Link to Tom Martin's Web Page

Mad River Map - if you have difficulty viewing with Internet Explorer - try Netscape
The vast majority of information on this map is correct, however, it does not yet include the August 2006 updates.

A 2x3 foot (poster size) color map of the Mad River is available from the author.

Link to Little Miami State and National Scenic River (Ohio) Web Site

Waypoints Updated August 2006 - Waypoints were revisited and their descriptions updated as of August 2006. This was done in order to update the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft, pamphlet/maps titled "Boating on Ohio's Streams: Northwest & Southwest Regions" 05/06.

MAD RIVER REPORT

During July of 2001, Tom Martin, an Ohio Division of Watercraft Volunteer and professor at Wittenberg University in Springfield Ohio, collected information, canoed, and drove to bridges and access points along the Mad River in southwest Ohio. Tom and Tom Stafford took three days to canoe the 50.7 miles from West Liberty to the confluence with the Great Miami River in Dayton Ohio.

Tom Stafford     Tom Martin

The purpose of this project was to correct and update the information on the Mad River contained in the Ohio Division of Watercraft pamphlet "Boating on Ohio’s Streams: 2 Southwest Section," which was last published in 10/95. The project was expanded to include additional information on river miles, Global Positioning System (GPS) data, access points, and canoe liveries.

The river miles used in this report are those established by the Miami Conservancy District, 38 E. Monument Ave., Dayton Ohio 45402, (937) 223-1271. They were obtained from the following two maps: Dayton – Springfield #30588 and Springfield – Zanesfield #30589, dated 8-24-84. The river miles begin at the point where the Mad River enters the Great Miami River and proceed upstream. River miles for access points and dams are presented in red. River miles for other waypoints (e.g. bridges with no access, creeks entering river, etc.) are presented in blue.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) data in this report was collected with a Garmin GPS 12 Personal Navigator. This unit used WGS 84 map datum. Bridge measurements were taken in the middle of the upstream side of each bridge. Launch site measurements were taken at the launch site at river’s edge. Ninety five percent of the site measurements were checked on a second or third day to insure accuracy.

Canoe liveries paddle from river mile 45.8 (Lippincott Road Access) to river mile 20.1 (Aaron’s Canoe & Kayak Center, formerly Morgan’s). The liveries attempt to keep this segment of the river clear of dangerous strainers, however, there is no guarantee that the river will be clear. Each storm can add or remove strainers from the river.

Tree Across River

Blow Down

Trees Across River

River miles 50.7 (West Liberty) to 45.8 (Lippincott Road Access) and 20.1 (Aaron’s Canoe & Kayak Center) to 0.0 (Deeds Park in Dayton) are not cleared by liveries. Therefore, scouting and additional precautions should be used when paddling these segments of the river. There are strainers and debris build up on these sections of the river (particularly on curves and against bridge abutments) and paddling skills are necessary to negotiate passageways and/or move to the riverbank for portage.

The recreational canoeist should read related literature, check with liveries, and personally check the section of river to be paddled before embarking on a canoe trip. River level should be checked and the weather forecast taken into consideration before embarking on a river trip. Extended rain and storms can raise the river to a dangerous level. One river livery will not rent canoes/kayaks when the flow rate exceeds 500 cfs (cubic feet per second). Also, keep in mind that each storm can add or remove strainers (i.e. logs/trees across river) from the river. Strainers are dangerous and should be avoided. A float plan including put-in and take-out points should be left with a responsible person along with an estimated time of return.

Ohio boating law requires that there be a properly maintained Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) for each person on board. The PFD must fit the person for whom it is intended and children under 10 MUST wear their PFDs at all times. It is recommended that all paddlers wear their PFDs whenever on or near the water.

Many access points are in secluded areas. Be sure to lock all valuables in your trunk or take your vehicle to a secure area before launching your boat. There have been many documented vehicle break-ins at access points along the river - so take reasonable precautions.

This report describes waypoints as of August 2006. Keep in mind that, over time, bridges, dams and/or access points will be constructed as well as removed from the river.

