The Brodhead is a beautiful, clear, cool creek near East Stroudsburg in Monroe County, PA. The
whitewater section has multiple slides and a couple of creek-wide 4'-6' drops. I prefer small
rivers and streams and this one was near-perfect in size and in features. Despite the stream
following Rt. 447 for much of its length, we rarely saw or heard the roadside traffic. When we did,
we noted the number of motorcycles enjoying this very scenic area. We paddled the stream at a level
of 2.5 feet, which was probably the minimum level to paddle without scraping. I walked once when I
took one of those irresistible "branches less paddled" (you know: when a waterway splits and there
is that little chute that disappears around a bend... I'm a sucker for those.) I hope to return
when the level is 3ft or more. Clear water, blue skies, pine and sycamore trees, and some good
drops. Thanks to Ron W for sharing this slice of Nirvana with us. -kevin o

Upper Brodhead: Canadensis to Paradise Creek fork. There are several put-ins and several take outs.
I've paddled this creek once, from the 390 bridge in Canadensis to the USGS gauge a few miles down
from Alpine mountain. I paddled at 3.7 Feet on the Analomink gauge. This was a fun level, no real
scrapping, holes were generally pretty benign. Reputation is 4.5+ feet this run gets a little more
serious. As far as rapids go, there are 2 great rapids near the beginning of the run, with a 6 foot
manmade ledge. The whole ledge flushes at the level I paddled, but in much higher levels I think it
has the potential to lowhead. Easy scout on the left, with a house in view. Nothing is posted, but
we didn't stick around long to see how the home owners felt about paddlers feet away from their
house. There is a possible sneak to the right of the ledge. I wouldn't run it with out a scout for
strainers. It looks like if you followed the channel you would be pretty committed. Several miles
of class 2 rapids with some fun play follow. Then a long 2 or so miles through a marsh with several
portages due to strainers. More class 2 with play until you come to the miracle mile. Miracle Mile
is about 1.5 miles of solid 3+ rapids. It has several 2-3 foot ledges, a number of playable wave
trains and holes. 2 slides on the river left and a 6 foot ledge with lines on river right, river
left, and center left. Easy scout and photo opportunities on river left.
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/archive/medium/41911.jpg?no_cache=7521 The alpine mountain
bride marks the end of the miracle mile. There is a great surfing hole just below the bridge. Eddy
on river left. Between alpine mountain and the USGS guage there were several class 2 rapids. Also a
3 foot ledge and a final 6 foot ledge. Again scout on river left for the 6 foot. Lower Brodhead
I've run this from stokes street but most of the top section of the lower brodhead is flatwater
shallows sections and strainers. I guess there is supposed to be good side surfing with higher
water, but I think when the surf gets good on the lower I'd rather be on the upper. I prefer to put
on in Glen park. Just park by the ball fields and follow the trail down. It makes for a quick run,
which can be done with a shuttle in under 2 hours. This puts you directly in the gorge. Take out at
the park on river road in the town of water gap. On the river this is just below the bridge after
the paper mill All Class 2 with a broken damn with multiple lines. Scout on right. There is some
kind of nasty-ness in the far river left portion of this drop. Tore up a friends brand new kayak. I
suggest the section just right of the massive boulder. It's a little pillowish line plenty of
flush. The gorge has 2 fun play spots. The first is a wave train with great eddy service on the
right. The wave is fast and smooth. Further down on the left hand side is a 15 ft wide hole with
fun side surfing on surfers right hand side, a smoother wave in the middle and automatic spins on
surfers left. This is really the reason you want to paddle this section. It's not quite park and
play because it's in a gorge, but with the short shuttle time, this is something fun to paddle when
there isn't water any where else. This section runs all the way down to 2ft at the minisink gauge.
The more water it has the better it gets. At 2ft the playhole is still plenty deep, but some of the
class 2 rapids are a bit scrappy. Below the good play spot there is an island with a narrow but
runable channel on the right. River left has multiple strainers, which if removed could provide the
best whitewater on this section.

Ran this today. It was a little over three feet on the gage where we parked our cars for the take
out. You can use the Alipine parking lot as the put-in or drive up another mile for whats refered
to as "the miracle mile". It has a lot more action than the other...4 or 5 miles? Although the 2nd
half is tamer, beware, there's a ledge drop that goes practically straight across the whole river.
At the level we paddled, it's not a problem if you paddle straight and keep speed but if you drop
down, as one person did, you will probably need assisstance to get out. The person circulated for a
while in kayak, the person did a wet exit and both boat and person was held there. Person out out
and was fine via a throw rope. After a few minutes drybag and airbag was extrcted with the use of a
long heavy branch. It took three men to use said stick. I think the kayak got spit out by itself
but after quite some time. So, just be aware of this drop. There is a sneak on the extreme river
left hugging the bank but I heard it's not a good choice at higher levels. A fun run, some great
drop, plenty of play. A bit harder than the Tohican at three-something feet we did today. I'm told
that over five this gets much harder and the holes get sticky. To get there from highway 80 take
209 N to 447N. I think 447 took one left turn by Shawnee Resort or inn and a right a little further
down. As long as you follow 447N, your good. I'll have one of the people I paddled with to check
this for accuracy