Grand

Harpersfield Dam (Route 534) to Hidden Valley (Route 528)

Reach banner
DifficultyI-II
Length8.4 mi
Avg Gradientn/a
GaugeGrand River Near Painesville Oh
Flow Rate as of 41 minutes
295 cfsrunnable
Reach Info Last UpdatedSeptember 6, 2017

River Description

The Harpersfield play spot is a ledge-drop type hole, with a wave to the right side and a hole to the left. There is an eddy in the middle. At higher water than 4 feet, the rest of the river develops some standing waves and crisp eddy lines, but not much in the way of rapids.

Directions: The closest major intersection is I-90 and SR 534. To get to the put-in/ playspot go South on 534 about 100 yds to the first road. After a stop sign, continue down a big, steep hill to the river. Also watch for signs for the covered bridge. The put-in is right below the bridge and the playspot is RIGHT there.


River Features

Put In

Distance: 0 mi

Take Out

Distance: 8 mi
Take Out

JW
Jimmy Wright

Apr 10, 2017


Boatable flows are about 100CFS+ - went at 90CFS, and it's just too low not to get stuck in spots. Safe levels for beginner and novice paddlers is between 100CFS-1500CFS. Above 1500CFS a few spots along the river require some intermediate paddling skills. In this particular run, there is a large wave train that starts on a river right turn (approx 1.5miles from put-in) and continues through an 'S' style rapid with large waves. At high water (1500+CFS) these two unnamed rapids merge and become one large 300-400yard wave train.

Further down the river there are rapids that have large waves at high water (.5miles upstream of Blair Rd to Blair Rd launch), after the Vrooman boat launch once you go around the left turn, approx .5 mile after Rt 84 in Painesville, and near Recreation Park).