Ohio River of Southwest Ohio
The state’s longest river, 451 miles of the total 950-mile length of the Ohio River flows across the eastern and southern border of the Buckeye State, dividing itself among West Virginia and Kentucky. The Ohio River was site of the first stages of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition to find a waterway access to the Pacific Ocean 200 years ago. Online Map More on the Ohio River
Long gone are the shallow waters and untamed rapids that once greeted explorers, traders and commercial shippers who navigated the river. Today, the Ohio River contains a series of lock and dam structures that provide long and tranquil navigational pools utilized by commercial barges as well as recreational boats.
The Ohio River supports an increasing level of recreational boating and fishing, particularly in the greater Cincinnati area. There is no waterway in Ohio quite like the Ohio River, and for this reason, it serves as a popular and unique boating destination, but it also presents special boating challenges.
It is important that boats be in excellent operational order and that boaters keep safety awareness a priority at all times. Special navigational rules apply that restrict boating access near certain structures and when passing through any of the lock and dam structures.
Locking through a dam on the Ohio River is a special boating experience. Boaters may pass through these lock and dam structures at no charge, but must follow precise boating rules to do so safely.
Special boating rules also apply in the Cincinnati area. A night time no wake zone is in effect from sunset to sunrise between the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge and Brent Spence Bridge -- an area that is located between Ohio River mile marks 469.5 and 471.5.
In this same area during daylight hours, a 300 foot no-wake zone applies from all docks, launch ramps and other shoreline structures. Outside of this 2-mile area, Ohio law still maintains a 300-foot no-wake zone from these structures along the entire length of the river from the Ohio shoreline only. Kentucky’s regulation provides for a 100-foot no-wake shoreline zone.
Boat launch ramps are located on the Great Miami River west of downtown Cincinnati, a short distance upstream from the main Ohio River channel. Boats may be launched from the Public Landing in downtown Cincinnati, Riverfront Marina, Schmidt Field, and in Clermont County on Augusta Street in New Richmond, on Broad Street in Moscow and at Chilo Lock #34 just off from Ohio Route 52.
Sport fishing is a popular activity and attracts many boaters and anglers as do the summer concerts at Riverbend Amphitheater in Cincinnati and summer baseball games at Great American Ballpark. Various species of bass, sauger, walleye, catfish and crappie are among many of the game fish caught in the Ohio River. Special fishing license agreements and regulations exist between Ohio and Kentucky. Consult the Ohio Fishing Regulations for more information.
There is a great deal to enjoy and to learn about boating on the Ohio River. |