Great Miami - a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park)


Great Miami, Ohio, US

Disclaimer

a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park)

Usual Difficulty I-II (varies with level)
Length 4.35 Miles

Death hole Rev A


Death hole Rev A

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
Great Miami River at Hamilton OH
usgs-03274000 750 - 5000 cfs I-II 00h57m 3720 cfs (rc= 0.8 )
Strong, pushy conditions. Requires good boat-handling skills.


River Description

This almost forgotten set of rapids (just West of Cincinnati, Ohio) includes many distinct class I. At higher water levels (3000 plus cfs) a few of the rapids might be called class II. Most of the spots are long rapids with good standing waves and eddies. There are lots of excellent spots to work on s-turns, peel-outs, ferries and eddy turns.

As you pass the Blue Rock bridge the drops get steeper and more frequent, and the higher standing waves are definitely fun.

At the foot of the last rapid lies the "death hole". There is a clear path around it, should you choose to avoid it, but it is quite punchable at all levels. From there, it is a relatively short hop to the takeout.

Put-In: Heritage Park, located off of East Miami River Road about 2 miles north of the Blue Rock Rd intersection. (Approx. a 4.35-mile trip)

Alternate Put-In: On East Miami River Rd just north of the Blue Rock Rd intersection. (Approx. a 1.6-mile trip)

Take Out: Obergiesing Soccer Complex (formerly Dravo Park), located off of East Miami River Rd. 1.6 miles south of Blue Rock Rd.

Other related or nearby streams: 50 Hole, Great Miami, Ohio (Class I), about 11 miles Southwest (downstream).
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2009-04-15 16:15:25

Editors



Strainer (2)

Detail Trip Report  Strainer (2)  @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (, OH(1.09MB .jpeg)

Strainer (1)

Detail Trip Report  Strainer (1)  @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (, OH(1.14MB .jpeg)

Normal Ken

Detail Trip Report  Normal Ken  Great Miami River, OH(577.07KB .jpeg)

Photo#50820

Detail Trip Report    Under Blue Rock , OH(68.35KB .jpeg)

HiRes DH Surf @ 5k

Detail Trip Report  HiRes DH Surf @ 5k  Death Hole, OH(2.50MB .jpeg)

Death hole Rev A

Detail Trip Report  Death hole Rev A  Great Miami, OH(48.34KB .jpeg)

The Take Out

Detail Trip Report  The Take Out  Great Miami, OH(45.84KB .jpeg)

Contemplating a Surf

Detail Trip Report  Contemplating a Surf  Great Miami, OH(69.83KB .jpeg)

Denn'y's Turn

Detail Trip Report  Denn'y's Turn  Great Miami, OH(73.77KB .jpeg)

Roger Gets Some Air

Detail Trip Report  Roger Gets Some Air  Great Miami, OH(73.98KB .jpeg)

Death Hole @ 4750 cfs

Detail Trip Report  Death Hole @ 4750 cfs  Great Miami, OH(552.53KB .jpeg)

GM

Detail Trip Report  GM  Great Miami, OH(4.50MB .avi)

GM

Detail Trip Report  GM  Great Miami, OH(587.52KB .jpeg)

GM

Detail Trip Report  GM  Great Miami, OH(581.19KB .jpeg)

Death Hole @ 7000 cfs

Detail Trip Report  Death Hole @ 7000 cfs  Great Miami, OH(2.29MB .jpeg)

Ferry at Blue Rock Bridge

Detail Trip Report  Ferry at Blue Rock Bridge  Great Miami, OH(24.83KB .jpeg)

Surfing Blue Rock Bridge

Detail Trip Report  Surfing Blue Rock Bridge  Great Miami, OH(6.93MB .mov)

DH Surf @ 5000cfs

Detail Trip Report  DH Surf @ 5000cfs  Great Miami, OH(67.67KB .jpeg)

DH Split @ 2570cfs

Detail Trip Report  DH Split @ 2570cfs  Great Miami, OH(606.66KB .jpeg)

Punching Death Hole

Detail Trip Report  Punching Death Hole  Great Miami, OH(2.68MB .bmp)

Staying warm?

Detail Trip Report  Staying warm?  @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park), OH(3.38MB .jpeg)

19488.jpeg

Detail Trip Report  19488.jpeg  @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park), OH(2.37MB .jpeg)

19487.jpeg

Detail Trip Report  19487.jpeg  @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park), OH(2.67MB .jpeg)

19486.jpeg

Detail Trip Report  19486.jpeg  @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park), OH(2.85MB .jpeg)

Staying warm?

Detail Trip Report  Staying warm?  @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park), OH(3.68MB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

We have no additional information about how various flows affect runnability (or playability) of this section of river. If you can provide additional information, please either directly contact the StreamTeam member for this reach, or add a 'comment' or a 'report' with your information to help out your fellow boaters.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
Great Miami River at Hamilton OH
usgs-03274000 750 - 5000 cfs I-II 00h57m 3720 cfs (rc= 0.8 )
Strong, pushy conditions. Requires good boat-handling skills.

