Paddlers begin 488-mile trip to spotlight Ohio River communities

The Ohio River has often served as a physical dividing line — between states, industries and communities. This month, a group of paddlers is working to show what it can help connect those things as well.

A 488-mile expedition led by Cincinnati-based nonprofit The Ohio River Way will soon get underway, aiming to spotlight both the river’s progress and its future potential while bringing attention to the communities along its banks.

The 2026 Ohio River Way Challenge, which begins May 10, is taking a volunteer crew from Huntington, West Virginia, to Evansville, Indiana, over 23 days. The journey marks the organization’s first end-to-end journey since the corridor earned designation as a National Water Trail.

Forest Clevenger, the organization’s executive director, said the annual trip is about highlighting both ecological restoration and river recreation.

“This is our biggest Challenge yet—not just in miles, but in scope,” said Clevenger, noting the group plans to stop along the Covington riverfront May 18. “We’re bringing together paddlers, students, artists, community partners and a filmmaker to celebrate the beauty, history, and culture of the Ohio River.”

Building riverfront awareness

Now in its sixth year, the Challenge is intended to go beyond endurance. It functions as a traveling showcase of the nonprofit’s mission to get more people on the river while building support for conservation efforts and economic growth in river communities.

Each day, paddlers cover between 15 and 35 miles in large voyageur canoes, stopping in towns along the route to connect with residents and local officials. Nights are spent camping along the river, underscoring the group’s focus on experiencing both the landscape and the communities tied to it.

Participants were selected through an application process and are raising funds to support the organization’s broader work, including trail development, conservation projects and storytelling initiatives designed to reshape how the river is viewed.

That storytelling effort is expanding this year through a documentary project produced in partnership with the National Park Service. Filmmaker Ian Vorster is documenting the expedition from the water.

“Through our partnership with the Ohio River Way, we’ll document the river’s cultural history, ecological importance and outdoor recreational value,” Vorster said. “There are so many incredible stories to share about the Ohio River, and my hope is that this film will positively shift public perception of this vital waterway.”

More than a joy ride

A floating research station is also traveling with the group. The Ohio River Way’s “Floating Lab,” a 55-foot houseboat staffed by student interns and volunteers, is conducting fieldwork throughout the trip.

Students from universities across the region are studying topics ranging from biodiversity to pollution, combining research with public engagement. An artist-in-residence is also part of this year’s team, adding a creative lens to the project.

“From the water, you see the river differently,” said Florence Baker Masters, a student researcher involved in biodiversity work. “It’s something alive, shaped by the communities, wildlife, and landscapes along its course.”

For Clevenger, the journey is about more than covering miles.

By steadily paddling through river towns and inviting people to engage along the way, the hope is to reposition the Ohio River as a shared resource, Clevenger said. A resource with cultural, environmental and economic value.

The journey wraps up on June 1. You can follow the journey on the Ohio River Way website.

“If you live in an Ohio River community, we hope to see you along the way,” Clevenger said. “Experiencing the beauty of this big river is a humbling experience, and we can’t wait to get on the water.”