A. Lake Oneida to Butler 5.7 miles
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Pol Level
B 6/7 Tiny B/A
Topographic Maps: Mount
Chestnut, Butler
County Maps: Butler
Description: The first 1.5 miles from Hoon Road has frequent strainers. From Glenwood Way Bridge the creek is less constricted and the strainers are less numerous. As you approach Butler the creek passes under US Route 422 and State Route 68 in close sequence, followed quickly by several railroad bridges. The two-mile section from Kittanning Street to the Super 8 motel travels through the industrial heart of Butler, and is not worth the trouble involved. [Reported 1998]
Difficulties: Frequent strainers if you start above the Glenwood Way Bridge in Oneida. Just downstream of the first railroad bridge in Butler, there is a three‑foot high dam. Portage on the right. The recommended take‑out is the Kittanning Street Bridge, which is the first road bridge after the dam. About 0.4 miles beyond Kittanning Street there is a dangerous five‑foot vertical walled-in dam. This presents an equally dangerous quarter mile portage on a busy railroad track by Barnsteel Abrasives Company. A third dam, this one a six-footer, appears 1.5 miles further on, abreast of the A/K Steel plant, and across the creek from the Super 8 Motel.
Shuttle: Put in either at Hoon Road or Glenwood Way Road. To reach the take‑out, go south on State Route 38 to the intersection with State Route 68 at the US Route 422 Interchange. Turn right/west onto State Route 68 and follow into Butler about 1.0 miles to the stop light at Monroe Street at the bottom of a steep hill. Make a 135-degree turn onto Kittanning Street at this light. Follow Kittanning Street about 0.2 miles to the bridge just beyond the railroad tracks.
Gauge: None. Check for water at Hoon road or Kittanning Street.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is tiny, it should normally be runnable only after a heavy rain or during spring snowmelt.
B. Butler to 11.3
miles
State Route 68 near Buhls Station
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Pol Level
B 5/7 Small D-B/B
Zelienople
Topographic Maps: Butler,
Evans City
County Maps: Butler
Description: The first two miles provide a view of heavy
industry up on the banks away from the creek. Then Sawmill Run enters on a
five-foot tier concrete falls. Below here the creek flows through a wooded
valley past small villages and farms. Below the dam at Renfrew the remaining
creek is an easy float.
Difficulties: Two dams. The first is at the put‑in and can be avoided by putting in below the dam. The second dam is just below the mouth of Thorn Creek, near Renfrew. About 2.5 miles below Renfrew, with in the grounds of Camp Redwing, the creek bends right nearly 180 degrees. At this point the camp has constructed a small rock-pile dam to pool a little water. With enough water you can probably scoot over the dam, otherwise you can portage along a small rocky beach on the left. Looks like the best portage is on the left.
Shuttle: The put-in is fifty yards downstream from the Super 8 Motel on State Route 8 near Butler. In 1998 the management was willing to let you launch and park on their property as long as you told them you were there. To reach the takeout go south on State Route 8 for 1.7 miles to the light at the top of the long hill, passing A/K Steel. This is McCalmont Road (State Route 3004). Turn right/west and follow State Route 3004 to a T intersection with Meridian Road (State Route 3007). Turn right/north and follow to State Route 68. Turn left/west on State Route 68 and follow 6.1 miles to a bridge crossing the creek. Continue on State Route 68 about 0.7 miles past this bridge, turn left/east on Ash Stop Road. Follow Ash Stop Road to the first bridge by a ballfield. This is the take‑out.
Gauge: Zelienople. No level information on this section. Check it at the first dam, which is the shallowest part.
Normal Wet Period: No
available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should
normally be runnable approximately January through April.
C. State Route 68 near Buhls Station 3.5 miles
to State Route 528
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Pol Level
I/II 4/7 145/Medium B/B
Harmony
Junction Zelienople
Topographic Maps: Evans
City, Zelienople
County Maps: Butler
Description: Most of this run consists of pools and riffles, passing through a wooded valley. There are occasional small areas of camps/summer homes, especially in the area of the State Route 68 bridge, but for the most part the valley is not noticeably developed.
Since early 2002 the excessively high nitrate levels in the creek have been drastically reduced. Consequently, the amount of thick blue-green algae that has plagued this portion of the creek for years is also reduced. [Reported 2003]
Difficulties: About 0.3 miles below the put‑in is a rapid on a left hand bend by the State Route 68 Bridge. This is a man‑made drop created by cutting off a large creek bend for the railroad. It can be seen from the State Route 68 Bridge. See also the next section description.
Shuttle: Put-in at the Ash Stop Road bridge near Buhls Station. To reach the take out, go west on State Route 68 to State Route 528 in Evans City. Turn right/north onto State Route 528. Go 3.0 miles to the bridge. This is the take‑out.
