Tohickon Creek

From Iplayoutside.com

http://www.iplayoutside.com/Events/2004/11/6538e.html

Tohickon Creek Description

Photos & Info. by Northeastern Whitewater USA.

The section from Lake Nockamixon to Ralph Stover State Park is a easy class II through farm country.

The whitewater section starts at Stover and runs down to the Delaware at Point Pleasant, PA. It is about 3 miles of medium to hard class III. A lot of surfing waves, holes and ledges makes it very popular and very crowded during release weekends. The scenic [Put-In]

After a few hundred yards of warmup, the river starts off with a bang at [Fish or Swim] A large sticky surfing hole on river right, with a surfing wave in the center right next to it. There is a small eddy on the right, and a large one on the left. Just below on the left is a small friendly side surfing hole.

Down past the rock climbers at High Rocks is [Corner Hole] A large sticky surfing hole on river right, with corner Hole (a.k.a. Diagonal Ledge). A surfing hole on the left, with an eddy below and above. The left side of the hole is a little sticky and pour-over-ish, but its easy to get out the right side (and then some power stroking to get back into the eddy).

After some small ledges is [The Chute] (a.k.a. Chainsaw or Flume). There are boofing rocks with a micro eddys behind them on the right or left, with a big eddy below the chute on the left. Nice surfing waves in the center. 100 yards below is a small ledge with an eddy to its right, with a squirtable eddy line.

Some more small ledges and waves leads to the first ledge, [No Name Ledge]. This is a small single drop which can be run down the center, or thru a slot on the right. The right side slot can give rocky popups to short boats. A side surfing hole is about 100 yards below.

The fun starts with the next rapid, [First Ledge]. This can be run center-right over some pillows down thru a surfable wave/hole. Alternatively you can eddy out left after the first little drop, and then ferry right (with a couple of stops to surf waves) and down to the wave/hole. Then pick a number and get in line to surf the hole. Great backenders for boats with low volume back decks.

A quick pool to catch your breath, and you come up to [Second Ledge]. This is a two part drop (this ledge and the one above is is also called Triple Drop). The first river wide ledge can be run to the center right, and then down to the right of the washed over rock at the bottom. Or you can run a chute on the center left of the first drop, eddy out in the pool, and either then ferry over far right or thread the needle to the left and then behind the washover rock (a raft snagging rock is ready for you if you don't cut behind the washover rock). Another pool brings you to the start of the area used for slalom races - the [Race Course]. You can enter on the left, and stay middle left down past rocks and ledges to the end of a small island. Or, you can catch a slot to the right of a washed over rock in the center, and then down to a surfable hole. Head left after the hole to the end of the island, and then down thru some nice waves in a fairly narrow section. Eddy out at the bottom. The last big drop is Hat's Rock] (a.k.a. Ricki's Rapid). Scout it from the left shore to be sure to catch all the good spots on the way down. You can enter it on the right past some irritating small rocks, then down through waves and a couple holes on the right side. Keep the big rock to your left at the bottom.

For the more adventurous, you can enter it at a small chute at the center left. Spin your boat and drop into the hole facing the left side. Back out of the hole and ferry over right to drop into two holes in the center of the drop. If you come out of the left side of the first hole, you are in for an interesting ride through some slots down the left side of the river (especially if you are in a low volume boat). Below this drop is a rather sticky hole along the right shore, and then the last gasp of the Tohickon, [Pyramid Rock]. Aim just a shade to the left of this rock which is just off the right shore, brace off some steep pillows, and shoot past the rock. Or, eddy out on the right shore just above the rock, and ferry over into the pillows above the rock. For the less adventurous, it can be completely snuck by staying left. The site of my first (and unfortunately not the last) swim on the Tohickon back in the dark ages of prehistory.

Coast on into Point Pleasant, enjoying the scenery, and take out at the small park (if you have a shuttle bunny), or at Bucks County River Country (and pay some $ which goes to the local fire department), or continue on to the Delaware and head downstream to Bulls Island State Park take-out on the Jersey side. Its about a mile and a half down the Delaware just below the Lumberton wing dam. Don't block the roads when loading or unloading to keep the locals happy.

The local Boy Scouts sell some great hot food at the Ralph Stover put-in on fall release weekends.