This is an "overnight on the river" trip of approximately 75-78 miles. The water conditions in June could be low and we could drag canoes or high and fast but hazardous. Or it could just be beautiful! Whatever water we encounter be true to the fact that this will be a challenge and require determination and planning. Beginners should sit this trip out or meet us at the Friday night campsite.
We are starting at Sugar Grove just off of St Rt 33 and Sharp Rd, north of Logan. Latitude-Longitude 39 37'23.9" -82 33'09.9". You can not leave vehicles at the put in.
Tuesday evening, June 16th, I will shuttle my vehicle and trailer downstream to Friday's campsite. We will be camping Tuesday night at Jocks house. Jock lives at 29340 STAGE COACH RD., Logan, Ohio. The put in is 8 miles from Jocks house. Extra vehicles can be left at Jock's until Sunday when we drive back through.
Wednesday morning we will launch on the mighty Hocking and not look back. (Yea right!). Camping Wednesday evening will hopefully be just south of Logan on a sand bar.
Thursday morning after breakfast on the river, we will paddle as far as we want to another sandbar to camp. Hopefully we will be just north of Athens.
Friday we will paddle through Athens. If anyone wants to stop and shop or eat real food, there should be time. Camp Friday evening is in the burg of Guysville. We have permission to camp at the Savannah Township Park on St Rt 329, just off St Rt 50. Latitude- Longitude 39.289 -81.924 It is along the river and has a shelter house and pit toilets. The first toilets of the trip. Anyone coming down for just the weekend can meet us here. There is parking but no water. ALL water must be carried. My daughter lives in Guysville so water can be had at her house. I will have my car parked there if we want to get pizza or some other food for dinner. There is a Marathon gas station, within walking distance, where supplies can be bought.
Saturday we paddle down to the town of Coolville. There is a boat ramp that was controlled by the DNR and I had hoped we could camp there. Since there are no toilets, I feel we should just shuttle back to Guysville and stay there 2 nights. Latitude-Longitude 39.229 -81.795. There is a restaurant/gas station about 1.5 miles up the road.
Sunday we paddle from Coolville down to the Ohio River. The take out will be on river left after you pass under the State Route 124 bridge. Place is called Eddies Point. There is parking for at least 5 cars.
We need to average 20 miles per day for the first 3 days. 12 miles on Saturday and 7 miles on Sunday.
I plan on fishing some on the river and I do not want to make camp very early on a sandbar. So unless we run into logjams or other troubles, it should be a lazy 20 mile paddle between campsites.
I guess a food theme for Saturday's potluck could be "the lightest food you can carry".
Questions or comments ?? Tony 419-845-2010, tbonecanoes at hotmail.com