Water Trail Proposal
The Ohio River Trail Council proposes the development the Ohio River Water Trail System. The ORTC will sponsor canoe, kayak and rowing access to the Ohio River and its tributaries. The Ohio River Water Trail will provide safe access to our waterways while also providing connections to our history, ecology, geology, heritage and wildlife. The ORTC objective is to add the Beaver River, Little Beaver Creek, Ohio River and Raccoon Creek to the state water trail system. Official designation as a state water trail will list the rivers on the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) website thereby helping the involved communities increase their ecotourism. Kayaking is named by many as the fastest growing outdoor sport, with millions taking part and millions more on the edge waiting for the opportunity to dip their first paddle into pristine lakes and roaring rivers. Kayaking is one of the top ten adventure activities for baby boomers, following fresh or saltwater fishing, biking, hiking and motorcycling. According to the Outdoor Industry Association 17.8 million Americans participated in kayaking, canoeing and rafting in 2008, with 7.8 million paddling kayaks alone. These paddlers made 174 million outings, averaging 10 days per participant. Approximately 47 percent of kayakers make it out on the water one to three times per year. For many it has become the ultimate lifestyle, with a growing and enthusiastic community. The Travel Industry Association of America claims 55.1 million Americans are “Geotourists”, interested in sustainable and eco-tourism, including adventure tourism activities like kayaking and canoeing. This trend is growing by approximately 10 per cent every year. Though it’s not hard to convince most people that a day out on the water in their own personal boat would be a day well spent, most new kayakers flock to the sport claiming family and friends, or word of mouth, as being their highest influence. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council describes Water Trails as “recreational corridors between specific locations that can be used for both single day and multiple day trips. They provide safe access to waterways while also providing connections to our history, ecology, geology, heritage and wildlife.” According to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, "water trails are boat routes suitable for canoes, kayaks and small motorized watercraft. Like conventional trails, water trails or “blueways” are recreational corridors that travel between specific points on water bodies such as streams and rivers. They generally have two or more access points spaced no more than ten miles apart. Water trails are comprised of access points, boat launches, day use sites, and -- in some cases -- overnight camping areas." Water trails are officially designated by the PA Fish & Boat Commission (www.fish.state.pa.us/watertrails). Once designated, they become part of the Pennsylvania Water Trails System. Designated trails receive mapping assistance, have access to the Pennsylvania Water Trails logo, and are listed in the Paddle PA publication. Canoe, kayak and rowing access will be provided to the Ohio River, Beaver River, Raccoon Creek and the Little Beaver Creek. The Ohio River Trail Corridor communities initially targeted are Beaver Falls, Bridgewater, Monaca, New Brighton, Ohioville and Rochester, Pa. The council supports the design, construction and the installation of kayak/canoe launch sites with storage racks and other amenities including signage, picnic tables, benches and bike racks.
Raccoon Creek Water Trail Raccoon Creek Water Trail (existing) - length 24 miles: The Racoon Creek canoeing/kayaking trail was developed by a group of canoeing enthusiasts, called “Canoe Raccoon Creek,” in cooperation with the Beaver County Conservation District. The trail begins at the first put-in point in Murdocksville, at the Washington County border, and extends for more than 24 miles to the confluence of the creek with the Ohio River. Four other access points have been established: at Route 30 adjacent to Raccoon Creek State Park; Route 151 near the Beaver County Conservation District Environmental Education Center; Green Garden Road across from Green Garden Plaza; and Raccoon Creek Road south of Route 18. Raccoon Creek Canoe Trails Witherspoon Road to Raccoon Park….…..7 mi. Raccoon Park to Independence Marsh.....5 mi. Independence Marsh to Green Garden.....6 mi. Green Garden Road to Rocky Bottom.....10 mi. This water trail is seasonal since water levels are only high enough for canoes/kayaks in Spring and early Summer. The Raccoon Creek Trail is presently not an officially designated state water trail. Beaver River Water Trail The Beaver River is a tributary of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania in the United States with a length of approximately 21 miles. It flows through a historically important coal-producing region north of Pittsburgh. The Beaver River is formed in Lawrence County by the confluence of the Mahoning and Shenango rivers at a point approximately 3 miles southwest of New Castle. It flows generally south, past West Pittsburg and Homewood, roughly parallel to the border with the state of Ohio. It receives Connoquenessing Creek west of Ellwood City and flows past Beaver Falls and New Brighton. It joins the Ohio at Beaver and Rochester, flowing between these two cities, at the downstream end of a sharp bend in the Ohio approximately 20 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. In the lower reaches near the Ohio River, the Beaver cuts through a gorge of underlying sandstone.
