Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area Local whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information. If whitewater paddling is your thing and you're in Columbus, Ohio you may have to drive some distance to get to some decent whitewater. Below is a list of nearby paddling places for you to chose from. It's not a very long list of nearby whitewater as you can see but not too bad either. Pick the right stretch from the list below and have a great paddling trip. HIGH QUALITY TOPO MAP, CLICK HERE Important Whitewater Safety Information Whitewater paddling spots near Columbus, Ohio: Whitewater 0 to 25 miles from Columbus, Ohio Hocking River, Ohio, 1/4 mile above Rock Mill Road to Mt Zion Road, 19 miles away, class II-IV, 0.75 miles long. Olentangy River, Ohio, Delaware Recycling Plant to Chapman Road pull-off, 17 miles away, class II, 4 miles long. Scioto River, Ohio, O'Shaughnessy Dam, 17 miles away, class IV, 1 miles long. Whitewater 25 to 50 miles from Columbus, Ohio Kokosing River, Ohio, Gambier to Walhonding River, 48 miles away, class I-II, 12 miles long. Licking River, Ohio, Newark to Rock Haven Park, 44 miles away, class I, 8.6 miles long. Paint Creek, Ohio, Paint Creek Reservoir to Route 41 Bridge, 49 miles away, class I-II(III), 7 miles long. Rocky Fork, Ohio, Hickman to Licking River, 44 miles away, class I, 10 miles long. Whitewater 50 to 75 miles from Columbus, Ohio Clear Fork of Mohican, Ohio, Pleasant Hill Reservoir to Black Fork, 54 miles away, class II, 4.9 miles long. Lee's Creek, Ohio, Rt. 28 to Rattlesnake Creek, 54 miles away, class III, 2.2 miles long. Licking River, Ohio, Ridgely Tract to Dillon Falls, 60 miles away, class II, 4.2 miles long. Little Miami River, Ohio, Clifton Gorge, 66 miles away, class II-IV, 1.3 miles long. Massie's Creek, Ohio, Wilberforce, 64 miles away, class III, 0.5 miles long. Rattlesnake Creek, Ohio, Fishback Road to St. Route 28, 52 miles away, class II(IV), 3 miles long. Rocky Fork Creek, Ohio, McCropping Mill Road to Paint Creek, 54 miles away, class II, 7.5 miles long. Sandusky River, Ohio, Milldam in Tiffin to CR 38, 66 miles away, class II-III, 3.5 miles long. Sandusky River, Ohio, Ballville Dam to golf course, 70 miles away, class II(III), 0.3 miles long. Wakatomica Creek, Ohio, to Muskingum River, 59 miles away, class II+, 12 miles long. Whitewater 75 to 100 miles from Columbus, Ohio Tygarts Creek, Kentucky, Olive Hill to Kentucky 182, 92 miles away, class I-II, 12.2 miles long. Backbone Creek, Ohio, Elmwood Road to East Fork of Little Miami River, 99 miles away, class III-V, 1.5 miles long. Big Three Mile Creek, Ohio, Evertonville to Ellis Run Road, 89 miles away, class III-IV, 2.25 miles long. Brushy Fork, Ohio, Brushy Fork Road to Stonelick Creek, 96 miles away, class II-III(IV), 2 miles long. Caesar Creek, Ohio, Caesar Creek Lake to Little Miami River, 85 miles away, class II+, 2.8 miles long. Hall's Creek, Ohio, Shawhan Road to Hall's Creek Road, 92 miles away, class III+(IV), 1.25 miles long. Hershel Run, Ohio, Belfast Road to Stonelick Creek, 97 miles away, class III-IV, 1.35 miles long. Mad River, Ohio, Huffman Dam, 82 miles away, class II+, 0 miles long. Maumee River, Ohio, Grand Rapids, 98 miles away, class -blank-, 2 miles long. Maumee River, Ohio, Boat launch to I-475 bridge, 96 miles away, class I-II(III), 5.5 miles long. Portage River, Ohio, Woodville to Elmore, 81 miles away, class I-II, 4 miles long. Rocky River - North Branch, Ohio, Nichols Road to Granger Road, 98 miles away, class II-III, 4 miles long. Second Creek, Ohio, State Route 132 to Confluence with Todd's Fork, 89 miles away, class II-III, 3.25 miles long. Stonelick Creek, Ohio, St. Route 131 to St. Route 132, 95 miles away, class III-IV, 4.5 miles long. Straight Creek, Ohio, St Route 125 to Straight Creek Road, 91 miles away, class II-III, 6 miles long. Vermilion River, Ohio, Upper, 77 miles away, class I(II), 9 miles long. Vermilion River, Ohio, Middle, 81 miles away, class I(II), 8 miles long. Vermilion River, Ohio, Below Mill Hollow, 83 miles away, class I, 5.5 miles long. White Oak Creek, Ohio, White Oak Valley Road to Georgetown Dam, 92 miles away, class II-IV, 7.5 miles long. Mud River, West Virginia, Ona to Blue Sulphur Road bridge, 97 miles away, class I-II(III), 1 miles long. * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the middle of the river section listed, actual driving distance is longer. Other Outdoors Recreation Nearby: Ski Resorts near Columbus, Ohio: Ski Areas 0 to 50 miles from Columbus, Ohio Clear Fork, Ohio, 46 miles, vertical drop 300 feet Snow Trails, Ohio, 43 miles, vertical drop 300 feet Ski Areas 50 to 100 miles from Columbus, Ohio Mad River, Ohio, 61 miles, vertical drop 300 feet Spicy Run Mountain, Ohio, 55 miles, vertical drop 600 feet Ski Areas 100 to 150 miles from Columbus, Ohio Alpine Valley, Ohio, 135 miles, vertical drop 230 feet Boston Mills, Ohio, 114 miles, vertical drop 240 feet Brandywine, Ohio, 114 miles, vertical drop 240 feet Perfect North, Indiana, 144 miles, vertical drop 400 feet Mount Brighton, Michigan, 142 miles, vertical drop 230 feet Pine Nob, Michigan, 144 miles, vertical drop 300 feet Mount Holly, Michigan, 149 miles, vertical drop 350 feet * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the ski areas listed, actual driving distance is longer. National Parks near Columbus, Ohio: National Parks 100 to 200 miles from Columbus, Ohio Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, 113 miles Gauley River National Recreation Area, 167 miles New River Gorge National River, 167 miles National Parks 200 to 300 miles from Columbus, Ohio Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, 223 miles Blue Ridge Parkway, 248 miles Booker T Washington National Monument, 269 miles Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 244 miles Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 296 miles Mammoth Cave National Park, 271 miles Obed Wild & Scenic River, 250 miles * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the parks listed, actual driving distance is longer. Important Outdoors Safety Information       Go to Ohio Rivers