Mahoning River Ytown

[mfdanko99]

Mahoning River- B&O to Lowellville
Trip Leader Mike Danko
When-Sunday September 8th
Where-B & O Station 530 Mahoning Ave Youngstown, OH 44502
GPS- 41.10253, -80.65771
Time 11 am
Class I & II Rapids
Distance- 9 Miles
We will head back to the Mahoning River and tackle the Youngstown Section. I consider this the action section of the Mahoning River. In this section there are several rapids. With these rapids we have tried to name them and follow a tradition of other rivers by naming rapids. Here is the order we will encounter the rapids with the rating we think they are at.

1-Marshall St Bridge Rapid-Class II ( can paddle through river left channel, or walk around river left, or paddle the main rapid river right)
2-Cement Plant Wave Train- Class I+
3-Rebar Rapid-Class II (this is not a hard rapid but a semi technical rapid. Due to the surroundings is why it is a class II rapid)
4-Iron Bridge Wave Train-Class I+
5-Wildcat Rapid-Class I+ ( Newly named rapid right after the Struthers Boat Launch)

After the main five rapids there are several small class I/ ripples and then we will take out at the Lowlleville Launch.
Please pack a lunch as we will stop in Struthers for a break.
Any questions please call or text me. 330-766-3129

Mike Danko

[EAR]

I'll be there with a friend doing a rare tandem canoe (for me).

[JPTolson]

Ten paddlers in six kayaks and three canoes gathered on the banks of the Mahoning at B&O Station on a beautiful late summer Sunday to paddle the nine mile “action” section of the river to Lowellville. Bob Danko, as he often does, came not to paddle, but to help with the shuttle. Any shuttle help is always appreciated.THANKS, BOB!

At the Marshall Street Bridge rapid, we were surprised to see that rocks had been re-arranged to create another channel next to the previously created channel that is close to shore on river left. The route of the new channel allows paddlers to avoid the bridge piling at the bottom of the far river left channel that often caused collisions and flips. Some of us took the left channels and some still preferred to take our chances on the river right route.

The remaining rapids added interest and zest to the run and presented no problems. A couple paddlers played at Cement Plant and Wildcat, a new rapid immediately after the Struthers access with a decent size wave that we are getting to know since the removal of the Struthers dam.

We put in around 12:15, stopped for lunch at the Struthers access, and took out around 3:45. The U.S. Geological Survey gauge at Lowellville was at 2.9 feet, and that gave us plenty of water even though that level might be on the low side. Trip leader Mike Danko remarked that this was one of the few club trips on this section of the Mahoning that was void of carnage or other drama! LOL!

Paddlers were OC-1, Mike D. and J.P. T.; OC-2, Ed R. and Russ ?; K-1, Brenda W., Jessica D., Kristin B.-P., Mark V., Tom S., and Stan S.

Many thanks to trip leader Mike Danko! It was another great day on the river!!!!!!

[EAR]

I was really impressed with the water clarity. Several sections that were 4 or 5 foot deep, you could easily see the bottom of the river.