About the Kokosing River Water Trail

In June of 2005, the Kokosing River was designated the first water trail in Ohio by the state. The park district provided demonstrable leadership in the designation process in serving as local sponsor and providing coordination between communities and government agencies that own or manage paddler access sites on the river.

So what is a water trail? A water trail is similar to a bikeway or hiking trail, except that it occurs on a navigable stream or river and contains access sites where paddlers can launch and retrieve their boats. Access sites along the Kokosing occur at Riverside Park and Memorial Park in Mount Vernon; Kokosing Gap Canoe Access (Lower Gambier Road); Laymon Road Bridge and Big Run Road in Gambier; Pipesville Road Bridge in Howard; Millwood Road in Millwood, Riley Chapel Road at Bat Nest Access and at the confluence with the Mohican River.

Miles to Next Takeout
Riverside 2.9
Memorial 2.7
Lower Gambier 1.6
Laymon 2.0
Big Run 7.4
Pipesville 2.7
Millwood 6.0
Riley Chapel 2.6
Confluence 0.0

Want to know what current river flows are on the river? Visit the USGS stream flow data site. Perfect conditions for a float are between 100-200 cubic feet per second (CFS) of flow, though lower conditions permit a fun experience if you don't mind dragging through riffles.

Want to try an overnight trip on the river? Try one of two privately owned campgrounds (near Millwood) on the Kokosing, Kokosing Valley Camp & Canoe and Caves Campground. If "roughing it" is more your style, by permit, the park district allows paddlers to camp in very primitive conditions above Howard and on the right descending bank of the river at the confluence with the Mohican. Call the park office at 740/392-PARK for more info. There is no charge for the permit. You must pack out all waste and adhere to the leave no trace ethics below.

Click here to download a map or guide of the 27.9 mile Kokosing River Water Trail from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources web site. The map contains all access sites and amenities found at the sites, and the guide provides fishing tips and boating safety practices.

A large format map and guide to the water trail can be found at the information kiosks at the canoe access sites along the trail. A map guide can be mailed to you. Visit http://www.ohiodnr.com/watercraft/publications/tabid/3217/Default.aspx to request one.

A float down the Kokosing River takes the user back in time. Paddling the upper end of the water trail takes the traveler through areas that were extensively glaciated beginning 100,000 years ago. Between Mount Vernon and Gambier, paddlers travel through the Kokosing Gap, a valley area with Blackhand and Logan sandstone. As the paddler progresses downstream of Millwood, a stunning narrow, boulder-strewn, sheer-sided valley known as the “Narrows” awaits. The Blackhand sandstone cliffs seen here are over 300 million years old.

Consider too, the ancient Mound builders and Delaware and Algonquin Indians who used the river as a major transportation route. Pioneers harnessed the river’s power, building mills to support the growing settler population. Evidence of a former mill site can be seen in the cut sandstone blocks south of the Big Run access.

"Leave No Trace" - Keep The River The Way You Found It

The following list is modified from the "Leave No Trace" Center For Outdoor Ethics

Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
• Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
• Visit in small groups when possible
• Repackage food to minimize waste.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel or snow.
• Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
Dispose of Waste Properly
• Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, human waste and litter.
• Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 100 feet away from river and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
Leave What You Find
• Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures, furniture or dig trenches.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Campfires can cause lasting impacts. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
• Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires.
• Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, and then scatter cool ashes.
Respect Wildlife
• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
• Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.