Muskingum River Lock #9 Philo — Attraction in Zanesville

A trip back into time! Lock #9 "Philo" is one of the last hand cranked locks still in existence. Although not used for any commercial traffic, these locks can still be used for recreational boats. You need to call Dillon State Park in advance to see what locks are being operated. This specific lock was hard to get to on the day I visited due to the bridge removal going on. But I did manage to get down to the actual lock and walk around. The lock is well maintained, but the lock keeper"s house was not maintained for tours. Well worth the stop if...

A friend and I visited the lock on a rainy and chilly September day. While it is no longer used for commercial purposes, the lock permits recreational watercraft to navigate the river. The series of locks along the Muskingum River are some of the only hand-operated locks left in the country. The lock keeper on duty was very knowledgeable and answered our questions, despite the less than idea weather conditions. I would definitely recommend a trip here if you're interested in...

There is no portage around this dam. If the lock is not open then you should avoid this area with paddle craft. The turbulence on the downstream side of the lock seems to be take care of when they cleaned all the bridge debris out of the river. This is a beautiful area and I wish they could come up with a safe way to portage paddle...