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Paddling in autumn
PETE GLADDEN
Pete’s World
Published: November 7, 2022
As the fall foliage colors have now reached a zenith, most paddle sport enthusiasts are scampering to get those last couple of river trips in the bag.
And that’s because the autumn season provides some of the most amazing backdrops for paddling.
Now of course most paddle sport enthusiasts already know this. But for you novice and never-paddled folks, this could well be a revelation and well be the perfect time to get paddling.
Yet for the uninitiated, getting on the water without dropping several Benjamins on a boat and gear oftentimes looms as the primary impediment to paddling.
So I’m going to make it pretty easy - and pretty affordable - for you to get out there and experience autumn on the water. And it’s easy: Just match river with outfitter.
Cuyahoga River
Let’s start close to home with the Cuyahoga River. With its braided upper sections near Burton to its Class IV-V drops in Cuyahoga Falls to its tranquil lower sections that lazily flow through Cuyahoga Valley National Park and into downtown Cleveland, our Cuyahoga River is actually a multi-faceted, amazing little river system. Thus, the Cuyahoga has many faces with which to explore.
You can paddle its upper reaches via Crooked River Adventures (http://crookedriveradventures.com) out of Burton, Ohio.
Also servicing the upper Cuyahoga is Camp Hi Canoe & Kayak (https://www.camphiadventure.com) working out of Hiram, Ohio.
Outfitters servicing the lower reaches of the river - including the National Park section of the Cuyahoga - are Burning River Adventures and Cuyahoga Valley Adventures, both of which can be found on (https://paddletheriver.com).
Rocky River
The Rocky River meanders through the southwestern burbs of Cleveland and ends at Lake Erie.
These waters are a popular place for casual paddlers, especially the section out along the cliffs of Lakewood.
Newbies are encouraged to paddle a very beginner friendly 2.8-mile loop, considered an easy route that takes an average of an hour eight minutes to complete.
Your Rocky River outfitter is at https://www.kayak41north.com/rentals/.
Vermilion River
There are three specific paddling sections on the Vermilion, the upper, middle and the lower (next to Lake Erie).
What’s considered the best paddling - the Vermillion-Lorain Water Trail - is on the lower section.
This 27-mile section takes you past the shale cliffs of the Vermilion River Reservation all the way to where the Vermilion River meets Lake Erie.
Your Vermilion outfitters include https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/boat-livery out of Wellington Reservation and http://westriverkayak.com out of Vermilion.
Olentangy River
The Olentangy provides some excellent paddling options.
One of its finest sections begins just north of Columbus.
The section I’m referring to is 15 miles long - from the Big Meadows Picnic area at Highbanks Metropolitan Park to the confluence with the Scioto River in Downtown Columbus - and it gives you a little taste of everything, from forested parklands to lofty shale bluffs to sleek and upscale urban landscapes.
Your Olentangy outfitter is Olentangy River paddling https://www.olentangypaddle.com.
Portage River
The little known Portage River is a great, newbie friendly river because the Portage is a slow, winding, shallow river that cuts through some very scenic northwest Ohio farmland.
The most popular paddling section stretches for 18 miles. It starts at Riverbend Park in Elmore and extends beyond the Oak Harbor Livery to end at the Port Clinton Livery. Your Portage River outfitter is found at https://www.portageriverpaddlingco.com.
Maumee
The Maumee is a long and beautiful river that provides numerous paddling options.
There’s a wonderful 43-mile stretch from the Ohio-Indiana line to Defiance which is quite rural and very secluded.
There’s also a nice section of river up near Toledo where the river opens up to a width of 500-600 yards and is marked by steep bluffs, beautiful homes overlooking the water, and gorgeous stretches of old growth forest.
Your southern Maumee outfitter can be found at https://jt-adventures.com/ola/services/kayak-rental out of Defiance, and your northern Maumee outfitter is http://maumeetackle.net/maumee-river-outfitters/ out of Grand Rapids, Ohio.
Okay, I’ve done the homework now it’s your turn to pull the trigger and book a trip. Happy paddling.