Paddling with the expert guides of the Mill Creek Yacht Club (MCYC) is the best way to experience Mill Creek wonders while learning about our long-abused but surprisingly resurgent urban stream. Join the Commodore and other MCYC veterans as we take our second Summer of '18 trip down The Creek on Saturday, July 21st with a sojourn from Caldwell Nature Preserve in Carthage to Salway Park in Northside. This section of the creek takes paddlers through several low head dams and rocky riffles.
See below for important safety information before registering. Paddlers will meet at Salway Park on Saturday morning and be shuttled to Caldwell Playground for introductions and put-in by 9:30 am. More details about the meeting location for the morning of the paddle will be sent via email after you have finalized your registration and payment. The paddle will cover a distance of approximately 4.5 miles and we will spend at least 3 hours on the water, plus about an hour of combined time on the land before and after paddling. The end time of this event is approximate--please allow for extra time between this end time and other committments.
Registration for the paddle is open now through noon on Friday, July 20th, or until all available seats have been reserved. If you cannot join us to paddle, join us afterwards for a beverage at a fine local watering hole, Boswell Alley, 1686 Blue Rock Street, Cincinnati, OH 45223. Check back for opportunities to hit the water with us in the fall.
Use of Council boats is recommended, as portions of the Mill Creek can be rough on canoes and kayaks. In addition, there is sometimes limited space on the trailers for additional, personal vessels. If you have questions, contact the Yacht Club at millcreekyachtclub@gmail.com.
In addition to reserving you a seat in a boat, a paddle, the necessary safety equipment and a Mill Creek Yacht Club t-shirt for new paddlers, your ticket fee will go toward covering the expense of liability insurance, equipment maintenance and staff support time. Paddlers using their own boats are also required to pay this fee. This is necessary to enable us to sustain this opportunity for members of the public to experience the Mill Creek and its watershed in a truly unique way.
Important Safety Information:
Ohio EPA recommends no contact with waters of the Mill Creek because it can have high levels of fecal coliform bacteria and other pathogens from time to time, especially within 48 to 72 hours of a rainstorm heavy enough to cause combined sewer overflows.
It is your personal choice on whether to participate, based largely on the strength of your immune system and your willingness to take a calculated risk. If you have an open cut or weakened immunities, you should not go. You should be 18 or older to be on the water with us.
You will need to be sure-footed in some places. Be ready to climb out of the canoe to get past shallow spots and low-head dams. Potential safety hazards include sudden drop-offs, hidden holes, foot entrapments, slippery algae, submerged obstacles, jagged objects and sealed bottles with volatile methadone ingredients. Germicidal gel and a simple first-aid kit will be available.
MCYC Urban Stream Adventures are partially sponsored by REI.