Participants enjoy the 2015 Parkersburg Paddlefest. The recent designation of 39 miles of the Ohio River and 18 miles of the Little Kanawha in Wood County as the Ohio River Water Trail will be celebrated Saturday at the 2016 Paddlefest.
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — A combined 57 miles of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers have been officially designated as the Ohio River Water Trail, in an effort to promote water recreation opportunities in Wood County.
The designation was granted by the West Virginia Recreational Trails Advisory Board after about six months of work spearheaded by the Wood County Alternative Transportation Council, according to a release from the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is partnering with the council on the project.
A water trail is defined by the board as “a route on a stream, river or lake that provides boaters with a recreational, scenic, historical or educational opportunity.”
The council’s application notes the scenic appeal of the routes, abundant wildlife and proximity to historic sites like Blennerhassett Island and various museums.
“I think it brings together a lot of the resources we have in the county and highlights them,” said Lloyd Roberts, alternative transportation council chairman. “You put all that together and you’ve got something that you can really market.”
The new designation will be celebrated during Saturday’s third annual Parkersburg Paddlefest event at Point Park.
Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Mark Lewis said the trail designation is a natural step forward.
“We’ve been working to highlight the paddling opportunities around here,” he said.
The CVB is one of 13 co-sponsors for the trail, with the Wood County Commission, which established the alternative transportation council, being the lead entity. Lewis said the CVB is establishing a website for the trail and printing maps of the 39 miles of the Ohio River and 18 miles of the Little Kanawha that form it.
Other partners include the cities of Parkersburg, Vienna and Williamstown, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park and the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, as well as its supporting Friends group. Several entities from the Buckeye State are also involved, including the Marietta Adventure Company, Marietta Rowing and Cycling Club, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio River Museum and Washington County Commission. The Pittsburgh-based Ohio River Trail Council is also a co-sponsor.
“We tried to include entities across the Ohio,” Roberts said. “We’ve tried to … make it not just Wood County, but regional as well.”
Roberts noted that half the trail access sites have Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant facilities for parking, restrooms and water access.
“There currently are no ADA facilities to aid getting in and out of canoes and kayaks, but that is a long-term goal of ours,” he said in the release.
The trail is also accessible from three bike paths in Parkersburg, Marietta and Belpre. In addition, four miles of the Little Kanawha River run alongside the North Bend Rail Trail.
Three islands along the trail route are part of the Ohio River Islands refuge, and people enjoying the water trail can go ashore and explore them on foot during the day.
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