Stonycreek River,
|
|
1 - Stony Gorge (Shanksville (Covered Bridge) to Mostoller)
| Usual Difficulty |
III-IV (may vary with level) |
| Length |
3.97 Miles |
Gauge Information
River Description
There's a lot of gradient in the first few miles, then the Gorge levels off a bit.
Scout the
first significant rapid, about 0.4 miles below the covered bridge. There's a boulder garden
that collects bad, ugly wood.
Be really careful at high water. The run becomes continuous Class V, with very few eddies.
It's nasty enough to surprise experienced paddlers. There was a fatality in 1999 under those
conditions. Also see Art Vaughn's
cautionary trip report.
Directions: To the put-in: from Rte. 30, take S.R. 1007 about 4 miles to T-565; take a
right turn to the covered bridge. Take out at the Rte. 30 bridge or upstream at Mostoller bridge.
See the Stonycreek Gorge Page in the Benscreek Canoe
Club Stonycreek Watershed Page.
For other streams in this watershed, check out:
Stony Canyon (III-IV)
Roaring Fork (IV)
Shade Creek (III-IV)
Paint Creek (V)
Dark Shade Creek (IV-V)
Clear Shade Creek (III)
Conemaugh River (I-II)
Quemahoning Creek (III)
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2009-03-21 07:11:24
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
River Alert
User Comments
1.5 miles or so. The crux rapid (Class 4) is on a long right turn of about 130 degrees. About
halfway throught the turn, an island appears on river left with a large log pile on it; it appears
to be a quintessential strainer. There is a tiny channel on the left where I did not want to go. I
eddied out to the left, got washed out backwards, went over a small ledge backwards, flipped, and
rolled right above the log jam---all in 30 degree weather. I found a fairly calm place against a
log to rest, then ferried hard across to river right. From here on down, the creek is easier, but
fun. Then, after a few miles, just when you're feeling that you have beaten the infamous Stonycreek
Gorge into submission, some large ledge holes appear quite suddenly. When I did it at around
5.8/2800 at Ferndale, the holes would eat you alive, hence the story about the epic retreat
mentioned elsewhere. They came up too fast to scout, and you don't want to be there, ever. I ran
the last one on the left, but it was very scrapy; right would be better. Don't go down the middle!
The rest of the creek is entirely moderate. Time for me: 1.5 hours. Most groups at lower levels
will probably want to allow at least 3 hours. Edit
Somerset. From the exit at the toll plaza, go straight across the intersection, then make a left to
281 north. Take this to Friedens. At the pizza restaurant (Cheryl's?), turn east (right) on Welsh
Hill Road. Go 4.4 miles. Turn left (north) on Stutzmantown Road. Go 1.6 miles to Shanksville and
the put-in bridge. From here, drive north toward Lambertville (there's a left turn just past the
bridge in Shanksville) for 4.1 miles, past the Flight 93 monument. Turn left on Pompey Road and
drive 1.5 miles to the bridge at Mostoller. The only identifying sign here is the word Mostoller on
a small railroad company shed/shack next to the railroad tracks. Probably, it is possible to drive
directly from 281 to Mostoller, but I did not check it out. Edit