Recreation is a wonderful way to experience Greater Cleveland's waterfront via Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Here's a list of organizations and companies that can get you on the water along with resources to help you assess water and wave conditions before you head out. Whether you rent or use your own kayak, remember, when you’re on the water YOU are a representative of the entire paddling community and you are responsible for your safety. Your actions will help avoid an unfortunate headline.
Blazing Paddles Paddlefest Livery Partners:
Kayak Rentals/Tours
41 North kayak adventures
Float the River (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
Loco Yaks (Lake Erie/Black River Watershed)
Camp Hi Canoe & Kayak (Hiram, OH)
Crooked River Adventures (Kent, OH)
Play Harder Adventures (Hudson, OH)
West River Paddling Company (Vermillion, OH)
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (Kayak Aboard)
Harbor Yak (Ashtabula, OH)
Boat Tours/Party Boats
goodtime III
Cleveland Dragonboat Association (yes, it’s a paddling org)
Cleveland Area Marinas
edgewater marina
Cleveland Marine Towing (when you need assistance)
“Rock Your Boat in Cleveland” article by Lakeland Boating (March, 2019)
Waterfront Webcams
The Cuyahoga River Water Trail, Ohio’s 13th water trail, was designated in October, 2019. The goal of ODNR’s water trail program is to promote the awareness of public paddling access while increasing safety by partnering with local communities to develop designated water trails on Ohio’s waterways. The Cuyahoga River Water Trail website has a wealth of information including an interactive map listing access points along the Cuyahoga River. Here's the map!
On a waterfront development planning note, Cleveland Metroparks will be installing transient boat docks at Heritage and Rivergate Parks. Construction is slated to begin around Labor Day. The Heritage Park docks will include 12 transient slips with power and data. The slips will accommodate 30' - 40’ boats and it will also include a future water taxi slip. A slip for paddlecraft is also planned. Details and renderings at their website.
Determining Lake and River Conditions Before You Hit the Water
With ODNR’s recent designation of the Lake Erie Water Trail, more people are interested in exploring the 24 miles of Lake Erie and 13 access points in Cuyahoga County between Huntington Beach in Bay Village and Sims Park in Euclid.
ODNR Interactive Website of boater access and amenities
Want to get a better sense of wave conditions before you head to Lake Erie? Thanks to the Great Lakes Observing System you can find a list of every buoy in the Great Lakes. Text the buoy number of your choice to 866-218-9973 for the latest observations.
Buoy 45196 is off of Bay Village.
Buoy 45176 is at the Cleveland Water Intake Crib.
Buoy 45197 is off of Euclid.
Seagull Cleveland Water Offshore Buoy
Seagull Cleveland Water Intake Crib (4 mile crib)
You can also pull up National Weather Service Cleveland OH’s Open Lake Forecast for Lake Erie at this LINK
How is the water quality of the lake you want to swim in or the river you want to kayak in? Find out by checking out the USGS Great Lakes NowCast.
You can find current conditions (guage height, discharge) for 310 Ohio sites via the USGS National Water Information System: Web Interface.
04202000 Cuyahoga River at Hiram Rapids, OH
04206000 Cuyahoga River at Old Portage, OH
04206425 Cuyahoga River at Jaite, OH
04208000 Cuyahoga River at Independence, OH
04208504 Cuyahoga River near Newburgh Heights, OH
American Whitewater provides a list of Ohio 101 rivers and their current levels at their website.