New Matamoras to Witten Towhead

Ohio River

New Matamoras, Ohio Boat Ramp (Mile 142) to Witten Towhead (Mile 135.5)

July 2018

Navigation Charts 178 and 179

Instead of putting in at New Matamoras today I decided to go on up to Sistersville to put in. Sistersville's ramp is a little more convenient to access with much easier parking. Besides, when you put in here you're doing so only about a block away from the famous Sistersville (or Fly) Ferry. Doing so makes for a very nice experience. They have facilities here and directions are at the end of this journal. You'll note that the pictures on my site are a little large but this is done purposely so as to put you right at the scene with me. These photo's depict these scenes exactly as I saw them.

After enjoying the scenery for a little while I paddled on down to New Matamoras. This community lies right between two islands on the river - Grandview island lies near mile 143 and Mill Creek Island is about a mile further up. I passed Grandview on my last trip. Today I took more pictures around Mill Creek Island. Incidentally, the community of Friendly, West Virginia lies directly across the river from New Matamoras so there's usually quite a bit of activity around here - especially with the line of boat docks on the Freindly side.

The view below is looking downriver from one side of Mill Creek Island with the community of Friendly on the right side and New Matamoras on the left...

Here's looking downriver from the tip of Mill Creek Island to Grandview Island which is visible in the distance in the center of the picture.

Here's one of New Matamoras itself with the ramp you see in the center of the photo being the put-in I mentioned at the onset. It lies at the main town intersection. I couldn't locate a specific website with more pictures of the community but I did find one with some interesting historical info (here).

Finally, two more. Here's one looking upriver. You may note the push boat (as well as the jet ski) coming downriver at me. The push boat was the Robert E. Murray of Murray American. I'd encountered Murray American for the first time on my last trip only a week earlier. This was now the second time in as many trips that I'd seen them.

In this section as well in most sections of the Ohio River you won't really have a whole lot of silence, what with roadways usually running directly beside the river. You will most often also find a railroad track running alongside of you on one side or another. Thus, it's not often that you will really be able to be totally at peace with nature. The exceptions to this (if you can get back far enough into them to get away from things) can be the side streams. One of these comes in at the upriver tip of Mill Creek island at mile 141. Guess what it's called - Mill Creek! I was able to get back only about 500 yards but this one is really pretty. Even the road bridge is picturesque in my opinion...

For the next couple miles it will be fairly peaceful amid the lulls in traffic with pretty scenery and not too much to see in terms of civilization outside of 3 rv campgrounds on the West Virginia side. I was kind of partial to the scene below with the Cochransville light and day mark on the right. One of the campgrounds is also visible on the left at the tip of Well's Island.

Jim's Run comes in here. You might get roughly 150 yards into this stream...

At this point you might now be able to spot the Sistersville Ferry (which actually known as the Fly Ferry) crossing the river in the distance with the sunlight shimmering off of the cars being escorted across. This ferry runs from Sistersville over to Fly, Ohio and it's been in operation since 1817 according to a website I found that features them (here) - 200 years old! What a beautiful sight on the river! There are some spots on Well's Island where you can get out and I did so here.

Once you get up to where the ferry crosses you'll be able to get some good overall views of Sistersville. The picture below was taken from the Fly side. I think this is a beautiful location. Not only because of the ferry but also because of the great farmland view in the background.

According to a website I found (here) the town of Sistersville was named after the 2 Wells sisters upon whose land the town was established in 1817 (and I assume Well's Island to be named after them as well). Among other things Sistersville has a very interesting little city block at the point of their police station. They've also got a hotel which is located only about 5 blocks away from the ramp. I've been trying to point these out where I find them for the benefit of any paddlers who want to take a longer trip and stay in more comfortable (and perhaps quieter) surrounding than a campground. This Wells Inn is heard to be haunted, however, so I do want to let you know:) Here's a website with a nice write up on the hotel and it's history (Well's Hotel).

You'll notice that another creek enters across from Sistersville here too. In this case it's Miller Run which was navigable today around 400 yards. Today was my day for seeing large snapping turtles in the water but alas it was also a day of not being able to get a good picture of one. I passed a very large one in here, nearly floating right over it. Some wide views of the community can be seen from the mouth of this stream.

Earlier as I was heading downriver here to reach New Matamoras I'd seen a push boat from another company I'd never seen before - the Kenneth C. Savage of Savage Marine. According to the company web page (here) the business is actually based in Salt Lake City, Utah but a subsidiary of the company recently acquired Settoon Towing Company's line of push boats, of which the Kenneth C. Savage is one. I think I'll probably be seeing more of Savage Marine in the future.

Once past Sistersville things quiet down in terms of scenery and for the next couple miles down to Witten Towhead you might be alone with your thoughts as you ponder the river here. Not much is visible in West Virginia besides the railroad tracks although the shorelines are pretty nice and you might see how much wildlife you can spot. Ohio has a string of some really nice personal getaway spots and on this side you'll also spot a neat old log cabin. I was noticing the wind as I paddled here and I was getting some pretty good waves. I determined to paddle well to the side on my way back to Sistersville so as to avoid some of it as it was starting to get to the point where I needed to be thinking about getting back.

This last picture was taken at Witten Towhead which is actually a little island just down river from a much larger Williamson Island. Here you see Ohio on the far left with Witten on the near left, Williamson Island on the near right with West Virginia on the right. I thought it was an interesting intersection of land masses and it gives you idea of some of the nice shorelines in here. There is some litter to be true but it's not too bad.

DIRECTIONS:

This put-in is right in the heart of downtown Sistersville, West Virginia just a block away from the ferry landing. Once you get into the city it's at the end of Charles Street. I'd check it out on an online map before going. There's a good amount of parking for you on Riverside Drive.