Muddy Creek (Susquehanna trib)

Put in at the Paper Mill bridge. Be aware that you can't leave a car at the Paper Mill Bridge put-in. (It will be towed.  Stark-Moon outfitters runs a shuttle service so that all the cars can be at the take-out.)

At about a mile into the run is 'Snap Falls' (III) - creek wide ledge (Right side, 4 foot drop; Left side, two step 4 foot drop).   At lower levels run 'Snap Falls' on river right.  The simplest line is approximately 10 feet left of large sloping rock.  The current pushes to the right here, so a little left angle is advised.  The corner can also be run here, but this is a harder line, because it has to be run with 45 degree left angle.   Be prepared to brace on left side, and don't be tempted to put a hand brace on the rock face to the right.  At moderate levels runs can be made river right (must consider at moderate and higher levels a nasty hole forms against rock face), river left is a straight forward staircase or center if middle rock is covered.  At higher levels (flood stage), run river left.  Play moves at lower and moderate levels in hole at bottom of river right drop of 'Snap Falls'. Both stern squirts and front enders and variations into rock splats can be performed.  A campsite exist on river right, that overlooks 'Snap Falls'.  The second smaller drop of 'Snap Falls' is best run by hugging the river right rock bank

'Snap Falls' is a great class III 4 foot drop which includes a flipping wave to mess up the survivors.  Scouting and picture taking can easily be done from the right.

15 foot drop with lots of inconveniently located rocks that break the drop into sections. Run by expert paddlers, it's considered a Class IV if you hit the lines, but has Class V consequences.

Here, the river necks sharply. Get over to the right, because you have reached 'Muddy Creek Falls', a nasty 15 ft or so drop which requires a 100 yard or so portage over rocks.  A large roar of white water will warn you. Most paddlers should portage this Class V rapid, because there are undercuts and other pinning opportunities if you make a mistake!  Eddy at least 100 yards upstream of the gorge on river right, there is a trail that will allow you to portage below the gorge. The trail is not the greatest and the rocks are slippery.  Any boater attempting 'Muddy Creek Falls' should first land or boat scout. The Falls almost always have something in it (i.e. wood).

Below the falls, there is a gorge which offers two (2) places to launch from.  The highest point to launch would be from the highest point of the large middle rock of the gorge.  This is where you would typically would take a look into the gorge.  It drops about 20 feet at about a 70 degree angle.  It will take some plastic off your boat.   The second launch point is probably 10 feet up and is 100 feet downstream of the first launch point on river right.  This one is easier and allows you to boof the surface of the water.

The next item of note in this beautiful refreshing gorge is a waterfall cascading down a channel cut into a rock face. The water fall is probably 25 feet high and if you paddle under it you'll receive a cool shower.

The remaining paddle is flat water on the Muddy (0.4 miles) out to the Susquehanna River, where you paddle downstream on the Susquehanna (a little more than one additional mile) to the Cold Cabin Park access (for a total flatwater paddle of 1.58 miles).   A landmark for determining where the take out parking lot is the last two (2) homes on the river right bank. If unsure just paddle close to the shore, it only takes longer paddling the perimeter of the shoreline.

Take-out - Cold Creek Park