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Ohio River

Racine Lock and Dam (Mile 237.5) to Mill Creek (Mile 231.5)

Friday, September 21, 2012

River Charts 161 and 162

If you, too, ever want to attempt a navigation of the Ohio River via out-and-backs trips then I can tell you right now that you’ll probably be putting in a good amount of time at the public boat ramp in Millwood, West Virginia – especially if you also want to explore all the side streams too. This was my second time out here and I’ll probably be putting in a third. The reason is that this is the only public put in I know of along a 16 ½ mile stretch of the river between the Racine Dam and Ravenswood, West Virginia. You’ll need to break the distance into 2 sections unless you want to do a 33 mile out-and-back!

Not only that, but I’ve found out that the slack water in Mill Creek (into which this ramp enters) goes back a full 6 ½ miles. It’s not until you reach a series of 3 riffled sections that your progress is likely to be impeded. As a result, this creek is a 13 mile out-and-back paddle by itself. I’ll cover it in a another journal. For this particular narrative, however, I’ll continue to relate my progress on the Ohio in an upriver fashion starting from the Racine Lock and Dam at mile 237.5.

First, however, here’s how to get out to the Ohio River from the ramp… When you put in you’ll want to make a right (a right from the perspective of one standing at the bottom of the ramp looking out, that is). You’ll essentially be headed west. Then, when you reach the first river intersection you’ll make another right. The Ohio is a little over a mile away after a sharp “S” curve and a Valley Incorporated terminal. Your eyes will be met with a scene like the one below when you arrive. I paddled left from here (or downriver) toward the lock and dam, at which point I'll "technically" begin.

The Racine Lock and Dam complex is at Ohio River mile 238. You’ll find that it actually lies a lot closer to the community of Letart Falls than it does to Racine. I turned around at the arrival point not wanting to get too close (the second picture is a "zoom in").

As you start to head upriver from the dam you'll be in the midst of a left curve which extends all the way to the mouth of the Mill Creek at 231.5 and beyond. You’ll also note a CSX Railroad line which runs throughout this entire stretch on the West Virginia side. Meanwhile in Ohio you’ll find some pretty impressive looking farmland. I often wish I were better able to see these tranquil rural scenes, but the next upriver section would make up for some of this!

It was in this area that the William H. Elliot passed by me heading toward the lock chamber - a very interesting vessel with an interesting assortment of cargo! It appears that this vessel is based about 60 miles downstream in Marietta.

By the time you reach mile 236 you’ll find a spot on the charts that’s indicated as being an occasional loading and unloading spot near the mouth of Spring Run. I found the stream to be too clogged with algae to paddle, but it look like it marks the downriver end of Letart, West Virginia. It's clear that before the river was dammed there must have been some kind of waterfall here because the community of Letart Falls, Ohio lies just across the river. There’s an old boat ramp here on the WV side, by the way, but it looks private.

It's also at this point that you'll be looking at the tip of an island. Guess what the name of it is? Letart Island! That name - Letart - seems particularly popular in this general vicinity and there's an interesting article on it here. As for the island, it's about a mile in circumference by my estimation and it's part of the Ohio River Island National Wildlife Refuge run by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Trespassing on this particular island looks to be forbidden according to a sign I saw, but I do know that most of the other islands allow for exploration.

I saw a bird in here of the kind that I often see on the water. In looking into it further, I believe that this is a cormorant. I most often see these along the shoreline in low lying tree branches, but I've also see them dive underwater to catch fish. They can stay under quite a while too!

After you pass the northern tip of the island at mile 235 you’ll see Tombleson Run enter the river on the West Virginia side at mile 235. I was able to get into it about ½ mile and I did pass a ramp that the charts indicate that Larry’s Locker Campground and Marina. There were some RV’s parked here but I saw no boats docked. NOTE: As I look now in 2021 it appears that Larry's in no longer here. There's a grocery at this location. Go a little further past the ramp and you’ll find some great houses as the water begins to get shallow. I stopped at a point where the stream makes a sharp left to enter into a little hollow. I was a bit too self-conscious to continue due to the proximity of the dwellings and the low shoreline, but it sure was beautiful! The first two pictures were taken in the back of the creek while the last one was taken as I came out and looked back downriver toward the dam.

When you reach mile 234 back on the Ohio you’ll find that the point marks the division between Mason County and Jackson County in West Virginia. The Jackson website has a beautiful picture of the landscape which is typical of the area, but it was also in here that I began to see a pair of egrets on the Ohio shoreline. Alas, I couldn not get the best photos…

Also at this point is a Shelly Materials location, although I did see a sign marked “Reserve Transportation Inc.” here too. You’ll find Shelly locations all over the river and I’ve seen them as far downriver as Gallipolis. I’m sure they have many more as well. Check out “Mr. Hungry” in the second shot!

…and look across the river here too. There’s a great looking home in a beautiful location just upriver from this point. It’s at the same spot as the Tom’s Run Light and Day Mark at mile 233.5. What a great rural railroad scene! I hope the owner doesn’t mind me putting up this picture, but if Tom’s Run is a stream in this area I saw no sign of it!

Neither did I see Johns Run for that matter! It’s supposed to enter the river at mile 232.5 right at the spot of a Martin Marietta location. The company supplies builing materials and they operate a sand and gravel mine here. Also note the nice floral basket that nature has made of some of their old barges…

Paddle another mile and you’ll have reached the mouth of the beautiful Little Mill Creek. I made it a bit over a mile into this one, yet it wasn’t just the scenery that made paddling here such a wonderful experience! You see, as I proceeded I was hearing the beautiful sound of church bells! Such sounds amid such an equally incredible background was a deeply moving experience for me. Indeed, it was a perfect symphony of sight and sound which, combined with the spirituality of the music, was truly incredible. Watch out for bee hives though (check out the last picture)!

Let me first clarify something. I just described Little Mill Creek above, yet Mill Creek itself lies just a little further upriver on the Ohio. It’s across from the community of Apple Grove, Ohio at about mile 231.5. As mentioned, there’s quite a bit to explore back in this stream and I’ll be composing a separate journal on it at some point. Meanwhile, the first picture below shows not an island but the mouth of Mill Creek (on the right). The second shot is a preview of one scene you’ll find in Mill Creek.

DIRECTIONS:

From the McDonalds in downtown Point Pleasant, West Virginia head out of town on State Route 2 (toward Ravenswood) and go 20 miles. Then keep your eyes peeled for the State Route 62 intersection. (You’ll note that Route 62 will have veered off to your right earlier in this stretch – it rejoins Route 2 here). You’ll make a right and then another immediate right into the ramp parking lot. You can’t really miss it – it’s right there. I also saw a couple farm produce vendors across from this point. This ramp has a good but not incredible amount of parking. There are no facilities.