Little Miami River, East Fork
Williamsburg Community Park to Launch Ramp (off Twin Bridges Road)(Above East Fork Lake)
| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 4.9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 10 fpm |
| Permit | None |
| Gauge | East Fork Little Miami River at Williamsburg Oh |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 31 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | August 13, 2017 |
River Description
This Class I-II section of the East Fork of the Little Miami River offers an alternative to the Little Miami or Great Miami Rivers. There are a fair number of islands to maneuver around and a half dozen or so Class I-II rapids. There are several spots to surf and spin at moderate and low flows (most of which are catch-on-the-fly) and lots of eddies to catch on either side of the river. Ferrying across swift current is also another way to amuse yourself. At moderate flows (3.3 feet), the small wave trains after the rapids are deep enough for wave wheel practice.
There are no real hazards to speak of except strainers, which are easily avoided due to the width of the river. If you feel comfortable on the Little Miami, this is within your range.
The real selling point of this river is the scenery. Because the river lies almost entirely within East Fork State Park, there are few signs of civilization on the river. You will probably be the only person on the river.
River Features
Put In
Video of the Run
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportOn 5-25-26 a group of 8 of us paddled the East Fork. We put in at Waynesville Park (just downstream of the bridge) and took out at the Tunnel Mill Boat Ramp (just upstream of the lake). It was running around 400 cfs throughout our run. The water was moving consistently between little splashy sections – a few spots with some fun waves to go through. Plenty of eddies on either side of the river throughout this section. Also a number of sandy banks available to pull off & take a break if you wanted. A few of the turns had large strainers or tree snags, but these were easily avoided. We were all in recreational kayaks which were well suited for the river at this level. Whitewater kayakers would have been a bit bored – no real wave trains or surf spots. With the consistent current it made for a fun relaxing morning with the water pulling us along while we drifted, chatted & paddled easily. One short section just past ½-way was near a rookery for Great Blue Heron’s & we saw 10 or more. Very pretty run, with no houses, cabins or development. I think we all would run it again at this level in our recreational kayaks – even +/- 100 cfs or so. We had been watching the flow over the weekend as it peaked at about 3,600 cfs two days before & were able jump on before it fully drained. A fun run if you can catch it at a reasonable flow!