Drop-In, Chill Out: Kayak Launches Around Toledo

Fun Guide  |  05/24/2022 10:00 am

Looking to drop-in those paddles this summer? Toledo and the surrounding area have a multitude of options for kayaks, paddle boarding, canoeing and more. 

PADDLE THE MAUMEE RIVER WATER TRAIL

Toledo is nestled along the Maumee River Water Trail, which stretches over 100 miles. Forty access points are available from Maumee Bay to the Ohio-Indiana border.

The trail connects half a dozen Metroparks, three wildlife areas, a trio of state parks and fifteen additional public parks. Many drop-ins mentioned in this article touch the trail - learn more from this interactive guide.

DROP-IN FROM TOLEDO’S METROPARKS

The city’s Metroparks offer eleven different locations with waterway access. We’re featuring the following five parks among our kayak-friendly favorites…

Wiregrass Lake Metropark features an accessible launch with rollers to assist paddlers entering or returning from the lake. This park has a boat dock and welcomes fishing from the shore. Should you wish to make a weekend of your kayak trip, book one of their primitive camping sites.

Side Cut Metropark also has an accessible roller dock. Use this easy access to Silver Lake, or launch from a set of stone steps that access the water. As this park is one of a series of riverfront options, kayakers can plan a sightseeing route between Metropark destinations; see the trail map of the many possibilities. 

Water-based recreation has been a focus of the Farnsworth Metropark. The ruins of the Interurban Bridge, which crosses the river at Farnsworth, is a favorite subject of painters and photographers. Partially built atop Roche de Bout, the ruins cap a large, protruding rock in the river that served as an early landmark for native people, European explorers and armies. Paddle in for a closer look at what was once the world's largest earth-filled, concrete reinforced bridge, and part of a commuter rail system.

Just outside of the city along State Route 2, Howard Marsh Metropark offers six miles of water trails. Paddling through the marsh is a unique and beautiful experience, with bird watching opportunities galore - more than 230 species (over half the known species ever recorded in Ohio) have been observed from this park.

Middlegrounds Metropark is a reclaimed riverfront property in downtown Toledo with a kayak cove to access the Maumee River. One of the park system’s newer additions, features of the park were crafted with sustainability in mind. Be sure to check out the pretty yet purposeful plantings along the entrance sidewalk; this system benefits the river as water runoff from the adjacent bridge is captured and cleaned.

Don’t have your own kayak? No problem! The Metroparks offers rentals from Memorial to Labor Day at several parks, including Farnsworth.

KAYAK WITH WOOD COUNTY PARK DISTRICT 

Wood County Park System has 20 locations within a quick drive of Toledo. From these, we always enjoy visiting the W.W. Knight Preserve. The 44-acre preserve offers hiking trails and boardwalks through wetlands, remnant swamp woods and native prairie. If you prefer to be off land and in the water, we suggest a Monday visit - during summer W.W. Knight offers Paddle the Pond, a paddle sport safety course. The free drop-in program provides all equipment and instruction on 2nd and 4th Mondays from June through August..

If you have your own paddle craft, you can launch from Otsego Park or William Henry Harrison Park. Some of the Wood County park locations are linked to Toledo’s own Metroparks by the Maumee River Trail - you might consider challenging paddle enthusiast friends to see who can visit the most parks this summer! 

Several Wood County Parks team members have earned The Adaptive Paddling Endorsement by the American Canoe Association. This certification focuses on the needs of paddling enthusiasts with diverse physical and mental abilities, and personal adaptive paddling appointments can be requested - learn more here. 

KAYAK RENTALS & GUIDED TRIPS

Need paddling equipment, or a few tips before heading out on your first watercraft adventure? Maumee River Paddling Co. offers guided trips and classes. Their team provides the board and paddle, life vest, cold water and snacks. Guests are recommended to bring sun protection and water shoes. 

On weekends, the Maumee River Paddling Co. offers a Saturday Downriver Trip & Hike from Bend View to Farnsworth Metropark. Sundays launch from the National Museum of the Great Lakes.  Weekends too busy? Try their 6:30 AM workday paddle, launching off Maple Street in Perrysburg every Thursday and Friday from Memorial Day until October.

With locations in both Maumee and Grand Rapids, Ohio, Maumee Tackle Fishing Outfitters both rents and sells kayaks. We love the flexibility of their downriver float package, tailored to you with a variety of different drop off and pickup locations depending on the distance you’re up for. Try the 2.5 mile float from Sidecut to Orleans Park in about 90 minutes, or spend around four hours instead and gear up for 8+ miles from Farnsworth to Orleans.

Looking to get just a bit outside of the city? Over the border and just four miles outside Dundee, you can enjoy a guided paddle of the River Raisin thanks to River Raisin Canoe Livery. Or, head east to Kayak the Bay; offering paddling around Put-in-Bay and located adjacent to Oak Point State Park in the downtown harbor.

Content Editor: Lindsay Williams