Gauge Description:

This is a brand new gauge added in March 2008.  From running Walnut since that time, there is not yet enough information to report a maximum level.  Levels near 6 feet are very ideal with 5.3 feet the minimum.

 

Walnut Creek Upstream Pool, Near Erie [ PA ]

Current Conditions Stage Flow Updated 4.09 9/5 2:30 Station Graphs

Linked Reaches

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Level Legend:

Running

Below Minimum Recommended Flow

Above Maximum Recommended Flow

Unknown

Descriptions of reaches with River Name in bold have been verified by a regional StreamTeam member.

State	River Name/Section	Class	Level	Rel. Level	Updated
NY	Chautauqua Creek— Lyons Road to Lake Erie	III-IV	4.09 ft		9/5 2:30
PA	Elk Creek— Baron Road to Sterrettania	II	4.09 ft		9/5 2:30
PA	Elk Creek— Route 98 to Lake Erie	I-II	4.09 ft		9/5 2:30
PA	Elk Creek— Sterrettania to Route 98	I(II)	4.09 ft		9/5 2:30
PA	Lamson Run— Branchville to Shadduck Road	III-IV	4.09 ft		9/5 2:30
PA	Little Elk Creek— Francis Road to Elk Creek	II	4.09 ft		9/5 2:30
PA	Little Elk Creek— Franklin Center Road to Francis Road	III	4.09 ft		9/5 2:30
NY	Twentymile Creek— S. Ripley to Lake Erie	III+(V)	4.09 ft	low	9/5 2:30
PA	Walnut Creek— Millfair Road to Lake Erie	II-III(IV)	4.09 ft	low	9/5 2:30

Station Description

AW Gauge ID:	11113
USGS Station:	04213152
HUC:	04120101
Latitude:
Longitude:
Class:

Millcreek Mall (Dollar Theater Put In)

You can add almost 8 miles of Class I and II by accessing the creek behind the Cinnamark Millcreek 6 movie theater.  From there down to Millfair, rapids are spread out but some are pretty major Class II's.  One worthy of mention is just upstream of a bridge no more than a couple of miles below the Mall.  It is very narrow and has a huge hole.  It may be caused by altering the streambed during the bridge construction.  You won't need much more water to put in all the way up at the mall since Walnut gains no major tributaries during it's course from the the Mall to Millfair, but just make sure you catch it early enough after the rain as the level will drop earlier up by the Mall.  Average gradient for this section is 20 ft / mile.

Warm-up Waves (Class I, Mile 0.0)
This is a nice place to surf around a little before making the descent. There is one nice sized hole and a couple of waves below it that are small but fun.

Concrete Eddy (Class II, Mile 0.2)
Just around the first bend is a series of holes and standing waves. At high levels they become quite large. The first waves are deep and narrow. They are tough to stay in. The waves near the end of the rapid are not as deep but very wide. On the right side of the river there is a large concrete block that provides eddy service for surfing some of the waves on this rapid.

Fallen Timbers (Class II, Mile 0.6)
This is a dangerous rapid. The river narrows toward the right and there are a couple of big holes. However it is not advisable to surf them. Just below these big holes is a death trap. A couple of trees have fallen on the right side of the river and caught a lot of debris inside. The left side is open and there is plenty of room. It is easy to identify this spot. After a right bend, the river enters a very calm area with a lot of pine trees. The rapid is at the end of this stretch where the forest becomes less dense.

U Turn Wave (Class I, Mile 0.9)
This is a big pool with a nice little wave in the middle of it. There is plenty of room in the pool for several kayakers. This spot is Walnut Creek's version of Piddly on the Lower Yough.

Smelly Cow (Class II, Mile 1.5)
Just as the river widens out you enter into a long series of holes and you will smell a strong odder of cow dung. I never figured out why because all that seems to be nearby is a golf course at the top of the gorge on the right. The rapid is about 50 yards long and there are plenty of holes to choose from and some have the capacity for multiple surfers. The biggest one is at the bottom of the rapid and is almost river wide.

Greenhouse Effect (Class III, Mile 2.1)
Just as a green house comes into view straight ahead on a tall cliff you will come to a couple of holes. At very high levels the first hole on the right can become HUGE! At low levels this rapid is not really a big deal.

Gun Club (Class II+, Mile 2.8)

This rapid is right by the gun club.  Be sure to make your presence known without getting out!  Otherwise it may be possible to get shot if people didn't know you were down in the creek.  These good ol' boys don't like boaters, but there's nothing they can do.

