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Bob and Lou Ann Limbird of Napoleon, Ohio paddling around the
north side of Girty's Island.
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An increasing number of people are kayaking in the Maumee
River. Kayakers can be seen along the Maumee River from the Henry County Park's
Miami Wabash and Erie Canal Hiking Trail.
The canal was used from 1843 until 1913.
Kayakers can gain access to the Maumee river at Independence Dam State
Park, Florida Ohio (at Independence Dam State Parks Parking lot next to the
Florida Bridge), Napoleon Ohio's Meyerholtz Park and the boat docks at Ritter Park, as well as,
Ohio's Mary Jane Thurston State Park's North Turkeyfoot Access just east of
Henry County Road 6C.
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| Bob and Lou Ann Limbird on their Way from Florida, Ohio to the Boat Docks at Napoleon's Ritter Park. |
In 2006 the 21st Annual Maumee Valley Tri-Adventure race
(sponsored by The Volunteer Connection of Northwest Ohio and The Naturalist
Scouts) used the canal for a kayak/canoe race.
The 50-mile race consists of a 6-mile paddle, an 8-mile hike carrying 20
percent of a participate's body weight and ended a 35-mile bike ride. Because of high water in 2006 the Maumee was not useable for the paddle
canoe/kayak leg of the race. The
sponsors instead used the Miami Wabash and Eric Canal. Competitors paddled from lock #13 at Independence
Dam State Park to Gessner Park in the Villiage of Florida, Ohio. The blogger at
http://www.paddling.net/places/showReport.html?1386 reported high water in the
canal made the use of the canal possible for the event. Dead logs, vegetation and sandbars would have
to be removed from the canal before canoes and kayaks could easily use the
waterway. Share your kayak photos and stories on Facebook at Henry County
Parks. What is the make of your
kayak? Describe your kayak. Where did you enter and exit the Maumee? Any photos of your trip? Be apart of the conversation.
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Two kayaks racked on top and one inside the SUV leaving Napoleon Ohio's Meyerholtz Park river access
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This article and photos submitted by Bob Morrison, Napoleon, Ohio
