Maumee River Cruise-Waterville, Ohio

This popular 2-day cruising event takes place on the Maumee River in Northwest Ohio, upstream from Lake Erie and Toledo. It is a very fun and picturesque river to hover on.

Most of the places we cruise on the Maumee River are accessible only by hovercraft or canoe/kayak as this is typically a shallow river with a limestone bed (not sand). The limestone bed allows for occasional rapids that are fun to fly on.

The Roche de Bout or Roche de Boeuf (French for "rock of beef" or "buffalo rock") is a big limestone outcrop which forms an island near the center of the Maumee River just downriver from where we put in. It was a landmark for early explorers and natives. The landmark was used by the Miami, Shawnee, Lenape Native Americans and their allies as a location for councils. Along with Roche de Boeuf is the old Inter-Urban Bridge (1908) that may or may not be there when we have our event as it is scheduled to be demolished in 2026. The Roche de Boeuf rock was used as one of the supports for the now abandoned Interurban Bridge . At one time, it was the largest bridge that was filled with earth and reinforced by concrete.^[3] Today the bridge, which formerly served as part of a commuter rail line, is in ruins. There is a great deal of history in this area.

On the same day as our event, the town of Waterville will be hosting the annual Roche De Boeuf Festival. More info can be found here: Roche de Boeuf - WACC 

Host: Mike McFarland: wwjmmm@hotmail.com

Weekend Schedule

Saturday

(10:00a ish - 5:00p ish) - General Operations/ Rides from Farnsworth Metropark upriver to Grand Rapids, Ohio and return (~16 miles) where there is a low head dam (can't hover up or around it). We usually walk into Grand Rapids for an ice cream or lunch.

Sunday 

(10:00a ish- 5:00p ish) - TBD, but sometimes General Operations/ Rides from Independence Dam boat ramp near Defiance, Ohio cruising upstream. 

Registration 

No registration required- just show up and have fun!

Parking

On Saturday, Park at the public boat ramp at Farnsworth Metropark (SW of Waterville).

Accomodations

Contact Mike McFarland wwjmmm@hotmail.com or search for nearby hotels.