Conemaugh

We paddled a 17' Grumman aluminum from Bolivar to Blairsville (roughly 7.6 miles). Flows were dropping after a rain from the day before. Gauge read 2.56' and 570 CFS (and falling) at Seward (USGS 03041500). The first 5 miles downstream from Bolivar were a blast to paddle in an open-top canoe. In this section, you are paddling through Packsaddle Gap and the various class I and II rapids are engaging and exciting. Once you exit the gap, the river widens and shallows. Most of the riffles after the gap were passable without much dragging, but you'll have to pick your lines right. We also brought the fly rod and landed a couple of smallmouth. We used small Clouser minnows and stripped them along the banks and rock ledges. Very fun section of water to paddle in a canoe.

6-30-2018. Had a Great float from New Florence to West Penn trail at the end of Westinghouse Road(18miles). Flow was at 1200 cfs. We spotted a Bald Eagle a mile into the trip and floated past a Great Blue Heron rookery with over 40 birds after the 22 HWY bridge in Blairsville. All the class I/II rapids were fun and easy to navigate and were broken up with long flat water and numerous bridges. But I have to AGREE with the other boaters about the rapid before Boliver/Robinson. This hole is a Beast and should be scouted before you attempt it. We didn't have spray skirts and took on enough water to sink 2 of 3 kayaks! But everything was retrieved, just in time to meet a group of young locals who were jumping from a 15 foot cliff near the old Robinson/Bolivar bridge. This route is growing in popularity as we past 7 other kayakers and 1 canoe. A trip from Johnstown would have been ideal but there is no easy way to portage around the low head dam at Seward Power Plant.

Hit this run again 8/18 after some serious rains in the head waters. This river turns into a completely different animal at these flows(850cfs). Awesome experience new flo to bolivar. Last rapid turned into a beast ( giant hole left side to avoid)

Best defined as a lazy river. Majority of the time the rapids are classified as class 1 however can reach class 2 when the area has had alot of rain. You can split this run up differently but alot of the river is not accessible by trail or road. Put in Seward, take out New Florence is a boring section and a low head dam that is apparantly illegal to run but i dont really see why but listened anyway and went through the jungle of portage. Next section from New Florence to bolivar is my favorite section so far. 1 rapid towards the end cork screwed me down through the river so it does have some power even when you start to underestimate it. But overall flat easy river. *Btw, there is still drainage into this river cause you can tell it is too warm, but ph test kit came in healthy so i continue to run it.