 

This is a big ledge with a few concrete slabs thrown in the mix.  If the water is over 1.1 ft, this thing can get big with violent holes.  The last hole is river wide and one of the best places to surf on the river.

Forgive Our Trespasses (Class II, Mile 2.9)

Immediately after gun club, there are some nice surf waves on the right bend.  Be sure not to get shot, because I think this is where the bullets literally go over your head and into the opposite bank!  If people are shooting, I wouldn't hang around for too long!

Railroad Pillars (Class II, Mile 3.3)
There are some pillars in the middle of the river. Logs and debris tend to get hung up here. Scout from the right shore or from the river before going around the pillars.

Marijuanica Falls (Class II+, Mile 3.6)

About .25 miles after going under the first railroad bridge, you will come to a two tubes that the river flows into. They were put there by the railroad company. You must take the left tunnel to avoid being turned into fish bait! In low water, this falls is easy because there is not much of a hole at the end of the tunnels but still sounds like Niagara Falls while in the tunnel! In high water (above 1.5 feet), you should probably portage as a river wide hole forms which can easily suck boats back into it and surf you over to the right side and into the sharp metal and you could die! After comming out of the tunnels, look on the right side of the river and you can see where this rapid gets it's name. There is graffiti of a flag of a marijuana leaf on the tunnel structure and it says Marijuanica.

Hemlock Hole (Class III, Mile 3.9)

Just after the first right bend after the tubes you will come to a huge hole on the right side of the river. It can be fun to punch but very violent to surf at high water. All of this can easily be avoided on the left side.

Broadway Hole (Class II, Mile 4.2)

This ledge is extremely wide.  It is shallow even around 1.3 feet when the river begins to get pushy.  The hole at the bottom can comfortably surf 4 people.  Watch out for "Nosedive" just above the ledge.  It is a small drop into a huge hole on the right side.  It tends to grab the front of your boat and may be capable of flipping you end over end if you lean into it.  Neato!

Route 5 Drop (Class I, Mile 4.3)

This is just a place where the river get a little steeper.  A couple of small drop offs occur here at lower water.  At higher water they wash out.

Mansion Surf Waves (Class II+, Mile 4.7)

This is a dynamic rapid under constant changes.  Concrete debris creates many of the holes and has a tendancy to change after big floods.  It has gotten a lot bigger over the past few years.

 

From Route 5 the river has many surf waves over a long stretch of 200 yards or so.  There are also a lot of eddies here.  It is fun to slowly pick your way down by choosing a few waves.  This may very well be the best place to surf on the entire river.

Fairview Manor Access (Class I, Mile 4.8)

You can park at Fairview Manor and walk just down the street to the electric sub station.  Here a trail leads down to the water.  This is a very important put in because "The Slides" section of Walnut can be fun even when the rest of the river is too low.

Michael Falls (50/50 Hole) (Class IV, Mile 5.0)

This is a small horseshoe shaped falls that drops about 4 feet and creates a HUGE hole in the center of the river! A sneak is possible on the left or right and is pretty easy (only a Class II move.) Be aware that the falls looks very easy from above. Most people don't realize just how bad the hole is until the lip of the falls. You will want to have have tons of speed and be ready with a battle roll if you decide to punch the hole. If you swim here, the hole will usually spit you out quickly, but you will have to swim through "The Slides" which include "Devil's Advocate." If you attempt the hero route your chances of flipping are 50%, hence the name! Want to gamble?

Devil's Advocate (Class III+, Mile 5.0)

Shortly after comming through 50/50 Hole you will come to this next big hole. No matter what the water level is this hole always big. In fact at low levels it is almost as big as 50/50. No doubt this is a fun hole to punch but I wouldn't recommend sufing this one unless you enjoy deep holes that you can't surf your way out of! There are plenty of other holes to surf just downstream over the next 75 yards.

Fisherman's Ledge #1 (Class II, Mile 5.2)
There used to be a ledge in this part of the river but is now a couple of logs placed in the river in a V-shape for fisherman. It poses no real danger because all of the water flows over them. At low levels it can be a little tricky but washes out at higher levels.

Fisherman's Ledge #2 (Class II, Mile 5.3)
Fisherman's Ledge #2 also known as The Stop Sign Ledge is a nice 3 foot ledge. It is quite wide and tends to be a little shallow. There is a slot down the center which drops straight off and a sloping drop sneek down the right side which are the deepest routes. This is also a nice spot to surf, especially when the water is up.

Take-Out

Take out on the right side of the river. There are a couple of trails that lead up to the big parking lot.