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.