Note - River Miles are given for each waypoint, that is, water distance from the mouth of the Mad River to that waypoint. River Miles to each Access Point and Dam are given in red. River Miles to other waypoints are given in blue (e.g. bridges with no access, creeks, etc.).

River Waypoints

51.2  West Liberty Park Access, entrance 0.5 mile east of US 68 on SR 245 (Baird St), enter park, go to west side of baseball fields, access river left where Onion Creek enters Mad River
GPS – N 40^o 15.260   W 83^o 44.861
Parking Lot
Picnicking
Restrooms
Water


51.1  SR 245 (Baird St) bridge in West Liberty, roadside access river left
GPS – N 40^o 15.134   W 83^o 44.963
Roadside Parking

50.7  US 68 bridge in West Liberty, roadside access, river right
GPS – N 40^o 14.950   W 83^o 45.309
Parking Lot

50.0  Pimtown Road bridge, roadside access
GPS – N 40^o 14.610   W 83^o 45.865
Parking Lot (small)

49.4  Old farm road bridge
GPS – N 40^o 14.186   W 83^o 45.601

48.9  Farm road bridge
GPS – N 40^o 13.776   W 83^o 45.762

48.8  ConRail railroad bridge
GPS – N 40^o 13.736   W 83^o 45.829

48.2  Sullivan Road/Mennonite Church Road (Upper Valley Pike), roadside access
GPS – N 40^o 13.359   W 83^o 46.391
Roadside Parking

47.9  Upper Valley Pike, roadside access
GPS – N 40^o 13.185   W 83^o 46.670
Roadside Parking

45.8  Lippincott Road Access, access river right
GPS – N 40^o 11.683   W 83^o 47.803
Roadside Parking
Ramp

45.2  Macochee Ditch enters river left
GPS – N 40^o 11.206   W 83^o 47.662

44.2  DAM (2 ft) - farm road through river, approach with caution, portage on either side
Also, old farm road bridge across river immediately downstream
GPS – N 40^o 10.380   W 83^o 47.743



Dam/Road Across River

Glady Creek enters river right just below dam

43.8  Old farm road bridge
GPS – N 40^o 10.121   W 83^o 47.726

43.4  Old farm road bridge
GPS - N 40^o 09.760   W 83^o 47.425

43.0  Kings Creek enters river left
GPS - N 40^o 09.419   W 83^o 47.216

42.8  SR 29/SR 296 bridge northwest of Urbana, roadside access
GPS – N 40^o 09.310   W 83^o 47.304
Roadside Parking

40.9  Birch Bark Canoe Livery Ltd. just N of Millerstown Road on River Road northwest of Urbana, access river right with permission. Muddy Creek enters river right at canoe livery
GPS – N 40^o 07.908   W 83^o 48.587
Ramp
Canoe Rentals
Restrooms
Camping, primitive (fee)
Picnicking

Birch Bark Canoe Livery Ltd., 1455 River Road, Urbana, OH 43078, (937) 652-2663
www.birchbarkcanoelivery.com

40.7  Millerstown Road bridge and River Road northwest of Urbana, access river right
GPS – N 40^o 07.810   W 83^o 48.577
Roadside Parking

39.1  US 36 bridge Access, west of Urbana, river right
GPS - N 40^o 06.441   W 83^o 47.951
Parking Lot
Ramp


39.0   DAM (2-3 ft) – just downstream from US 36 bridge, portage river right, ramp to put in is 10 yards downstream of dam
GPS – N 40^o 06.408   W 83^o 47.956
Parking Lot
Ramp




