A 180 day old warning about this river was added. Click on comments below to read it.

Beaver Creek - Alpine Road to Bull Road


Beaver Creek, Pennsylvania, US

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Alpine Road to Bull Road

Usual Difficulty III-IV (for normal flows)
Length 1.5 Miles
Avg. Gradient 80 fpm
Max Gradient 80 fpm

Entering Ring Rapid, Beaver Creek


Entering Ring Rapid, Beaver Creek
Photo of Keith Strausbaugh by Mark Kennell



River Description


River Description:

This creek flows out of Gifford Pinchot Park Lake (Northeast corner of the lake). Beaver Creek's upper reaches lie underneath the manmade Gifford Pinchot Park lake.

Beaver Creek begins at the bridge on Alpine Road. Parking is available on the upstream river-right side of the bridge. The takeout is located on Bull Road at the bridge crossing. Parking is available on river right, downstream of the bridge.

The run can only be made in the late fall, winter or spring after heavy rains or continuous rain for several days. This dam has a spillway and a drain valve; when the lake is full, water will naturally flow over the 100-ft spillway to provide natural flow. Sometimes, water is released from the dam through a drain valve. Every three years, the lake is drained to a certain level to allow algae to be killed. This release typically lasts one week. The release is typically enough (valve 1/2 way open) to provide minmum runnable levels.

This creek is very tight (15 feet at its narrowest). The entire run is approximately 1.5 miles long. The first 0.5 miles is relatively flatwater (Class II).
The next and final mile is continuous Class III-IV.

Wood is definitely a problem on this creek, including fallen trees and overhanging trees.

Main rapids described in rapids section. All other rapids are class III-III+.


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2012-10-29 21:23:35

Editors


Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.0Little Heinzerling (III+)III+
0.0Hair of the Beaver or Slot (III+)III+
0.0Ring Rapid (IV)IV
0.0Takeout Bridge Rapid (III+)III+

Rapid Descriptions


User Comments


2012-12-21 09:17:47 (180 days ago)
Stacey GricksDetails
12/21- Wood at Little Heizlinger still exists and you MUST MAKE the Heizlinger move. Soon as you
are thru, eddy out and portage over/around the huge log/trees. Also - below Hair of the Beaver
there is a tree across which also needs portaged - it is a bit below the Hair so there is
definitely time to react and eddy out.

2012-10-30 08:24:09 (232 days ago)
Stacey GricksDetails
Today 10/30/12 - Use alternate directions to take out. Actual take out is inaccessible due to
flooding you will need to park about 1/4 mile further down. I have no report on hazards at this
time.

2012-10-30 02:32:10 (232 days ago)
Stacey GricksDetails
At the 5' level Heizerling is NOT passable. You MUST portage and get out early.

2012-06-03 11:52:16 (381 days ago)
Stacey GricksDetails
At the level "AT THE PIPES"; a ways below Hair of the Beaver there is a log that must be portaged.
(2 feet above the pipes you can go right over it). I will post a picture. As you approach the area
- it is a flat water section. You will see a 3 inch branch at water level and may even be tempted
to push over it. GET OUT HERE. About 20 yards below it is a large tree river wide about a foot off
the water.

2011-09-10 05:00:27 (648 days ago)
Stacey GricksDetails
9/9 Some cleanup work was done, however, you MUST MAKE the 'Heizerling' move at little Heizlinger.
The right of the rock is clogged with trees. When you bank left off of the rock at Heizlinger drive
into the eddy. Approx 10' below Heizlinger is a large tree which can now be ducked under (when
water is at the pipes); then 5 feet after that there is a large log which you will need to push
over or push up onto it and get out for a quick portage. The other option is at the eddy right at
Heizlinger - a fellow kayaker was kind enough to make a short portage trail around both trees and
you can put in on the other side. The wood at King's Demise (Iron Ring) is gone.

2006-02-10 17:43:28 (2685 days ago)
Colby ZebelDetails
Be careful at the King's demise (Ring rapid). There's a log across the entire creek after the first
few ledges. There is a last ditch eddy on river left and a low spot in the center that is very
runnable at about 1.5'. Just be aware that it's there. Everything else passable at this level
although there is some grooming needed. Hopefully get to that shortly...
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