The Ohio River Way

What The Ohio River Way does

The Ohio River Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, that operates the 308-mile Ohio River Way National Water Trail across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. Founded in 2019 by a group of paddlers, the organization has grown into a coalition of more than 100 communities and organizations working to promote outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, and recreation-based economic development along the river. Its core product portfolio includes an interactive Digital River Guide (paddletheohio.com) with 360-degree mapping powered by Terrain360, the annual Ohio River Way Challenge paddling expedition (ranging 250–488 miles), and the RESTORE Lab — a floating research station on a 55–60 foot houseboat that conducts water quality monitoring, biodiversity assessments, and riparian habitat documentation. Supporting resources include a 52-page printed Visitor's Guide (40,000 copies distributed), PDF segment maps, safety guides, the Hipcamp camping collection, and the ODOT-funded 182-mile Ohio River Trail Comprehensive Plan for a parallel cycling corridor.

The organization's business model is nonprofit and primarily donation- and grant-driven, with no user fees for most resources. Revenue streams comprise individual donations and fundraising (MightyCause), government grants (notably a $275,000 ODOT Pedestrian & Bicycle Special Solicitation award in October 2025), annual membership dues from coalition members, and merchandise sales through an InkSoft store. Distribution operates through the digital platform for self-serve trip planning, free Guide distribution to coalition members and tourism bureaus, the Hipcamp partnership for camping bookings, and the River Town Review Program in partnership with the National Park Service for community planning assistance. Customers are pluralistic rather than transactional: paddlers, boaters, cyclists, and tourists use the free resources; 100+ communities participate in coalition programming; university students from at least ten partner institutions participate in waived-fee Challenge expeditions; and researchers engage via the RESTORE Lab.

The Ohio River Way's competitive position rests on a rare regulatory credential (National Water Trail designation, the largest addition to the National Trails System in 2025), a multi-state coalition spanning four states with formal tri-state governance, and strategic partnerships with NPS-RTCA, ORSANCO, Hipcamp, ODOT, and multiple universities. The organization is led by Executive Director Forest Clevenger, Deputy Director Molly Pope (effective February 2026), and a board chaired by Brewster Rhoads with Vice Chair Dr. David Wicks and three state-level Vice Chairs.

Name

The Ohio River Way

Legal name

The Ohio River Way, Inc.

Website

https://ohioriverway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ohio River Way is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the 308-mile Ohio River Way National Water Trail across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia, serving paddlers, boaters, cyclists, and 100+ coalition communities through digital mapping tools, annual Challenge expeditions, and recreation-based economic development programs funded by donations, grants, and memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation / Water Trail Management

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking & River Adventures (THAJABAB)

Keywords

• Water trail management
• Outdoor recreation
• River conservation
• Community coalition building
• Nonprofit stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations from individuals and organizations. Fundraising campaigns include the annual Ohio River Way Challenge fundraising page on MightyCause.
2. Government Grants: Grant funding from government agencies such as Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Pedestrian & Bicycle Special Solicitation ($275,000 for comprehensive plan).
3. Membership Dues: Coalition membership program for communities, tourism bureaus, organizations, and individuals who care about the river.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Ohio River Way merchandise through InkSoft store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Ohio River Way operates and promotes a 308-mile National Water Trail along the Ohio River (from Ashland to West Point, KY), designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior in June 2025. It provides free digital and print recreation resources including an interactive map (paddletheohio.com) with 360-degree mapping and float plan tools, hosts an annual multi-day paddling Challenge expedition, runs a floating research lab (RESTORE Lab), and coordinates a coalition of 100+ communities for recreation-based economic development.

