Buffalo Creek
(Armstrong County)
A. Worthington
to West Winfield 8.5 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 12/22 Small
(90/150) A-B/A-B 1.7-2.7
estimate Freeport
Topographic Maps: Worthington
County Maps: Armstrong, Butler
Description: This is a pretty stream not far from Pittsburgh, making it somewhat of an oddity. This upper section can be run only in higher-than-average spring runoff. It requires more skill than the lower section. It wanders through rural farms, past riverside camps and along magnificent cliffs covered in hemlock. [Checked 2004]
Difficulties: In 1989 a low dam was built just above the first bridge, which is about 2 miles below Worthington and just upstream of Shadyside Village. This dam is just downstream of the mural-decorated sportsman's club. Carry around the dam. Below here there are three Class II drops. The first is 0.2 miles below the church camp. The second is just above a concrete bridge about 3 miles further downstream. The third is 0.5 miles further downstream, where the river abruptly squeezes into a narrow channel on river right. There are often trees down in the river along the edges of the river.
Shuttle: To reach the put-in, take the Worthington exit off of US 422. Head north for two blocks to Main Street. Turn left/west onto Main Street and go to 0.8 miles to a "T" intersection just after crossing the creek. Turn left/south and go a short distance to the put‑in just under the US 422 highway. To reach the take‑out, continue on State Route 4035 (Wilson Road) for about 1.7 files to a "T" intersection near Shadyside Village. Turn right/west continuing on State Route 4035, climbing out of the valley on river right. Go 3.0 miles to the intersection with West Winfield Road. Turn right/west onto West Winfield road and go 1.5 miles to the bridge. The take‑out is on river right just upstream of the bridge. An alternate put‑in that avoids a 1.7 miles of flat water and the Sportsman's Club Dam is at Shadyside Village. To reach this put‑in, follow the directions to the original put‑in and continue on State Route 4035 (Wilson Road) under the US 422 bridge for about 1.7 miles, past the mural-decorated sportsman's club and turn left/east across the Creek. Put in across the ballfield just downstream of this bridge. Alternately, you can stretch the trip by about 3 miles by taking out at Boggsville Bridge on US Route 228. To reach the Boggsville take-out, follow the instructions above to the West Winfield Road intersection. Rather then turning right, continue straight across the intersection onto Johnston Road and go 1.1 miles to a "T" intersection at the river. Turn left/south and go 0.8 miles to the bridge at Boggsville. The take‑out is on river left downstream of the bridge. These alternate access points are also available from the Slate Lick exit on US 28. See next section.
Gauges: Freeport. This gauge should read between 1.7 and 2.7 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 105 to 505 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from early January through mid May, and does not have a season when it is consistently too high. The Freeport gauge is above 1.7 feet 48% of the time and above 2.7 feet 9% of the time.
B. West
Winfield to Freeport 11.0 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 10/10 Small(137/194) B/B 1.8-2.9
Freeport Freeport
Topographic Maps: Worthington, Freeport
County Maps: Butler, Armstrong
Description: This section is neither as pretty nor as difficult as the upper section. For most of this section the land is posted on both sides of the creek. The landowners are particularly adamant about not letting you leave your boat. [Checked 2000]
Difficulties: After you pass a one-lane bridge about 0.75 miles below Boggsville, there are some old bridge piers on which driftwood may pile up, partially blocking passage for canoes.
Shuttle: To reach the put-in, take the Slate Lick exit from US 28. Turn north towards the town of Slate Lick. Go about 0.8 miles and take the left turn when the roads bends to the right. In a short block turn right/north onto West Winfield Road. Immediately take the left fork and follow it to the river. To get to the take-out from West Winfield, return to State Route 28 at Slate Lick. Go south and exit at State Route 356. At the bottom of the hill, follow signs to Freeport. Turn right/south/towards the Allegheny on either 2nd or 4th street. Turn right/west on High street. Go to the end of High street where there is a parking lot and a ramp to the creek. You can shorten the trip by putting in at Boggsville, on river left below the bridge.
Gauges: Freeport. This gauge should read between 1.8 and 2.9 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 129 to 624 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from early January through mid May, and does not have a season when it is too high. The Freeport gauge is above 1.8 feet 42% of the time and above 2.9 feet 7% of the time.