Class I Great Miami River, OH/IN

The Great Miami River Watershed Water Trail is located in southwest Ohio and includes 291 miles of paddling, fishing, and wildlife watching opportunities including three beautiful rivers and many smaller tributaries. The Great Miami River Watershed drains more than 4,000 square miles in all or parts of 15 counties. The major rivers include the Great Miami, Stillwater, and Mad rivers. All three rivers are Ohio designated Water Trails and the Stillwater River and Greenville Creek are Ohiodesignated Scenic Rivers.

Originating just upstream from Indian Lake, a major recreation destination for boaters, campers, and fishermen; the Great Miami River then flows 156 miles southwest to its confluence with the Ohio River west of Cincinnati. The Mad River flows southwest for 65 miles while the Stillwater River flows southeast for 45 miles and they both join the Great Miami River in Dayton. Major tributaries with public access sites include the Buck Creek, which offers a kayaking whitewater park, the Greenville Creek, which is designated as a state scenic river, and the Twin Creek, which is the third healthiest stream in Ohio. Collectively, there are 117 public access sites along these rivers and streams. They offer a range of options for handcarried boats, motorized boats, fishing, and wildlife watching. The Buck Creek includes a whitewater park, the Mad River as a whitewater feature, and several more are planned for the Great Miami and Mad rivers.

(Source: National Park Service)