Beaver Creek, PA

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Alpine Road to Bull Road

Class III-IV
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 @ 3.0 ft



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 avaliable 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 side, 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(valve 1/2 way open)enough 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 flat water(Class II).
The next and final mile is continuous Class III-IV

Wood is definately a problem on this creek, this includes fallen trees and overhanging trees.
Every summer, I cut out at least 5 downed trees.

Shuttle Directions:

Put In

Take Route 74 North from York through Dover. 4 miles north of Dover Town Square, turn right onto Alpine Road(first road after crossing the Conewago Creek). Travel approximately 4-5 miles on Alpine Road(NE direction). After you pass Bob's Weld Shop on your right keep your eyes peeled for a gravel parking lot on the left, before you cross Beaver Creek.

Take Out

From the Put In, turn left out of the parking lot onto Alpine Road. Travel approximately 0.25 miles. Turn right onto Conley Road. Travel approximately 2 miles to Bull Road. Turn right at the stop sign, onto Bull Road. Travel approximately 200 yards to the Take Out bridge the crosses Beaver Creek.

Major Rapids(in sequential order):

Little Heizlinger(III+)

Caution: As of 8/5/01, A tree blocks the left slot.

Set up eddy is on river right site 10 feet above drop. Paddle under a log that spans the creek, drop over a 2 foot ledge and then go either left or right. The left side is the pillow move like Heizlinger on the Upper Yough. The left or right slots drop 3-4 feet

Hair of the Beaver or Slot(III+)

Paddle around the right side of a large rock. This rock protrudes in from the left bank into the center of the creek. Make a sharp left hand turn around the rock and head for the 4 ft wide slot. You need good boat control through the slot or you will most definitely piton. The drop through this section maybe 5 feet total.

Ring Rapid(IV)

This rapid is approximately 75-100 yards long and drops around 30 feet. You can see the horizon line as you approach the drop. Start in river center, about half way down work to river right and follow the channelized flow down the right side. Eddy on left. About midway through the rapid, you'll see a ring hanging from a rope on a tree. Immediately, below this drop is a large tree(2 feet in diameter) that has fallen in the creek, from river right side. Do not get to close to it because you will get pinned. At all levels you can get by it, running down the center of the creek.

Takeout Bridge Rapid(III+)

This rapid approximately 30 yards long and drops 10-12 feet. The rapid starts 30 yards above the bridge and ends directly under the bridge. Run this starting river center, working to the left and then back right.

All other rapids are class III-III+

StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2001-10-21 11:44:49

Search Results

Photos/Videos 1- of 11

Entering Ring Rapid, Beaver Creek


Entering Ring Rapid, Beaver Creek  Beaver Creek PA
(1.02MB .bmp)

Entering Ring Rapid


Entering Ring Rapid  Beaver Creek PA
(70.01KB .jpeg)

Beaver Creek, looking upstream from the takeout bridge


Beaver Creek, looking upstream from the takeout bridge  Beaver Creek PA
(153.35KB .jpeg)

Hair of the Beaver


Hair of the Beaver  Beaver Creek PA
(212.13KB .jpeg)

beaver creek beast at very low level


beaver creek beast at very low level  Beaver Creek pa
(1.15MB .jpeg)

Spill Way on Beaver Creek


Spill Way on Beaver Creek  Beaver Creek PA
(728.68KB .jpeg)

Will anxious to start boating


Will anxious to start boating  PA
(1.85MB .jpeg)

bill about to go under bridge


bill about to go under bridge  PA
(990.34KB .jpeg)

iron ring rapid


iron ring rapid  PA
(1.49MB .jpeg)

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Gauge Description:


There is no online gauge

There is a painted gauge on the river right/upstream side of the put in bridge adbutment.

Minimum(boney) Level is 1' 6" on the painted gauge or to the top of the numerous 5 inch dia holes in bridge adbutment.

My recommended minimum level is 2 ' on the painted gauge.

Above 3' on the painted gauge is pushy and eddies start to disappear. Consider it Class IV, above 3'.

The highest I have run it is at 3.5'. At this level the run takes 25 minutes if you do not have to portage any strainers.

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icon of message No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run.

User Comments

2006-02-10 17:43:28 (940 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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