Little Beaver Creek,
Middle Fork

Coleman to Beaver Creek State Park           20.5 miles

Class           Grad                    Size (Area/Volume)                  Scene/Poll             Level

     I               7/11                     Small (149/248 )                       C/C                           
                                                            Rodgers                                        East Liverpool

Topographic Maps: Lisbon, Elkton, West Point, East Liverpool North (all Ohio)

County Maps: Columbiana (Ohio)

Description: The Sandy and Beaver Canal follows this stream from Logtown to the mouth of Beaver Creek at the Ohio. The remnants of locks can be spotted all along the river. The best preserved lock is Lusk Lock in Beaver Creek State Park about 0.25 miles below the confluence with Pine Run. In 1972 a chemical spill of Myrex occurred above Lisbon. The Depart­ment of Health posted the stream from the spill through Lisbon against wading, fishing, or canoeing. As of the summer of 1989 the State Park Rangers still encourage canoeing below Lisbon, but they discourage fisherfolk from eating their catch. If the posting reaches the State Park they will discourage canoeing. [Checked 2003]

Difficulties: There is a low dam just west of Lisbon shortly after the US Route 30 bridge comes into view. Portage the dam on river right. On the other side of Lisbon, just upstream of the US Route 30 bridge, is a broken-out dam. In 1988 it could be run on river left.

Shuttle: To get to the put-in from Lisbon, follow the road along the north side of the creek through Logtown to Coleman. The trip can easily be split into two sections of 6 and 14 miles by using an intermediate point of Ohio Route 154. For the small-stream paddler, the trip can be extended about 6 miles upstream by putting in at Franklin Square. See pollution warning above. Beaver Creek State Park and Beaver Creek State Forest lie along the stream for several miles, and are broken into several access sections by private lands. To get to the take-out, go back to Lisbon. Follow Ohio Route 154 east to Elkton. When Ohio Route 154 turns left, continue straight on Middle Beaver Road. Go to Ohio Route 7, turn right/south on Ohio Route 7. Go about 1.5 miles and turn left on Beaver School Road. Go about 1 mile and turn left on Bell School Road, which crosses the creek in about 1.2 miles. An alternative take‑out for a shorter trip is near the State Park Office. The park opened a new access in 2003. To reach this take‑out, start at US Route 30 and Ohio State Route 7. Go north on Ohio State Route 7. Cross the bridge over the West Fork and the bridge over the Middle Fork. Turn left/west onto Columbiana County Route 419. Go about 4.4 miles to the signed State Park Access area. Parking is on the left side of the road. A gravel ramp goes from the parking area to the water's edge.

Gauges: East Liverpool. This gauge downstream on Little Beaver Creek will probably read above 4.3. Call Beaver Creek State Park or Ohio Canoe Tours. See Section A of the Little Beaver Creek for the phone number.

Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.