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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 that you’ll probably be putting in a good amount of time at the 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 in the midst of a 16 ½ mile stretch of 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, of course!

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 separate 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). 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. From here I paddled left (or downriver) toward the lock and dam. Below is what it looks like...

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 looks like this marks the downriver end of Letart, West Virginia. There’s an old boat ramp here on the WV side, by the way, but it looks private. Something else interesting... It seems that at one time there might have been some kind of waterfall here. I mention that because the community of Letart Falls, Ohio lies just across the river.

It's also at this point that the river beings to widen considerably and 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. As for the island, it's about a mile in circumference and it's part of the Ohio River Island National Wildlife Refuge. Exploration of this particular island looks to be forbidden according to a sign I saw, but I know that most of the other islands do allow for exploration. The second photo below was taken at the downriver tip of the island...

I saw a bird in here of the kind that I often see on the water and 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! The bird is in the center of the photo below. Hopefully you can see it. These birds can be quite well comouflaged!

After you pass the island 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 almost immediately that the charts indicated was Larry’s Locker Campground and Marina, although it's no longer in operation. Anyway, if you go a little further 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, as I was a bit too self-conscious to continue due to the proximity of the dwellings and the low shoreline. It sure was beautiful though! The first two pictures were taken in the back of the creek while the last two were taken on different trips as I came out and looked back downriver toward the dam. The area can be quite colorful!

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. Also at this point in 2012 was a Shelly Materials location that was no longer here when I came by in 2024. Sheely isn't out of business though. 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! The last photo shows the seemingly abandoned area in 2024.

…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!

Meanwhile, Johns Run is supposed to enter the river on the Ohio side at mile 232.5 right at the spot of a Martin Marietta location, but I didn't see the stream. Marin Marietta is still here. The company supplies building 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 in West Virginia. This is not the stream you came in from - it's the smaller version. I made it in a little over a mile and found it to be a sheer delight! It wasn’t just the scenery that made paddling here such a wonderful experience, however. You see, as I proceeded I was also hearing the beautiful sound of church bells! Such sounds amid such an equally incredible background was a deeply moving experience. Indeed, it was a perfect symphony of sight and sound combined with the spirituality of the music. Watch out for bee hives though (check out the last picture)!

Back on the Ohio you'll find that Mill Creek itself lies just a little further upriver. 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.