Susquehanna River
3.) Holtwood
| Difficulty | III+ |
| Length | 1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 5 fpm |
| Gauge | Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 5.20 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 6, 2026 |
Projects
Some of the best bigwater wave surfing in the eastern U.S. can be found below Holtwood Dam on Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River. When water spills over the dam each spring, roughly a dozen different waves are formed in this huge channel, attracting paddlers from across the region. The rapids at [...]Read More
River Description
Holtwood has a number of different boating options:
The new Whitewater Park! The Whitewater Park is located at the base of the old fish ladder along the river right shore, just upstream of Route 373. The park is activated during scheduled releases in early spring and fall, and the schedule can be found here. American Whitewater worked closely with local paddlers to negotiate construction of the whitewater park as mitigation for excavations and flow impacts to natural whitewater features downstream of the dam. The park features a big extremely fast breaking wave at the top, a strong and dynamic hole in the middle, and a finicky but at times very nice small wave at the outflow of the park.
When Holtwood Dam is spilling at high flows, paddlers can make a circuit of all of the spots listed below, except for Almond Joy. I have listed the circuit in logical order. Please note that this circuit will require long upstream attainments and carry's across islands .
Description of the river right channel
Big Water fun, Class IV
Playspots
Storm Hole
The Play Spot
Other Squirt lines
Put In
Take Out
the playspot list, low water to high water
Storm Hole 5.5 thru 6.7
Playspot 6.0 to 7.5
Playspot II 7.5 to 10+
Powerline 7.5 and up
Rumble Pit 7.0 to 8.0
Pleaseant Surprise 7.5 to 9.5
Rock-N-Roll Hole (aka Almond Joy) 8.0 to 10.0
Accelerator 10.0 to 12.5
Mama Bear 11+
Beartrap 13.5+
You can do some creeking in the fish ladder on river left at the breast of the dam. I must warn you that the river left wall of the fish ladder has holes that are blown out that create sieves. There is a lot of rebar in the Fish Laddeer. I know a few locals that have
...River Features
Whitewater Park Feature 1
The top feature in the Whitewater Park is fast and furious.
Whitewater Park Feature 2
The second feature is the Whitewater Park is a shallow hole with concrete barriers on either side.
Whitewater Park Final Feature
The final feature is a mellow smooth wave that is fun and much easier than the upper features.
Whitewater Park Access Area
Parking for the Whitewater Park, and other adventures.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reporthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtaSRtnstYs
this was my first trip to Holtwood it's amazing to watch the wall drop and the water flow. This place is great and the power plant employs Swift water rescue personnel to be there when the releases are occurring so even if you show up alone you have a safety person if needed. Overall this is one of my favorite local park and plays with some nice big waves its the same drive time for me to the Great Falls chutes but this is consistent when its spilling so you know what you're going to get. I suggest that if you live within an hour or two from Holtwood and you've never been there check it out next season. Thanks AW and Brookfield for making this spot accessible to us.
Top wave - release
1100 release
1100 cfs release
The Holtwood whitewater park consists of 3 spots on river right (west), made from the flow of a dam flood gate, some cement, and a large boulder wall to constrict the flow. head north from 372 on River Road near the Lock 12 historical park. Follow the road up to near the dam and park. There is a large path to get to the river with plenty of warning signs, you can see the river from this parking area. It releases in Spring and Fall, after fish and rare plant season, but before and after ice season... (Oct-Nov, March-April)
Do not paddle above the three spots - (maybe what the above description is referring to the fish ladder?)
The upper spot - is a large wave, the river falls about 10 feet into a wide wave with a large downstream wave train. Eddie service on both sides provide easy access. It is very fast, tall and bouncy. Not overly retentive, ie easy to get out river left.
The middle spot - is more of a hole, a smaller drop maybe 5 feet. This one is more similar to a feature you would find on a river. Easy to catch the current and entry/exit on either side, easier river left.
The lower spot - is a narrow wave, kinda washed out with higher releases. Not retentive unless you have a fast boat.
https://www.facebook.com/Holtwood-whitewater-park-635767109778733/
release listing:
https://renewableops.brookfield.com/en/Presence/North-America/Recreation-and-Safety/Holtwood/Whitewater-Schedule
Any chance someone could do an update here? Supposedly, this has changed a lot with a $4M whitewater park. A good article on it (with some good photos of action there) is: http://m.lancasteronline.com/sports/outdoors/million-whitewater-playboating-park-below-holtwood-dam-tested-about-to/article\_09276d42-5099-11e4-84f2-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm
The full 'old' guide to it is available at: http://chasingrain.com/surfguide/Holtwoodguide.pdf
An early session after working for years to secure the whitewater park at Holtwood.
Holtwood dam spilling a bit of water, but not quite enough to make the surfing good. The powerhouse is in the background.
One of the river left channels at Holtwood
These channels are alot like the Potomac below Great Falls: fast water, great rock structure, and an occassional wave hiding here and there.
In this photo you can see the dam, powerhouse, and piney islands.
Re: Give us the holtwood beta... by Bradley Jan 01 2004, 20:44 GMT New
Date: Jan 01 2004, 23:12 GMT
From: rhinoboard
Holtwood is on the Susquahanna River in Southern PA. The good playspots are about 1/4 mile downstream from the huge dam. Check it out at chasingrain.com