Schuylkill
Flat Rock Dam
| Difficulty | I-IV |
| Length | 3.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Schuylkill River at Philadelphia, Pa |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 1170 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | February 11, 2024 |
River Description
5/22/05:
We paddled our kayaks over a 20 ft waterfall/dam illegally on the Schuykill, just upstream of Philly. You can see the dam from Rt 76. Super fun. That is a record for me and waterfalls. Gotta lean in towards the dam and brace on which ever side you're leaning your boat. Kinda scary from the top, but going over the edge felt like going down a body slide at a waterpark. Real smooth. Got it all on video.
As always, be very careful around dams. [Edited] It has been illegal to run Flat Rock Dam since 1997 and contrary to reports, the Philadelphia Canoe Club does not have any permits to run Flat Rock Dam.[/Edit]
There are several miles of of Class I-II whitewater from here to the Belmont Avenue Bridge. Anne's Rock Rapid, which offers good high-water pop-ups, is just upstream. Then there's another mile of flatwater to the Canoe Club, which is at the junction of Wissahickon Creek and the Schuylkill. The club is just off Ridge Avenue, before the entrance to the Schuylkill expressway.
River Features
Put In - Lower Marion Township Park
Put In - Lower Marion Township Park
Flat Rock Dam
Flat Rock Dam - We wanted to correct an inaccuracy in the previous posting. The Philadelphia Canoe Club does not have a permit to run the Dam. It has been illegal to run the dam since 1997. Although the dam was designed to allow safe descents by experience paddlers at some levels, other levels can be very dangerous if not fatal. The Philadelphia Canoe Club advises to obey the law and portage the dam.
Short Take-Out - Belmont Ave. Bridge
Short Take-Out - Belmont Ave. Bridge
Take Out - Philadelphia Canoe Club
The Philadelphia Canoe Club, which is at the junction of Wissahickon Creek and the Schuylkill. The club is just off Ridge Avenue, before the entrance to the Schuylkill expressway.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reporthere is the big runnable dam in gladwyne
We wanted to correct an inaccuracy in the previous posting. The Philadelphia Canoe Club does not have a permit to run the Dam. It has been illegal to run the dam since 1997. Although the dam was design to allow safe decents by experience paddlers at some levels, other levels can be very dangerous if not fatal. The Philadelphia Canoe Club advises to obey the law and portage the dam.
A PCC training class for local college students, early spring 2007