We completed two weeks of our longest Ohio River Way Challenge yet — and while the journey has been incredible, Mother Nature had other plans for the final stretch. After carefully reviewing the last week’s forecasted conditions, we made the difficult decision to postpone the third leg of the 2026 Ohio River Way Challenge — from Louisville, KY, to Evansville, IN — until September.

The Ohio River Way Challenge has taken us through some of the region’s most vibrant river towns, where we’ve met with elected officials, environmental leaders, researchers, tourism partners, and community champions who share a vision for a healthier, more connected Ohio River. Along the way, local media outlets have helped shine a spotlight on the people, places, and progress powering this movement.

The Ohio River is an incredible place to paddle, but it’s also a working river with changing currents, commercial traffic, shifting weather, and plenty of conditions that can change quickly. To prepare, we encourage you to brush up on some boating and paddling safety tips before the busy summer season begins. 

It’s finally the spring equinox, and while we don’t want to jinx it, maybe — just maybe — we’re in the clear for warmer days ahead. Like many of you, we’re more than ready to trade gray skies and extra layers for longer days, greener views, and more time outside.

Women have played an important role in shaping Ohio River history and continue to shape its future. Though it would be impossible to name all of the incredible women who have advocated and led the charge on its currents, here are just a few stories in honor of Women’s History Month.

We’ve spent the first part of February doing a lot of the same thing you have: watching a frozen Ohio River. It wasn’t the coldest stretch on record, but it has been a while since we’ve seen frozen layers of ice form across its banks. Weather aside, we’re prepping for an epic Challenge season, exciting events, like the CORA Bike & Trail Expo, and a whole lot of positive momentum on new initiatives. Float on in.

Despite the deep freeze, January is already off to a strong start: new faces joining the team, a fresh strategy guiding the next 3–5 years, committees mapping out what’s ahead, and some exciting events on the horizon. Dive in.

The Ohio River Way is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural 2025 Fall Photo Contest! The winning images capture the beauty, character, and everyday moments that make the Ohio River corridor shine…

Ohio River Way is pleased to announce the hiring of Molly Pope as its new Deputy Director, effective February 9, 2026. The new position marks a significant milestone in the organization’s continued growth and capacity to support recreation-based economies throughout Ohio River towns.

The vast Ohio River Basin is poised for a multi-year ecological restoration after years of industrial pollution, but only if Congress decides to fund it. Forest Clevenger leads a nonprofit called the Ohio River Way. He's excited about an idea to protect the wetlands, rivers, and streams that make up the entire Ohio River Basin through investments in...

Even though the year is winding down, things are anything but quiet along the Ohio River Way! We’ve set the dates for our most ambitious Ohio River Way Challenge yet, launched a camping partnership with Hipcamp, and are ramping up for a festive season with non-stop river town events.

We’ve officially launched the Ohio River Way Collection on Hipcamp — a curated set of campsites and small campgrounds located near the National Water Trail. Instead of searching across multiple websites or relying on word-of-mouth, travelers can now browse a single collection that updates automatically as new hosts list their properties. Whether you’re planning a two-day paddle, a week-long ride, or a multi-town road trip, the collection makes overnight planning much simpler.

From tree-lighting ceremonies and riverfront parades to cozy markets and festive events, Ohio River communities are gearing up for a full season of holiday cheer. We’ve rounded up dozens of celebrations along the river so you can plan your winter weekends and support local towns.

While experiencing the Ohio River Way National Water Trail from the water itself is unparalleled, there’s more than one way to travel along the river.  Recently, three avid cyclists, Volodymyr Golykov, Caitlin Sparks, and Braden Arestides, cycled from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Louisville, Kentucky, to mimic a section of the Ohio River Way Challenge by bike.  The two-day, three-state adventure followed the twists and turns of the river, winding through towns, small diners, and fog-draped mornings that make the route an unforgettable experience for cyclists.

It's been a heck of a month! We co-hosted the Ohio River Basin Confluence that brought together organizations, volunteers, and elected officials from across the region to share ideas and chart a course for the future of the Ohio River Basin. This month also brought the America’s River Roots Festival, one of the largest regional cleanups to date, as well as new ODOT funding. We've also launched our first-ever Fall Photo Contest and have growing seasonal events across our river towns. Dive on in.

Check out all of the fall events happening this weekend along the Ohio River.

The Ohio River Way has been awarded funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Pedestrian & Bicycle Special Solicitation to develop the Ohio River Trail Comprehensive Plan, a transformative initiative to create a safe, connected, and scenic cycling corridor along the Ohio River.

In the news: Louisville Public Media— A 308-mile stretch of the Ohio River earned the title of National Water Trail this summer. KyCIR’s Morgan Watkins rowed a slice of the path. Here’s what she heard.

We’d love to connect—whether that’s seeing you on-screen at the September Coalition meeting or catching up in person at America's River Roots Festival in October. Either way, we’re excited for all the collaboration ahead.