Dam Downstream of US 36 Bridge

38.6  Abandoned railroad (Penn Central) bridge
GPS – N 40^o 06.062   W 83^o 47.904

38.6  Dugan Run enters river left just below RR bridge
GPS – N 40^o 06.039   W 83^o 47.903

37.5  Old Troy Pike bridge, roadside access
GPS – N 40^o 05.156   W 83^o 48.074
Roadside Parking

36.4  Combined Nettle and Anderson Creeks enter river right
GPS – N 40^o 04.214   W 83^o 48.606

36.2  SR 55 bridge Access, southwest of Urbana, river right
GPS – N 40^o 04.110   W 83^o 48.624
Parking Lot
Ramp


35.1  Dallas Road bridge, roadside access
GPS – N 40^o 03.172   W 83^o 48.900
Roadside Parking

34.3  Stony Creek enters river right
GPS – N 40^o 02.459   W 83^o 49.213

34.2  Bogles Run enters river left

33.4  Cedar Run enters river left just upstream from County Line Road
GPS – N 40^o 01.738   W 83^o 49.271

33.4  County Line Road bridge (Champaign and Clark counties) north of Tremont City, roadside access river left
GPS – N 40^o 01.694   W 83^o 49.271
Roadside Parking

33.1  Storms Creek enters river right
GPS – N 40^o 01.462   W 83^o 49.393

31.9  Tremont City Road bridge east of Tremont City, roadside access river left
GPS – N 40^o 00.443   W 83^o 49.393
Roadside Parking

31.8  Chapman Creek enters river right
GPS – N 40^o 00.356   W 83^o 49.418

30.0  Moore Run enters river left
GPS – N 39^o 58.741   W 83^o 49.213

29.7  Eagle City Road bridge Access, east of Eagle City, river left
GPS – N 39^o 58.588   W 83^o 49.337
Parking Lot
Ramp


Typical Strainer Against Bridge Abutment - CAUTION			Flood Stage - DO NOT ENTER RIVER

28.8  St. Paris Pike bridge south of Eagle City, steep access river left
GPS – N 39^o 57.854   W 83^o 49.894
Roadside Parking

27.9  Pondy Creek enters river right
GPS – N 39^o 57.221   W 83^o 50.404

27.4  Railroad bridge (ConRail)
GPS – N 39^o 56.823   W 83^o 50.739

27.1  SR 41 (First Street) bridge west of Springfield
GPS – N 39^o 56.659   W 83^o 50.949


27.0   Launch site below SR 41 bridge, river left. Take US 68 S entrance ramp off of SR 41 and immediately turn right onto Universal Dr. and then turn left onto W First St. and continue to parking area near river.
Forever Sports Mad River Canoe Rental is located ¼ mile E of river.
GPS – N 39^o 56.620   W 83^o 50.949
Parking Lot
Ramp
Canoe Rentals
Restrooms
Picnicking (with permission)
Water
Food – Snacks


Forever Sports Mad River Canoe Rental, 2237 W. First Street, Springfield, OH 45504, (937) 325-0115

26.3  Forest Lake Road bridge (emergency access)
GPS – N39^o 56.038   W 83^o 51.092

25.8  US 68 bridges and ConRail railroad bridge
GPS – N 39^o 55.775   W 83^o 51.281

25.6  US 40 bridges (3)
GPS – N 39^o 55.547   W 83^o 51.240

25.5  Buck Creek enters river left (Ohio Edison plant)
GPS – N 39^o 55.465   W 83^o 51.105

25.4  ConRail railroad bridge
GPS – N 39^o 55.383   W 83^o 51.063

24.7  Mill Creek enters river left
GPS - N 39^o 54.925   W 83^o 51.106

24.6  US 68 bridges
GPS – N 39^o 54.917   W 83^o 51.190

23.9  ConRail railroad bridge
GPS – N 39^o 55.038   W 83^o 51.993

23.5  Lower Valley Pike bridge (emergency access), Rock Run enters river right
GPS – N 39^o 55.341   W 83^o 52.163

23.1  Old Mill Road bridge
GPS - N 39^o 55.138   W 83^o 52.569

22.7  Lower Valley Pike bridge access river right
GPS – N 39^o 54.927   W 83^o 52.837
Roadside Parking

21.6  Erie-Lackawanna railroad bridge
GPS – N 39^o 54.451   W 83^o 53.761

20.8  Abandoned railroad bridge
GPS - N 39^o 54.327   W 83^o 54.585

20.1  Aaron’s Canoe & Kayak Center (formerly Morgan’s) on Old Lower Valley Pike east of Springfield, access river right with permission
GPS – N 39^o 54.011   W 83^o 55.198
Ramp
Canoe Rentals
Restrooms
Camping - fee
Picnicking - with permission
Water
Food – Snacks


