Ohio River Challenge: 250-Mile Paddle to Promote Recreation
A team of paddlers will set off on the Ohio River Challenge on June 2, a 250-mile, 10-day journey from Portsmouth, Ohio, to Louisville, Kentucky.
Through retracing past explorers’ footsteps, their expedition aims to enhance tourism, cultural heritage, and outdoor recreation opportunities in the region.
The team of adventurers will use a 30-foot-long voyageur canoe to stop at river towns along the way. During Europeans’ early exploration of North America, a 30-foot voyageur canoe played an important role. While the fur trade was in full swing, these canoes served as an essential means of transportation for people and goods across vast waterways.
The Native Americans used different types of canoes according to their regions and purposes. They came in a variety of sizes, shapes, and construction materials to reflect the diverse environments and cultural practices of the different Native American tribes. As a means of transportation for fishing, hunting, and trading within their territories, Native American canoes played an integral role in their way of life.
At each stop along the Ohio River, ambassadors will meet community leaders and residents, as well as get a taste of the local culture. Each evening, they will chat at local cafes and restaurants before making camp.
This will be the 3rd year for the popular excursion.
In their journey from Portsmouth to Louisville, the expedition will pitch its tents in 10 communities:
- June 2: Depart Portsmouth, Ohio
- June 2: Vanceburg, Ky.
- June 3: Maysville, Ky.
- June 4: Augusta, Ky.
- June 5: Thomas More Biological Research Station
- June 6: Cincinnati
- June 7: Rising Sun, In.
- June 8: Vevay, In.
- June 9: Madison, In.
- June 10: Westport, Ky.
- June 11: Arrive in Louisville, Ky.