FOURTH ANNUAL WHITEWATER WALK
WILL VISIT SIX COUNTIES IN EIGHT DAYS

 

The Whitewater Valley is getting fit in more ways than one. 

During eight days in September, people will have a chance to get more physically fit during a walking, boating and riding tour through seven counties. The Whitewater Canal Byway Association will conduct the fourth annual Whitewater Walk from Sept. 20-27.

A kick-off event on Sept. 19 will include a 10-K walk that starts at Reid Hospital in Richmond.  The group will hike to the Whitewater Gorge Trailhead on Industries Road and take the Gorge Trail to the Starr-Gennett Pavilion. A family friendly evening of music will be offered and some hikers will camp there overnight.

On Sunday morning, Sept. 20, a Sunrise Service in the Gorge will serve to start the actual walk. The eight-day 109-mile journey through the Whitewater Valley will include walking, canoeing, kayaking, pontoon boating and a visit to a working railroad. After its start in Richmond, the walk will visit Hagerstown and Cambridge City. It will continue through Union, Fayette, Franklin and Dearborn counties in Indiana, and Hamilton County, Ohio.

Participants will become more mentally fit by learning about special places that are connected by the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway. The Whitewater Walk will pass historic sites and ruins of the Whitewater Canal. There will be walks through small towns with beautiful streetscapes and along quiet wooded trails full of wildlife. On two days, participants will paddle or float on Brookville Lake and the Whitewater River. At Connersville, there will be a visit to the Whitewater Valley Rail Road. 

Evenings will be spent around campfires, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows while swapping stories and making lifetime friendships. Overnight camping will be available.

To supplement the daily travels, some communities are organizing “twilight walks” of two to five miles in length through historical sections of towns, scenic vistas or along some of the many walking trails in the Whitewater Valley. 

People who don’t want to make the entire journey may choose to participate for a single day or several or in evening activities. Making a single $20 donation to the Whitewater Canal Byway Association (a non-profit organization) allows the donor to participate in any or all of the activities, including the twilight walks.

Businesses and other organizations may help sponsor the Whitewater Walk by donating funds. Their names will be listed on T-shirts that participants will receive and in publicity for the walk. Several sponsorship levels are available.

Funds raised will help support the establishment of a Whitewater Regional Interpretive Park. Half of all donations will go to local charitable projects selected by organizers in each county.

For more information, contact WCBA President Candy Yurcak at (765) 647-3360 (days) or (765) 647-5879 (evenings).