Gauge: Zelienople. No level information on this section. Check it from the State Route 68 Bridge near the put‑in.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is medium-sized, it should normally be runnable approximately December through May.
D. State Route 528 to 5.5 miles
Mercer Road (Harmony)
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Pol Level
Unrunnable
Topographic Maps: Evans
City
County Maps: Butler
Description: At Harmony Junction a walled, channelized, inaccessible, unrunnable dam interrupts the river. If you enter this structure you will not be able to get out before the dam. [Reported 2003]
Difficulties: Unrunnable dam with no way to take out
Shuttle: N/A
Gauge: N/A
Normal Wet Period: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Gauge: N/A
E. Mercer Road (Harmony) 11.0 miles
to Country Club, State Route 65
E. Harmony to Country Club, State Route 65
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 4/4 Medium (356/466) C/B 1.8-3.5
Zelienople Zelienople
Topographic Maps: Evans City, Zelienople, Beaver Falls
County Maps: Butler, Beaver
Description: From Zelienople to Camp Silver Lake (about 5 miles) there are a dozen or so easy riffles which can be run by anyone with a bare minimum of whitewater training. The remainder is slow current and pools. [Checked 2000]
Difficulties: At certain seasons the residents along the stream raise a collapsible 2‑foot dam to form a pool ending just above the Country Club bridge. Scout the dam from either bank if you are continuing down the river.
Shuttle: To reach the put-in, start on State Route 68 in Harmony. Turn north on Main Street, and go 2 blocks to Mercer Road. Turn right/east onto Mercer Road and follow three blocks to the bridge. To reach the take‑out, return to State Route 68, and turn right/west towards Zelienople. At the intersection with State Route 68/19, turn left/south onto US Route 19. Go one block and turn right/west onto State Route 588/288. Just out of town State Route 288 bends off to the right, but you will go straight continuing on State Route 588. Follow State Route 588 to the Country Club Bridge. Take out on the right bank above the dam, upstream of the bridge.
Gauges: Zelienople. This gauge should read between 1.8 and 3.5 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 170 to 1,080 cfs. The McConnells Mill gauge on nearby Slippery Rock Creek will probably read between 0.0 and 2.5 feet.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from mid November to mid June, and there is no season when it is normally too high. The Zelienople gauge is above 1.8 feet 55% of the time and above 3.5 feet 10% of the time.
F. Country Club to Frisco 2.0 miles
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 6/10 Medium (400/667) B/C 1.7-3.5
estimated Zelienople
Topographic Maps: Beaver Falls
County Maps: Beaver
Description: This short section, which flows through wooded and farm lands, is usually run together with the Harmony to Country Club Section (Section E above), or with the Frisco to Ellport Section (Section G below), depending on the skill levels of the paddlers making the trip. [Checked 2001]
Difficulties: At certain seasons the residents along the stream raise a collapsible 2‑foot dam to form a pool ending just above the Country Club bridge. Scout the dam from the shore before running. About 2 miles below the put-in at low water there is an S-turn rapid which requires a little maneuvering. At higher levels it washes out.
Shuttle: The put-in is just off of State Route 65 where it crosses the creek by the country club. It is on the north/east side just alongside an RV dealer. To reach the take-out, go north on State Route 65 to the intersection of 288. Go straight through the intersection rather than following State Route 65 left across the bridge. The take-out is about a quarter mile past the intersection, under the railroad bridge.
Gauges: Zelienople. This gauge should read between 1.7 and 3.5 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 140 to 1,080 cfs. The McConnells Mill gauge on nearby Slippery Rock Creek will probably read between 0.0 and 2.5 feet.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from mid November to mid June, and there is no season when it is normally too high. The Zelienople gauge is above 1.7 feet 58% of the time and above 3.5 feet 10% of the time.
G. Frisco to Ellport Park 2.0 miles
Class Grad Volume Scene/Poll. Level
II 17/20 Medium (829/1,382) C/C 1.6-3.0
Ellport
Park Zelienople
Topographic Maps: Beaver Falls
County Maps: Beaver, Lawrence
Description: This section is known as "Connie's Challenge" and is often used for teaching intermediates in open canoes. It has mostly continuous Class II rapids with a few pools down to the Wurtemburg bridge. [Checked 1998]
Difficulties: Calgon Ledge is a 3‑foot drop about 0.5 miles downstream from the Frisco (State Route 65) Bridge. It can be scouted from the road during the shuttle. Run it on the right or the extreme left. The rest is fairly clear-cut except for the rapid just before the Wurtemburg Bridge, which can be scouted from the left bank. It is long and it winds around a bend to the left.
