Backpacker Campfire: Thru-Paddling the Mad River: Planning a Multi-Day Trip

Bring your family and friends to Dayton’s original Backpacker Campfire, featuring adventure, nature and travel programs. The programs are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. The programs are usually on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm and last about 90 minutes.

Program: Thru-Paddling the Mad River: Planning a Multi-Day Trip

Presenters: Jason Wish

Description: The Mad River is one of Ohio’s premier paddling and fishing rivers, known for its clean, cold, spring-fed water and approximately 52 miles of navigable flow. Jason Wish has thru-paddled the Mad River four times since 2018, experiencing the river in every season and across a wide range of water levels. These self-supported trips have provided firsthand insight into access, camping, navigation challenges, and the realities of planning a multi-day paddle on an Ohio river. This presentation explores how to plan a self-supported, multi-day thru-paddle of Ohio’s Mad River, including access points, camping options, river liveries, must-have gear, troublesome sections, and a practical overview of Ohio laws related to camping along riverbanks.

Biography: Jason Wish is a lifelong Ohio farmer and outdoor adventurist who has built a following of over 100,000 subscribers across his two YouTube channels by showcasing his outdoor adventures alongside a vegetable farming vlog. For more than a decade, Jason has documented his outdoor adventures on film, sharing backpacking and kayak camping trips that emphasize self-supported travel with a growing audience. Whether raising vegetables on the farm or adventuring in the outdoors, he enjoys sharing these experiences through his camera lens to give viewers an authentic, immersive first-hand perspective.

More info: https://www.backpackercampfire.com/