Loyalhanna Creek
2) Ligonier, PA to Above Kingston Dam
| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 7.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Loyalhanna Creek at Kingston, Pa |
| Flow Rate as of 54 minutes | 721 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 1, 2021 |
River Description
Lat / Longitude data are very approximate.
3.55 miles from Put-in to Darlington Inn. 3.72 miles from Darlington Inn to above Kingstown Dam
Zachary Frederick shared:
Start near the Darlington Inn, below Idlewild Park. Portage the causeway near Sleepy Hollow Tavern. Takeout before Kingston Dam. If you don't waste any time, this run should take about 1.5 hours.
There are 2 ledges/wateralls not long after you put-in (Buttermilk Falls?). Various other small rapids throughout. Not too much flatwater.
River Features
Put In
Parking area next to Creek behind Giant Eagle on US 30.
Take Out
Take-out above Kingstown Dam, Kingstown, PA
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportRan this while at high water (causeway at sleepy hollow was closed). Would not recommend running it at much lower levels than that. There is a boat launch in Ligonier at the loyalhanna walking trail across the highway from Giant Eagle. Suggest to put in there as further up towards rector it blown down tree after tree as well as going through Rolling Rock Country Club and they were grumpy we floated down through their mansions. Also if you put in there you get to float through Idlewild park which is a highlight of the trip. After Idlewild through the hollow is where you get some decent rapids and 1 drop . The rapids are few and far between( Alot of flat water) so makes it a good beginners run. I recommend making the run but definitely do not start to far up!
This section of river is a good place for novice whitewater training. Just upstream of the Darlington put-in bridge (behind Idlewild Amusement Park), there is moving 'flat water' with relatively few obstructions,,, a good place to learn the basics of boat control. Downstream of this put-in bridge there are many places to practice on “light to moderate” eddy lines. The photo above is from a training run conducted by Three Rivers Paddling Club (based in Pittsburgh Pa).
Buttermilk Falls is the first and 'largest' rapid on this section of river at this 3.3ft level. There is a boulder garden below Buttermilk that could present more challenge at extremely high flows.
Second ledge comes after the eddy catching practice in the 'boulder garden'. Jamie is running the tongue on river left.