Stonycreek River,
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3 - Stony Canyon (Foustwell to Carpenters Park)
Class III-IV
4.6 Miles
Gauge Information
River Description
This section has great play all over it. It primarily consists of ledges coming at you from all
directions, though there are a few boulders thrown in as well.
Hazards: there are two man-made structures. The first is Border Dam, which has spikes that
can put a serious hurt on your boat. Below 7' Ferndale, it's wise to walk this one on River Left.
The second structure is Pipeline, just downstream of the dam. It's runnable via a tongue on river
left; the hole in the center is punchable at most levels, as well.
Most of the good play occurs upstream of Border Dam, though there are play waves below.
See the Stonycreek Canyon Page in the Benscreek Canoe Club Stonycreek
Watershed Page.
Directions: The normal putin is on Rte. 601 in Foustwell; an alternate putin is a mile and
a half upstream on Rte. 403 in Holsopple. The takeout is in Carpenters Park, on river left. From
Hollsopple, take State Rte. 601 to Foustwell. Make a left before the bridge that goes over the
Stony onto SR 4039. Follow this road for about 2 miles and under Rt. 219 (4-lane road). Just past
Rte. 219 make a right onto Kaufman Church Road (there's a church on the corner). Follow for about
a mile and a half and turn right at the stop sign onto SR 4022 (Carpenters Park Road). Follow
over Rte. 219 (4-lane road) and down to the Stony takeout (Carpenters Park).
For other streams in this watershed, check out:
Conemaugh River (I-II)
Clear Shade Creek (III)
Quemahoning Creek (III)
Shade Creek (III-IV)
Stony Gorge (IV)
Roaring Fork (IV)
Dark Shade Creek (IV-V)
Paint Creek (V)
StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2005-04-29 07:16:55
User Comments
scout at all river levels. We ran it at 3.5 today and the tree is a factor but at higher levels it
could make this rapid deadly. AS OF 4-25-09 (FESTIVAL WEKEND) THIS TREE HAD BEEN CLEARD OUT.! Edit
you put in @ the baseball field. It looks as tho somebody chopped it down. It may wash out when the
water gets high again, but then who knows. Edit
reasonable level, perhaps even below, for my tastes. Many nice playspots still, but a lot of the
drops were VERY bony and technical. I guess folks put up with the boat abuse to get to the
playspots.
In contrast, I think 4 or 4.25 Ferndale is a lovely level. The run is nearly continuous, boat
scoutable class 3 at that reading, with short recovery pools below most drops and lots of surf
waves.
one just above the gauge bridge. Don't know its name but it was a fun one!! The play below the
bridge was incredible. At 1100 cfs it was fun class three, with only the rapid above the bridge
rating a 3+. At the 1100 cfs level there was nothing that was close to a class 4 on the river. We
looked at the dam, there was no logical reason to run it or submit the boats to the abuse. We
carried left.
Overall the run is very pool drop with good sized pools for rescuing beginners. The run is good for
beginners with good rolls.
some friends. Very good run with continuous Class III action. Forget about the dam-it's just not
worth it with the threat of rebar to puncture boats and people! Pipeline was over rated at this
level. Easy to run left of center. Otherwise, great rapids, fun holes and waves, good technical
Class III river!