Portage

Thanks to Doug Grosjean for the fowlowing information.

Put-in: Trailmarker Park; Woodville, Ohio (41.44847 -83.36784)

Alternate Put-in: Faye's Whippy-Dip; Woodville, Ohio (41.44904 -83.35883)

Take-out: City Park; Elmore, Ohio (41.47662 -83.29578)

Distance: 3.8 - 4.3 miles depending on which put-in.

River description

The Portage River flashes up and down very quickly. It can be runnable in the morning, and too low in the afternoon. So pay attention to the gauge and to rainfall in the area before driving long distances. Since the Portage sits between the Maumee River and the Sandusky River (both having larger drainages and wider windows of opportunity) it isn't run very often even by locals.

However, if you can catch it when it's up it's worth doing - if only for the one (sometimes two) big surf waves just north of the Ohio Turnpike.

The run starts in Woodville, at either Trailmarker Park or Faye's Whippy-Dip.

At very high levels, interesting eddies are formed behind bridge piers at Trailmarker Park, and behind the railroad bridge piers at Faye's Whippy-Dip.

As you continue downstream out of Woodville, you'll encounter small surf waves at ledges and small eddies along the shore. The rapids on the Portage are formed by water dropping over small ledges on its way to Lake Erie, so there are no mid-stream eddies. Use the small waves and eddies to get loosen up thoroughly.

About halfway down the run, there's a yellow brick house on river right. Behind that house, there's a tiny dam. It's only about 6' tall, and produces a small, perfectly straight and symmetrical wave that spans the river. It's a great spot for learning the basics. The last time I was there the landowner was friendly to kayakers. He built the dam to make a place to ice-skate in the winter.

Just below are some ledges and mis

...