De-Stress Outdoors

Kanawha River

Thirteen Mile Creek (Leon, WV) to Eighteen Mile Creek (Robertsburg, WV)

August 2024

Today I once again used the ramp in Leon, West Virginia as I'd done way back on my last trip in 2012. A lot had occurred since then including a move to Wisconsin and back. It was nice to get back here again! As for this ramp, it can be a little hard to find so I’ve got full directions at the end. Suffice it for now that there’s a small space between WV Route 62, some railroad tracks and the river and this is where you'll find it. There are several parking spaces but no facilities. Please note that while this a very nice place to put in it has very poor visibility. I would not recommend being here alone.

Note in the photo above that Twelve Mile Creek enters the Kanahwa right under the bridge you see. On the Kanahwa you'll find that all the side streams are named for the distance they are upstream from the Ohio River. I found this interesting. I'd encountered an occasional stream named in this fashion but never and entire river's worth! Anyway, on my last trip I found that Twelve Mile goes back at least 2 1/2 miles and it's very pleasant! The only thing that stopped me at that point was a deadfall and that might no longer be a hindrance. Anyway, since I'd paddled it before I headed on upriver on the Kanahwa to explore some new territory.

As I began I found myself rediscovering just what a peaceful stream this is to explore. Outside from the sound an occasional vehicle on the road it's really pretty serene. The farmer below sure has a pleasant little oasis!

...and I rediscoved schools of old friends! Shad minnows! I sometimes see them swimming in such tight circles that they actually look like a tire floating just under the surface of the water!

Another thing I always find interesting are the private ramps that enter the river from the farms...

Soon you'll meet up with Sixteen Mile Creek which enters from the right. I didn't get back too far - maybe a couple football fields - but also interesting here were about a dozen docking stations on the other side of the river. There was once a clearly thriving business at this spot, but I couldn't see any sign of it other than this, nor do I see any business currently being operated here on online maps. The shot below was taken looking back downriver from the creek...

It was at about this point where a couple vessels passed me going in opposite directions. One was the pushboat Dr. Edwin H. Welch of Amherst Madison while the other was named The Lucedale. Amherst Madison is headquarted just up this river in Charleston, WV but you'll see their vessels all over the inland waterways. In fact, I see them quite frequently on my Ohio River trips. As for the Lucedale, I couldn't find any information. It's the vessel in the foreground of the photo below...

I also noted at this point a path leading down to the water with some very large cut stones at the bottom. Clearly there was something up there, but it wasn't until I'm lookng it up now that I find this to be the locaton of The Wells Group, LLC. Wells looks to be what you call one of your great American success stories with an interesting history. They appear to specialize in concrete construction, and perhaps the stones you see here are a sample of their work. They also show some recent projects on their website that range from bridges to churches.

Also notable at this point is the fact that you'll be looking at a long 3+ mile stretch of straightaway on the Kanawha. I've found it to be fairly rare to see such a long, straight stretch even on the Ohio River. These sections make for nice periods of quiet contemplation with your exercize and I'll be enjoying this in my next upriver journal.

Next for today, however, comes the 18 Mile Creek. I really enjoyed this one as I was ultimately able to navigate about 1.5 miles. Not too far in you'll pass under the road bridge and it's just past this that you'll note very interesting rock formations both sides (second and third photos below). This is not too common out here as the banks are usually mud-based.

Below are some more scenes from the stream...

And finally this last photo is one I found to be an incredible Halloween scene. Check out the tree stump below! My photo isn't clear enough to see it but it actually looks quite like Frankenstein! Also at play here is a glistening phenomenon that's playing in kaleidoscope fashion all over the scene. I'm not sure if there's a name for the phenomenon, but it occurs when light plays across the ripples on the water and projects outward upon whatever is on the shoreline. I think it's specatacular - a truly mesmerizing experience! From here I headed on back to the Leon ramp.

DIRECTIONS

From Point Pleasant head east on a combined West Virginia Route 62/2. After about 3 miles I then followed Route 62 when it split to the right. From here I’d reset my odometer and after you get about 9 miles (Leon is roughly 10 miles away) you’ll want to start keeping your eyes peeled. First you’ll pass Leon Baden road as it comes in from your left and then you’ll cross a bridge over Thirteen Mile Creek. Then, just after you cross main street (which also comes in from the left) you’ll make a right turn to reach the ramp, going under the railroad tracks to do so. Look for the brown "Public Stream Access" sign. The ramp is almost directly across the street from the post office.