Beaver Creek, Pennsylvania, US
|
|
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 CreekPhoto 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
Alpine Road to Bull Road, Beaver Creek Pennsylvania, US (mobile)
User Comments
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.
flooding you will need to park about 1/4 mile further down. I have no report on hazards at this
time.
(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.
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.
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...