley, New Richmond — that kind of attention matters. These are places built by the river, and a trail designation is the state saying out loud that the river is worth visiting, not just crossing on a bridge.

Part of something bigger

This isn't 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, regional partnerships, and dedicated advocates who see the Ohio River as one of the region's greatest natural assets. The Ohio River Way itself 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.

So the big river that gave the state its name is getting its due, mile by mile. There's something right about that. Ohio has spent decades building out water trails on its inland rivers — now the namesake itself is on the list, and it went in as the longest.

Go dip a paddle

You don't need to paddle all 167 miles. Pick a stretch. The river towns between Ironton and Cincinnati are an easy day trip from most of southern Ohio, and fall is a fine time to be on or near the water — the hills along the river put on a real show this time of year. Check ODNR's water trail resources for access points before you go, bring a life jacket, and respect a river this size; it's beautiful, but it's big.

And if you'd rather admire it from a bench with a coffee, that counts too. Either way, it's a good excuse to spend a day in a corner of the state that doesn't always get the spotlight. If you want to look the part, our Ohio collection was made for exactly this kind of trip — the Ohio State Pride Tee travels well from the boat ramp to the diner in town.

Common questions

What exactly is a state water trail?

It's an official designation from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for a stretch of river set up for public recreation. Designated trails come with clear, accessible guides that help paddlers find points of access, understand local hazards, and discover nearby places of interest — think of it as a marked hiking trail, but for your canoe or kayak.

Where does this new trail run?

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

Do I need to be an experienced paddler?

The Ohio River is a large commercial waterway, so it deserves respect — but part of the point of the designation is making it approachable. Start with a short stretch near a river town, check conditions and access info through ODNR and the Ohio River Way before you go, and always wear a life jacket.

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