Aaron’s Canoe & Kayak Center, 5605 Old Lower Valley Pike, Springfield, OH 45502, (937) 882-6925, www.aaronscanoe.com

19.0  Enon Road bridge, access river left
GPS – N 39^o 53.506   W 83^o 56.125
Roadside Parking

18.8  SR 4 (Business I 70) bridges
GPS - N 39^o 53.515   W 83^o 56.310

18.7  Minich Ditch enters river right
GPS - N 39^o 53.560   W 83^o 56.486

17.8  Donnels Creek enters river right
GPS - N 39^o 53.228   W 83^o 57.398

16.9  Snider Road bridge, emergency access only
GPS - N 39^o 53.139   W 83^o 57.992

16.5  Jackson Creek enters river right

14.9  Spangler Road bridge south of Medway, roadside access river right off Union Rd upstream of bridge
GPS – N 39^o 52.511   W 83^o 59.703
Parking Lot (across Union Rd)

12.7  I 70 bridges
GPS - N 39^o 51.880   W 84^o 01.160

11.1  Osborn/Medway Road bridge, emergency access only
Bridge is at Clark and Greene County line
GPS – N 39^o 50.976   W 84^o 02.187


10.7  Sign across river states STOP - DANGER DAM AHEAD Take Out Now On Right!



STOP - Danger Dam Ahead

10.6  DAM/ROAD – "Haul Road" in-water concrete road on top of culverts
Road is 3-4 ft above normal summer flow level
Road is for trucks working quarry/concrete plant
Portage river right
GPS - N 39^o 50.784   W 84^o 02.619

View from Upstream

View from Downstream

Fatal rafting accident here on 7/29/01 when water level was 3 feet over top of road (i.e. 6 feet above normal summer flow level) due to over 3 inches of rain the previous day.

10.2  Mud Creek enters river right
GPS - N 39^o 50.938   W 84^o 02.921

9.8  SR 235 bridge, emergency access river right
GPS – N 39^o 50.588   W 84^o 03.037
Roadside Parking

U.S. Air Force Installation property; sign reads: "It is unlawful to enter this area without permission of the Installation Commander." Wright Patterson Air Force Base

9.7  Mud Run enters river left
GPS N 39^o 50.536   W 84^o 03.006

6.5  Huffman MetroPark (Montgomery County Parks), SR 4 to Lower Valley Pike/Huffman Dam Road in Fairborn, take road into MetroPark, go to parking lot at end of road, access river right."
GPS - N 39^o 48.418   W 84^o 05.234
Parking Lot
Ramp
Picnicking


There is an inlet between the Mad River and the Huffman Park ponds just downstream. Therefore, you could also put-in or take-out on the bank of the pond. This is the last take-out before the Huffman Dam portage.
GPS - N 39^o 48.360   W 84^o 05.246

5.8  DAM (73 ft) – Huffman Dam in Fairborn (Miami Conservancy Flood Dam), portage river right. Dam is in Huffman Reserve MetroPark (Montgomery County Parks), Take-out river right well before dam. The portage over the dam is about 0.2 mile up a steep incline, over two guardrails, and down a steep incline.
GPS – N 39^o 47.841   W 84^o 05.424


There are three chutes (conduits) going through the bottom of the dam. It is illegal AND DANGEROUS to paddle through these chutes. All three of the chutes were clogged with logs/debris (August, 2006)

View from Upstream

Chutes Blocked with Strainers

View from Downstream			Flood Stage - DO NOT ENTER RIVER

5.6  SR 444 bridges
GPS – N 39^o 47.778   W 84^o 05.595

5.2  DAM (8-10 ft) river right – stay far left, portage downstream side of dam
GPS - N 39^o 47.586   W 84^o 06.052
DO NOT continue straight (it is illegal to enter the Dayton Well Field). Continuing straight leads to another DAM [GPS - N 39^o 47.354   W 84^o 06.684] and then a DANGEROUS SPILLWAY [GPS - N 39^o 47.317   W 84^o 07.311] with a 4 ft drop into a hydraulic.




