Experience winding bends, seasonal rapids & chutes, impressive limestone bluffs, cave entrances, and natural springs. Whether you’re looking for a challenging kayak adventure, a relaxing family trip, or a great fishing locale, Blue River has something for everyone.
I wanted to celebrate Earth Day 2021 somewhere in the Indiana Uplands and definitely outdoors. I decided on a kayak trip down the Blue River through Crawford County as I had not had the opportunity to explore an Indiana waterway that flows directly into the Ohio River.
The Blue River is a 57-mile-long stream that originates in Washington County, and as part of that journey to the Ohio River, it forms the boundary between Harrison and Crawford County. This Indiana Uplands treasure is known for its winding bends, seasonal rapids & chutes, impressive limestone bluffs, and natural springs. When water levels are higher in the spring, it is wonderful for a fast-moving and challenging run in a kayak. When water levels are lower in the summer, it’s ideal for casual fishing or canoe trips with children.
The Blue River was also explored by Squire Boone, Daniel’s brother, when the area had a large Native American population. This is the section that we decided we wanted to explore. I planned this trip with my friend Mark Taubensee, and he invited two of his camping buddies, Tim Holtz from Elkhart and Jim Kemper from Ferdinand. We checked with the US Geological Services website to determine river depth before driving down from Bloomington, and conditions looked good. We decided on the Rothrock Mill public entry point. We met up with one of our fellow kayakers at our exit point Blue River Chapel. There, we piled our kayaks into one truck and parked the other vehicle so we could head back upriver to retrieve the truck when our trip was complete.
Rothrock Mill was well marked and featured the interesting stone foundations from the old mill. The weather was cool, and the water was cold, but entry onto the river was easy from a gravel-filled bank. The first rapids were directly downriver, and we discussed how to get through that passage without anyone capsizing and being cold and wet the rest of the 9-mile trip. The river drops 4 feet per mile, and the current was swift. The depth changed constantly, but the scenery was beautiful, with banks covered in Blue Bells and the sheer rock cliffs climbing almost out of sight.
We stopped midway through our trip on a rock bank for lunch and watched a couple of Blue Herons work the shoreline. We paddled on with the sun shining, the wind mostly at our back. Despite the many challenging sections, we all made it back to Blue River Chapel with mostly dry clothes. One of the most surprising parts of the trip was the numerous sightings of fish. We encountered a few fishermen, and they reported catching rock bass, largemouth bass, and crappie. The fish we saw were large, as were the many turtles we saw sunning themselves on the banks.
I will take this trip again from a different entry point when the trees are in full bloom and perhaps after a good rain when the water would be higher. It would also be an easy overnight trip with a number of good camping sites easily accessible from the water that would allow for more time to search for Native American artifacts. It was a great day for an outdoor Indiana Upland adventure and a wonderful way to make some new friends.
If you’re interested in planning your own Blue River adventure, be sure to check out Indiana Outfitters and Cave Country Canoes.
Video Courtesy of Mark Taubensee