Product overview

The Ohio River Way is a nonprofit organization operating a 308-mile National Water Trail along the Ohio River. Its core product portfolio includes the Digital River Guide interactive map, the annual Ohio River Way Challenge paddling expedition, the RESTORE Lab floating research platform, and various planning programs. Supporting resources include PDF segment maps, safety guides, the Guide to the Ohio River Way publication, a Hipcamp camping collection, travel itineraries, cycling routes, and the ODOT-funded Ohio River Trail Comprehensive Plan. The organization focuses on connecting communities through outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, and economic development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital River Guide

Quantifiable outcome

• 308 miles of National Water Trail designated in June 2025, the largest addition to the National Trail System that year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HipcampcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025Camping partnership creating the Ohio River Way Collection on Hipcamp - a centralized directory of campsites and small campgrounds near the National Water Trail for paddlers, cyclists, and travelers.
• National Park Service (Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Assistance Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NPS-RTCA provides free planning assistance to communities along the river and has guided the growth of the Ohio River Way since its launch. NPS-RTCA partnership was instrumental in achieving National Water Trail designation.
• River City Paddle SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Louisville-based nonprofit to organize the annual Ohio River Challenge paddling expeditions.
• ORSANCO (Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-state agency providing water quality monitoring data and technical support. Partner for RESTORE Lab floating laboratory and Ohio River Basin Confluence summit.
• Ohio River Basin AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner leading basin-wide restoration planning efforts. Ohio River Way supported launch of 'Healthy Waters, Healthy Communities, Healthy Economies' restoration plan in June 2025.
• National Wildlife FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Ohio River Basin restoration planning efforts and Confluence summit collaboration.
• Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute (University of Louisville)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Ohio River Basin Confluence summit. Research partner supporting river health initiatives.
• Louisville Parks & Recreation (ECHO Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the RESTORE Lab floating laboratory through the Engaging Children Outdoors (ECHO) program.
• Cincy MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to create the inaugural 52-page Guide to the Ohio River Way, distributed to 40,000 members.
• Adventure CrewminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCincinnati-based nonprofit and supporting sponsor of Ohio River Way Challenge, promoting outdoor recreation for city teens.
• Visit Southeast IndianaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism partner and sponsor of 2026 Ohio River Way Challenge.
• Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater CincinnatiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 2026 Ohio River Way Challenge.
• OKI Regional Council of GovernmentsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional planning partner and sponsor of 2026 Ohio River Way Challenge.
• Paddle PerryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 2026 Ohio River Way Challenge expeditions.
• University Partners (Marshall, Ohio State, Shawnee State, Eastern Kentucky, University of Kentucky)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with six universities providing student participants for Ohio River Way Challenge expeditions with waived participation fees.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for public use, including trail and water access projects. Comparable in coalition-building and grant-funded conservation infrastructure delivery at scale, though operating more broadly across all land types.
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Large regional nonprofit dedicated to restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Comparable in scope of coalition-building, water-quality science, and outdoor-recreation education, though focused on an estuary rather than a river corridor.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that partners with public and private entities to conserve land and water resources. Comparable in public-private partnership model (federal/state grants + coalition delivery) and in trail/riverfront project execution.
• American Rivers: National 501(c)(3) focused on protecting and restoring U.S. rivers. Comparable in nonprofit river-advocacy mission (it named the Ohio the 2nd Most Endangered River in 2023), but operates at national scale across many rivers rather than managing a single corridor.

Direct peers

• Tennessee RiverLine: A multi-state initiative to build a 652-mile continuous water trail along the Tennessee River. Operates a near-identical model — digital paddling guides, public access points, coalition of river communities, and grant-funded planning — making it the closest direct peer to Ohio River Way.
• American Whitewater: National nonprofit dedicated to protecting rivers for paddlers and supporting paddlesports access. Highly comparable audience and mission (paddling-led river conservation), with overlapping volunteer and advocacy networks along the Ohio River basin.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: Member-supported nonprofit that maintains trails, publishes guidebooks, and runs outdoor programs across the Northeast. Highly comparable in coalition model, member-supported revenue, and trail/guide publishing, but with a land-trail focus rather than a water trail.
• River Network: National nonprofit that supports and connects local river-focused organizations and water trails. Operates as an umbrella for coalitions like Ohio River Way, making it a direct functional peer in the water-trail coalition ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: National 501(c)(3) that promotes responsible outdoor recreation through education and outreach. Comparable as a nonprofit that supports outdoor recreation users on public lands and waterways, though it focuses on ethics education rather than trail management.

Regional players

• Chattahoochee Riverkeeper: Regional nonprofit focused on protecting and connecting communities to the Chattahoochee River. Operates paddling access points, water-quality monitoring, and community programming analogous to Ohio River Way, but concentrated in Georgia rather than the multi-state Ohio basin.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeohioriverway.org/resources

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ohio River Way