Little Beaver Creek

Little Beaver Creek runs from the Lisbon area generally eastward to the Ohio River near East Liverpool. It is the site of the Sandy and Beaver Canal from the canal boom in the nineteenth century and the remains of dozens of the old stone locks are visible from the creek. Beaver Creek State Park, near Elkton, has a rebuilt lock and grist mill, as well as several other restored historical buildings. This park is helpful to the paddler, providing access and parking, camping, and a phone-in water level gauge. Another recreational possibility to be aware of is the North Country National Scenic Trail, which passes through the park and along the creek.

The character of the creek is basically gentle, with slow current and little depth at normal paddling levels. The stream bed is mostly rocky, with serious strainers being a rare occurrence. Class I riffles are found along the length of the creek, with a few places that may approach class II at some water levels. There is only one serious rapid, a class II that approaches class III at higher water levels, found just downstream from the Fredericktown access. This is a good stream for beginner kayakers to learn their water reading skills and to develop the basic surfing/ferrying skills, as well as getting the feel of easy rapids.

ACCESS

The start of this section is from Lusk Lock, a part of Beaver Creek State Park located about 5 miles from the main body of the park. To get to Lusk Lock get off route 11 at the route 154 exit and head east towards Elkton. Just past the Elkton post office (on the left), route 154 turns to the left. Go straight here, down CR 419 and continue about 3 miles or so. There is a brown state park sign saying ?Lusk Lock? on the right side of the road by a narrow gravel drive. Turn here and follow the drive till it ends at the parking area. The easiest access to the creek is down the trail leading out of the parking area to the left. Note that it may be possible to extend this section

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