Connoquenessing Creek

The Connoquenessing Creek (Connie) from the railroad (RR) bridge on South River Road to the Rock Point Boat club is about 6 miles long. The Connie has three sections with easy access and is for the most part a roadside river, except for the last 1+ mile. The Connie has some nice surf waves and some playable holes, but I would not consider it a play river. It is great for river running, basic kayak instruction and some play. The Connie has been known as a dirty river due to the sewage treatment plants on it and high nitrate levels from steel plants. However, I have paddled and played in the Connie with my kids since the late 90s and have never had a problem. I’ve also noticed more mayflies every spring on the Connie which would indicate an improving water quality.

The upper section of the creek, from the RR bridge on South River Road to the Hwy 488 bridge, is only about 1 ¼ miles long but has 7 rapids in it. Just below the put-in, there is great wave for surfing which exists at every water level, but above 5’ you will have to catch it on the fly. At levels lower than 5’, you have great eddy service. This section is best run at levels between 2 ½’ to 5’. Below 2 ½’ it gets boney and above 5’ it tends to be just a wash. This section would be an easy class 3 at low water, at high water a couple of the rapids move up to class 3+.

The middle section of the creek, from Hwy 488 bridge (Zona Bus parking lot) to the old sewage treatment plant just down stream of the 5th Street bridge on Wampum Ave in Ellwood city, is 3+ miles. The Slippery Rock creek joins the Connie just below the put-in which about doubles the flow. The first 1.5 miles is pretty flat, an easy class 2 up to about 4’. At the first rapids, Billy Goat, the river turns to the left and there are some trailers on the right shore. This rapid forms into a great wave train at 3’ and above. The most fun line is to the left, but you can avoid the waves by going down the right side. There is a hole about

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