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
0 - 750 cfs extremely Low-barely Low I Too low to call it whitewater.
750 -1500 cfs barely runnable-med runnable I(II) Easy, tame, beginner whitewater.
1500 -3000 cfs med runnable-a bit pushy runnable I-II Beginner to intermediate whitewater.
3000 -5000 cfs a bit pushy runnable-high runnable I-II Strong, pushy conditions. Requires good boat-handling skills.
5000 -7000 cfs somewhat High-somewhat High II(III) Good playboater level for 'Death Hole'.
7000 -99999 cfs somewhat High-extremely High I-II Probably too high for most reasonable play.

Report - Reports of Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Great Miamia) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park) [OH] Staying warm? n/a brett finkleman
Great Miami [OH] Ferry at Blue Rock Bridge 2030 cfs Robert Ellstrom
Great Miami [OH] Death Hole @ 7000 cfs 7000 cfs Daniel Beckman
Great Miami [OH] Death hole Rev A n/a Roger June
1y342d22h40m @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex ( [OH] Strainer (2) high runnable barry welling
1y342d22h40m @Great Miami a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex ( [OH] Strainer (1) high runnable barry welling
2y75d13h50m Great Miami River [OH] Death Hole n/a CincyPaddlers
2y196d23h05m Under Blue Rock [OH] Surfin a wave just below Blue Rock n/a Scott Male
3y259d11h40m Great Miami [OH] GM 2500 cfs Daniel Beckman
5y285d19h40m Great Miami [OH] DH Split @ 2570cfs 2570cfs Stephen Myers
5y309d19h40m Great Miami [OH] DH Surf @ 5000cfs 5000 cfs Stephen Myers
5y309d21h40m Death Hole [OH] DH Surf High Res n/a Stephen Myers
5y310d00h26m Great Miamia) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park) [OH] Account of 06/12/09 n/a Stephen Myers
6y91d10h40m Great Miami [OH] Surfing Blue Rock Bridge 2030 cfs Robert Ellstrom
6y107d19h40m Great Miami [OH] Death Hole @ 4750 cfs 4750 Daniel Beckman
6y130d19h40m Great Miami [OH] Punching Death Hole 3000cfs Stephen Myers

WXPort

News





User Comments


2012-01-23 07:47:54 (20 days ago)
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2011-12-06 04:48:57 (68 days ago)
As of Last Week (July 9, 09) The Strainers in the area known as Denny's Run just south of the Blue
Rock Bridge are there, however they are easily passable on the River Right. Edit

2010-03-08 08:49:11 (706 days ago)
barry wellingDetails
hit this section 3/6/10 and it was About 4000cfs. Photos taken of the strainers... at that level it
was easily passable by staying just right of the wave train, or on the right side of the wave
train. They sit just out of view of the bridge, as the river makes a sharp left hand turn, and
drops over a gravel shoal. Head River right / center above the bend, and you can easily portage it,
or boat scout safely. the take out has become very clogged with wood. Reccomend you access the take
out ramp by ferrying across downstream of the growing woodpile on River left.

2009-07-22 04:34:48 (935 days ago)
Scott MaleDetails
Was on the River Tuesday 7-28-09.... three rec. boaters opted to run the rapids above the strainers
twice...on the second run one of them capsized and ended up in the strainer. Luckily they were
kicked off to the side. These strainers are decieving. When in doubt portage!

2009-06-26 09:48:09 (961 days ago)
After the FD had to rescue some foolish tubers and canoeists last week at 3020cfs, My family went
down and found "Denny's Run" to be nearly impassable with three strainers across it. We portaged on
the island I as one of the FD guys recommend the same until Mother Nature gives us back our rapid Edit

2009-04-27 01:10:06 (1021 days ago)
The strainers have shifted further downstream. It's not as bad as it was before, but still warrants
a bit of scouting before running the wave train below Blue Rock Bridge. Edit

2006-05-22 12:30:06 (2091 days ago)
jason EmersonDetails
The "Death Hole" can be a park and walk and play. Just park at the Dravo parking lot and
walk up stream to the end of the soccer fields. There will be a path at the end of the fence. Walk
down the path and you will see the hole. Somewhere between 4500 cfs and 7000 there is an ok hole
that forms. at 5600 it's pretty much a front surfing green wave, but it is likely that at the right
level a haystack will form making it much better.

2005-11-15 09:00:22 (2280 days ago)
Robert EllstromDetails
Little or no technical expertise required. One or two tight turns, at least one with a strainer. Be
alert, however, for strong cross-currents at confluences of divided current. These can tend to be
grabby at higher water levels.<br>
<br>
Undecked canoes will likely take on significant water at higher levels if they choose to run the
taller haystacks. Easier routes are almost always available, however.<br>
<br>
The safest routes under Blue Rock Bridge to avoid the strainers on the bridge abutments are either
all the way river right or river left. River right is the easiest, but misses the play spot under
the bridge on river left. This play spot washes out above 3000 cfs or so.<br>
<br>
Eggleston Park is another put-in that is perhaps a quarter mile shorter. The first rapid after that
put-in has a great set of ferry waves that run most of the width of the river. You can leave a
bicycle at Dravo Park and ride back to your car easily. Some decent waves and generally continuous
rapids until the takeout river left at the old bridge abutments. A fun run for the whole family
with relatively big water in comparison to the Little Miami or Whitewater rivers.
Users can submit comments.

Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.0Blue Rock RoadAccess

Rapid Descriptions


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 a) Heritage Park (or Blue Rock Rd) to Obergiesing Soccer Complex (Formerly Dravo Park), Great Miami Ohio, US (mobile)