2. (Lower) Forest Service Campground to Route 28 BridgeClass III
6.2 Miles
Avg Gradient 70 fpm
Max Gradient 90 fpm
Early Ledge Slide On Lower Seneca Creek
Early Ledge Slide On Lower Seneca Creek Photo of Mark Anderson by Kelly Guerrero taken 4/2001 @ 6 ft at Petersburg Gauge Information
Seneca Creek
River DescriptionThis stream has it's beginning at the highest point in West Virginia on Spruce Knob and spills sharply off the Allegheny Front. Unlike the waterfall-chocked and much harder upper section, this lower section offers a continuous Class -II-III slalom ride from start to finish that intermediate and higher paddlers can enjoy. The main hazard on this run is downed trees and two or three portages can be expected.Putin along the county road 33-3 (a gravel road that turns south off state highway 55/33). There are pullouts along the way and there is a backcountry access at the trailhead where the creek turns away from the road. White Run, a rarely run Class IV adventure, continues along the road. The creek parallels the gravel road for the first 1 1/2 miles and the rapids are fairly continuous Class II to III ledge slides. The eddies are few, both because this is a small and steep stream and because some sections still reflected manmade channelizing following 1985 floods. When the creek turns East, look for the first strainers in a bend that tends to pick up wood. Just below here you will encounter the first large Class III drop. This double ledge requires a careful line between offset and wide hydraulics. Below here you will encounter several easier ledge slides and hydraulics that give this section a roller coaster fell. As you approach the hamlet of Onego, begin looking for a pool above the biggest rapid on the creek. This Class III should be scouted the first time, as it requires a tight line between two beefy holes. Below here you will encounter additional hydraulics before the creek crosses under Route 55/33. The rapids now tend toward chute drops with large eddies on the right or left. But things stay busy. When you can see Seneca Rocks in the distance you are in the final stretch of the run. There is an old 2 foot dam about 1 mile from the takeout that was best run on the right in 2001. From here, the water is primarily Class II boogie water. Takeout either at the Route 28 bridge in Seneca Rocks or just downstream at the Seneca Rocks Recreation Area parking area. In both instances, be careful not to blow by your intended beachead. There is supposed to be a bridge gauge on the Route 28 bridge but this author and several paddling companions never could find it from land or water. It may have been covered by debris. Still, a visual inspection is sufficient for determining flow. Check this out only during extremely wet periods. The Petersburg gauge, as noted above, should be at least 4 feet and should probably be rising or at least steady. StreamTeam Status: verified
Last Updated: 2006-04-25 10:51:31
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N F SOUTH BR POTOMAC R AT CABINS, WV [ WV ] |
Current Conditions
Station Graphs |
| Level Legend: | Running | Below Minimum Recommended Flow | Above Maximum Recommended Flow | Unknown |
| AW Gauge ID: | 6437 |
| USGS Station: | 01606000 |
| HUC: | |
| Latitude: | |
| Longitude: | |
| Class: |
User Comments |
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2008-04-29 12:01:49 (166 days ago)
Michael W. Wellman
Be aware that there is a river wide strainer just upstream of the turnoff from WV state highway 55/33 to county road 33-3 (Whites Run Road, I believe it's called). It's not trivial to carry around it as it's in moving water with 6 to 8 foot vertical banks; most of our parties on April 22 - 24, 2008, chose to skip the top mile of the run and put in beneath this. This would be just downstream from the first pullout on the left as you drive upstream. There were a few minor strainers downstream of this, including one triple strainer; however, at least on our trips, all be reasonably negotiated without getting out of our boats.
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2008-04-26 10:10:34 (169 days ago)
Stephen J. Ettinger
This is a really terrific paddle, with nice scenery and an interesting variety of rapids. The first ledge is perhaps the trickiest, as you may not see it until it is too late, and there is a boulder right in the middle -- the best route is probably on the right. The second ledge, soon after Roaring Creek enters from the left at Onego, was easiest (altho a bit scrapey) on the left. The final ledge, Junkhouse Rapid, when you are within sight of Seneca Rocks, should also be run on the far left, to avoid a bad hydraulic. (The WV guidebook talks about a channel around this ledge, but that is no longer the case.) For a zero level, look from the downstream side under the bridge at Onego -- the tops of the white calcified marks on the middle pier, which look rather like a broken horizontal line, will be just at the waterline.
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2007-03-10 11:11:20 (582 days ago)
Robert Farmer
Just to emphasize: there is a double-ledge, double-hole drop behind a boulder where I got stuck and had to swim after coming down the upper section (not really Class 3, so much, at high levels). I've usually run it on the right, but that seems, uh, unsatisfactory. Try left.
And the ledge at Onego is truly terrifying at high levels. I snuck it tight right. Stay out of those holes, for sure!
Also, the log jam near the top can usually be snuck without portaging if you cut left way-high above the log jam.
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No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
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