On a recent September afternoon, I climbed into a canoe on the shores of Louisville — and pushed off onto the Ohio River Way.

The beauty and history along this huge stretch of river helped it win the title of National Water Trail. That designation was awarded by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to the Ohio River Way in June.

Forest Clevenger, my paddling partner, pointed out the sights along our route — Towhead Island, white egrets, and the industry that lines the bank.

Clevenger leads the nonprofit behind the Ohio River Way, which unites a coalition of towns along the trail. He said different parts of the river have distinct personalities.

“If you went up and paddled, say, from Vanceburg to Maysville, what you're going to see is swaths of river that is you, the river and the

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