Shuttle: The put-in is about 2.5 miles downstream/north of the intersection of State Route 65 and State Route 288 under the railroad bridge. To reach the take out, follow the river downstream/north. Turn left at the “T” and cross the river at Wurtemburg. Take the first right past the bridge and turn right on Third Street to get to the park. Continue through the park to the water treatment plant and park at the top of the hill. Do not block the entrance to the plant. At the end of the trip, you will have to haul your boats up a 60 foot hill, either up the road, or up the hill to the pavilion. Note: Park gates are locked at nightfall. Plan your trip to be out of the park before then.
Gauges: Zelienople. This gauge should read between 1.6 and 3.0 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 115 to 778 cfs. The McConnells Mill gauge on nearby Slippery Rock Creek will probably read between 0.0 and 1.7 feet, but it is only a mediocre predictor. For a streamside gauge use the large rock in the middle of Calgon Ledge. If it is underwater, open-boat paddlers would be wise to attempt a different river.
The correlation between McConnells Mill and the Zelienople gauge for 1988 is given by the following graph:
When McConnells Mill is below 0.0 the correlation suffers from the uncertainty in the McConnells Mill reading; when either river is high the correlation is affected by differences in precipitation from one watershed to another.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from late November to early June, except it is normally too high from early March to mid March. The Zelienople gauge is above 1.6 feet 62% of the time and above 3.0 feet 15% of the time.
H. Ellport Park 3.0 miles
to Ellwood City Sewer Plant
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
II-III 11/12 Medium
(832/1,387) C/C 1.6-3.0
Ellwood
City Zelienople
Topographic Maps: Beaver Falls
County Maps: Lawrence
Description: This is a steep-walled gorge in many places. The river passes through fairly populated areas which, for most of the trip, are out of sight high above the river. The rapids are about as difficult as Connie's Challenge but are longer. Because of the rock structure along the shore, this river is sometimes used for instruction and practice in eddy turns. This section has become quite polluted. Numerous paddlers have reported various infections after being in contact with the "water". [Checked 2000]
Difficulties: None.
Shuttle: Put in at Ellport Park as described in section C. To reach the take‑out, return to State Route 488 and turn right/west towards Ellwood City. Bear left onto State Route 65, which is also Fountain Street, and go 6 blocks to 5th Street. Turn right/north and cross over the creek on a high bridge. Immediately after crossing the bridge turn left/west onto State Route 288. Go about one block and take the first left. This is a very sharp 230 degree turn that descends the hill. Continue down the hill to the filtration plant. This trip is often lengthened upstream by putting in either at Frisco on the Connoquenessing or at Harris Bridge on the Slippery Rock.
Gauges: Zelienople. This gauge should read between 1.6 and 3.0 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 115 to 778 cfs. The McConnells Mill gauge on nearby Slippery Rock Creek will probably read between 0.0 and 1.7 feet.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from late November to early June, except it is normally too high from early March to mid March. The Zelienople gauge is above 1.6 feet 62% of the time and above 3.0 feet 15% of the time.
I. Ellwood City Sewer Plant 1.5 miles
to Beaver River
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
III 20/33 Medium (838/1,397) C/C 1.6-??
mouth
of creek Zelienople
Topographic Maps: Beaver Falls
County Maps: Lawrence
Description: This final section is a little further from civilization than the earlier sections - vertically if not horizontally. After 0.5 miles of flatwater, you will see a road sign signaling a left turn. This is your cue to scout the first of the rapids in the lower gorge. It is a good whitewater run from here to the take-out. [Checked 2000]
Difficulties: In the gorge, the first two rapids should be scouted. The first is under the railroad bridge (run on the right). The second is about 200 yards downstream (run on the left). Be careful about running this trip shortly after a rainstorm because the level rises rapidly in the canyon.
Shuttle: This section is generally combined with the previous section. Use the Ellport park put-in. To take out at the junction with the Beaver River, park cars downstream outside the Rock Point Boat Club gates on State Route 288 (north side of the stream). At the end of the run get the caretaker to open the gates and be prepared to pay a charge per car, or carry canoes up to the gate, about 1 mile. Alternatively, one can become a member of Rock Point Boat club and acquire a key. Another alternative is to continue on and paddle 7 miles on the Beaver River to the unrunnable dam in Beaver Falls. Check map for access and shuttles.
Gauges: Zelienople. This gauge should read above 1.6 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 115 cfs. The McConnells Mill gauge on nearby Slippery Rock Creek will probably read between 0.0 and 1.7 feet.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from mid November to late June. The Zelienople gauge is above 1.6 feet 62% of the time.