Portage Here

Dam and Falls

Spillway - DANGEROUS Hydraulic

4.1  CAUTION - Large water pipe crosses river at water level, portage either side
GPS - N 39^o 47.586   W 84^o 06.934



Water Pipe Across River

3.8  Harshman Road bridge Access river left from Eastwood MetroPark
GPS - N 39^o 47.318   W 84^o 07.416
Parking Lot (in Eastwood MetroPark)

3.0  Eastwood MetroPark Lake Access river right
Harshman Road entrance W of river - take park road 0.8 miles to barricade/parking. Sign states "Kayak Park and Play;" 0.1 mile trail to access. Rocks in play area produce 1-2 ft drop in water level
GPS - N 39^o 46.956   W 84^o 08.285
Parking Lot
Ramp
Restrooms (0.25 mile)
Picnicking
Water (0.25 mile)




Kayak Play Area

Additional access in Eastwood MetroPark - Harshman Road entrance E of river - take park road 1.0 miles to parking lot. Access to river is by Buckeye Trail or steep access from shelter house.

2.6  Old Baltimore & Ohio railroad bridge abutments
Creek enters river left
GPS - N 39^o 46.822   W 84^o 08.562

1.6  Findlay St bridge, access river left under bridge
GPS – N 39^o 46.511   W 84^o 09.597
Parking Lot


Parking lot is at corner of Findlay St and Monument Ave, 0.1 mile from bridge

0.6  Old North Dayton mini park Access, river right just upstream from Keowee St bridge; stairs to water fountain, Valley St and a Veterans Memorial; Whitewater Warehouse is located here
GPS – N 39^o 46.154   W 84^o 10.552
Parking Lot
Ramp
Canoe Rentals
Water


Whitewater Warehouse, 104 Valley St, Dayton, OH 45404, (937) 222-7020
www.kayakdayton.com

0.6  Keowee St bridge
GPS – N 39^o 46.130   W 84^o 10.616


0.5  Baltimore & Ohio railroad bridge
GPS – N 39^o 46.126   W 84^o 10.709

0.2  Webster St bridge
GPS – N 39^o 46.109   W 84^o 11.000

0.0  Mouth of Mad River, it empties into Great Miami River in Dayton
GPS – N 39^o 46.011   W 84^o 11.250


Mad River Empties into Great Miami River in Dayton
Deeds Park (Dayton Park District) confluence of the Mad River and the Great Miami River (located off Webster St), roadside access off Deeds Park Road. Pedestrian/Bike bridge crosses Mad at mouth of river.
GPS – N 39^o 46.033   W 84^o 11.240
Parking Lot
Street Parking
Restrooms
Water


Steep embankment to Deeds Park Road at confluence, easier access at maintenance road about 0.2 mile upstream (right) on Great Miami River. Street parking is from 8am – 10pm.



Celebration after Canoeing 50.7 Miles

Additional Information:

Downtown Dayton RiverScape (formerly Van Cleve Park) is located about 0.2 mile downstream (river left) on the Great Miami River. It is managed by Five Rivers MetroPark (Montgomery County). The five rivers are the (1) Great Miami, (2) Stillwater, (3) Mad, (4) Wolf Creek, and (5) Twin Creek. Paddleboat, Bike and Roller Blade rentals are available. The Miami Conservancy District offices are located right across the street at 38 E. Monument Ave.
GPS - N 39^o 45.906   W 84^o 11.382
Parking (pay lots and metered street parking, except for Sundays and Holidays)
Restrooms
Picnicking
Food
Water


Check the MetroParks Web Site www.metroparks.org for RiverScape hours, but generally the gate is unlocked from dawn to dusk.