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Susquehanna River - Holtwood
Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, US |
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Holtwood
| Usual Difficulty | III+ (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 5 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 5 fpm |
Mark Cecchini & Rob Terry at Playspot 1
Mark Cecchini & Rob Terry at Playspot 1
Photo of Kristen Podolak
Gauge Information
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, PA | ||||
| usgs-01570500 | 6.00 - 12.00 ft | III+ | 00h44m | 5.88 ft (too low) |
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 run it. When there is a lot of water coming through the the fish ladder, the dangers are not as evident. I tell people to look at it first without water before you decide to run it. I typically put in about 1/2 way down the fish ladder, you still get a little creeking before you hit the pumping Susquehanna.
Rapid Descriptions
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 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
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
the river next to the large warning sign (with the Starrk-Moon sticker) under the powerline. Take
the Trail to the left. If you plan on staying above the bridge, simply attain or walk back up the
the put-in. If you head downstream, you'll want to set a shuttle and take out at the Lock 15 area,
reached off of River Rd. (McCall's Ferry Rd downstream of Rt 372.) Park outside of the gate if
you're going to take off after sunset.
Unfortunately, several people have had their cars broken into here (some more than once). It's best
to leave your valuables at home. Most of the time the theifs steal wallets, cell phones, CD's, and
the like, and don't usually go after the smelly boating gear you leave in your car,but to be on the
safe side, if you have an extra boat on your car, make sure it's locked up securely and it's best
not to leave boats unattended when running or walking shuttle. Consider yourself warned.
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
at:
http://www.chasingrain.com/surfguidefs.html
Forum: BoaterTalk
Date: Aug 26 2003, 23:01 GMT
From: loon-moon-soon
Homeboy Colby Mackley comes in from the Olympic Pennisula borrows a boat and heads out and runs the
big dam left of center. Colby was out scouting the dam yesterday and decided it could be done.
Colby said that he dropped off the biggest horizone line ever out on the big river. Some boards
were missing and the water was just below the remaining boards as he got his ass launched into the
air coming off the lip. Cool stuff on the Susquehanna. Not for others. Don't try this at home.
Brad@Starrkmoon
Do more than just check gauges; join over 5,000 AW members today.
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Associated News
Holtwood Public Meetings Planned for April (PA)
April 8, 2008
New Project Threatens Holtwood Playspots (PA)
March 28, 2006
Agreement in Principle Reached on the Susquehanna (PA)
April 16, 2008
Dam Owner Pulls Plug On Holtwood Expansion (PA)
December 9, 2008
Holtwood Project Back on the Table (PA)
April 13, 2009
Final Holtwood Plan Ready For Federal Approval (PA)
January 3, 2012
Wave Construction at Holtwood (PA) Begins
August 9, 2012
Holtwood Whitewater Park to Open in 2015 (PA)
December 15, 2014
Associated Projects
- Holtwood Dam - Susqehanna (PA)
Dam Owner is proposing to reduce flows and alter channel containing whitewater features as part of a FERC license amendment.
Holtwood, Susquehanna River Pennsylvania, US (mobile)
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