Beaver River Water Trail (proposed) - length 13 miles: This water trail would extend the entire length of the Beaver River in the County stretching thirteen (13) miles from Lawrence County to the Ohio River. According to the Canoeing Guide to Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia the Beaver River is canoeable from New Castle, Pa. (Lawrence County) to the Ohio River. Communities that are served by the water trail are New Castle, West Pittsburgh, Taylor Twp, Wampum, New Beaver, Elwood City, Koppel, Homewood, West Mayfield, White Twp, Eastville, Beaver Falls, New Brighton, Patterson, Fallston, Bridgewater, Rochester and Monaca. Trail users could put into the river, at Lawrence County. In addition, the Bevington Boat Launch has been recently completed on River Road,Taylor Township. The upper stretch of the river between Lawrence County and Beaver Falls is remote and scenic, surrounded by steep, forested riverbanks. The central portion of the river trail would pass through old rivertowns, and trail users would be required to portage their boats around three dams at Eastvale, Beaver Falls, and New Brighton. An additional boat launch is located at Rock Park, New Brighton. The lower stretch of the trail would continue downstream, past Rochester Township to the Bridgewater launch area or Rochester Riverfront Park, where a boat access ramp exists and the Beaver County Rowing Association maintains its boathouse. From Rochester, the trail would continue to Bridgewater Crossing, where a boat dock will permit boaters to embark and disembark, and to the planned Beaver Riverfront Park, where a boat ramp has been incorporated in the design. In addition, boaters could put in at the Monaca boat launch across the Ohio River. This proposed water trail could be used in its entirety year round.
Little Beaver Creek Trail & Ohio River Water Trail
The Little Beaver Creek is a wild and scenic area in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Little Beaver Creek watershed is located primarily in Columbiana County in northeast Ohio, and in portions of Carroll County, Mahoning County, and western Pennsylvania, draining approximately 605 miles, of which 503 miles are in Ohio. The creek is protected by a number of classifications, including Ohio Wild and Scenic River and National Scenic River, as well as being part of Ohio's state park system. It is the only major river in Ohio to have dual State Wild and Scenic and National Scenic River designations. The creek empties into the Ohio River at Glasgow, Pa just east of East Liverpool, Ohio. Little Beaver Creek supports 63 species of fish, 49 mammal species, 140 types of birds and 46 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the rare and protected salamander known as the hellbender. It is an exceptionally clean waterway with a highly diverse ecosystem.
Little Beaver Creek and Ohio River Water Trail (proposed) - length 9 miles: This nearly nine (9) mile long water trail would begin on Little Beaver Creek, in Ohio, at a put-in point at Grimm’s Bridge. The trail would follow the creek downstream to the Lock 57 Park in Ohioville Borough. From the Park, the trail will continue to the Ohio River and follow the river upstream to the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge. In Pennsylvania, the refuge includes two protected islands, Phillis and Georgetown Islands. These islands are undeveloped and support a variety of bird life. From there, the paddlers would return to Lock 57.
Please join the ORTC to assist in the development of this project. Authored by Dr. Vincent Troia, January 2009. Updated August 2010.
 Beaver County Proposed Blueways Map 7 2007 | [ ] | 2466 Kb |
| Beaver County Proposed Blueways Map 7B 2007 | [ ] | 2016 Kb |
| Beaver County Proposed Blueways Map 8 2007 | [ ] | 4486 Kb |
| Beaver County Proposed Blueways Map 9 2007 | [ ] | 2488 Kb |
| PA Fish & Boat Commission How to Guide | [ ] | 37 Kb |
| Raccoon Creek Canoe/Kayak Trail Map and Launch Sites | [ ] | 27 Kb |
| Simple Canoe Launch | [ ] | 24 Kb |