Crooked Creek
(Indiana County)
A. US Route
119 6.5 miles
to Creekside (State Route 110)
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 8/8 Tiny (50/83) A-B/B
Route
119 Idaho
Topographic Maps: Clymer, Ernest
County Maps: Indiana
Description: You must catch this section when the water is high, but not overflowing. The high clay banks are lined with trees or brush and many of the turns are tight. Watch for downed trees. Trees vary from hemlocks and rhododendron to large sycamores. Quite a pleasant trip. You usually see or surprise a deer or two and some ducks. The fastest chute is just upstream of the Chambersville Bridge; a fun change from the mostly slow water. [Checked 2004]
Difficulties: Downed trees blocking or partially blocking your path. If you extended the trip upstream, a major tree fall blocks the stream completely about 1 mile above US Route 119.
Shuttle: Take US Route 119 north from Indiana until the stream crosses the road, about 9 miles. There is a parking area on the left side just before the bridge, with a short carry down through some tall pine trees. To get to the take-out from here, continue past the bridge 100 yards, turn left onto State Route 110 to Creekside. This route follows the stream. The trip can be extended 2 miles upstream by putting in at the Kintersburg covered bridge.
Gauges: Idaho. We do not have enough information to report runnable levels on this section.
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. Creekside to
Shelocta 8.1 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 5/5 Small (90/150) A-B/B 2.7-5.1
estimate Idaho
Topographic Maps: Ernest, Elderton
County Maps: Indiana
Description: The stream lies in a narrow, winding channel with high wooded banks. The whole stretch is Class I water with fast current. [Checked 2004]
Difficulties: Downed trees. There are two ledges, less than 1 foot high about 0.5 miles and 0.75 miles from the start.
Shuttle: Put in at the State Route 110 Bridge in Creekside. To reach the take-out, go southwest on State Route 954. Go about 1.3 miles and continue on State Route 4002 where State Route 954 turns left. Turn south onto State Route 4001. Go a short distance and turn right on US Route 422. Go 1.5 miles and turn left onto State Route 156. This road immediately crosses the creek in Shelocta.
Gauges: Idaho. This gauge should read between 2.7 and 5.1 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 85 to 1,450 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from early January through mid May. The Idaho gauge is above 2.7 feet 61% of the time and above 5.1 feet 3% of the time.
C. Shelocta to
Girty 10.5 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 4/6 Small (175/295) B/B 3.0-4.7
Idaho Idaho
Topographic Maps: Elderton, McIntyre, Whitesburg
County Maps: Indiana, Armstrong
Description: There are some nice riffles between the bridges in Shelocta that require some rock dodging. Below the State Route 156 bridge the stream was rerouted along the new US Route 422 and is wider and shallower than the normal streambed. After about 3 miles of winding, Plum Creek sneaks in from the right. Now the stream heads toward the Keystone power plant and their catch dam with about a 7‑foot vertical drop. Portage on the left through dense growth of young trees and rocks or on the right using streamside roadbed. The backwater of the dam gives plenty of time to determine how close you want to paddle before you portage. If the water is high, take out well upstream so you do not get washed over. If the water is just flowing over the center section it is safe to paddle up to and land on the edge on the left side. Below the dam 0.5 miles is the Idaho gauge (on right), and less than 0.25 miles later is another low dam. The outlet causes a very strong back current toward the dam. It is probably best to land and portage this dam on the left although a right side portage is possible with extreme caution for the back current. The stream seems to widen out from this point which makes you work and pick your way through the shallows, riffles, and chutes if the stream is on the low side. There are some very large boulders in the stream just above the State Route 210 bridge. [Checked 1999]
Difficulties: At the powerplant dam, portage on either side. At the smaller dam about 0.75 miles downstream portage either side. The small one has a much stronger back current, so launch well down stream of the grip of the back current. Note: If the water is breaking across the entire length of powerplant dam (very high volume) beware of the increased hydraulic action on the dam.
Shuttle: From Shelocta, proceed west 6.5 miles along State Route 156. Turn right/north on State Route 2027. Go 1 mile to Girty. Intermediate access is available at South Bend. To get there, at the State Route 156 Bridge, take the side road along the right/north bank of the creek.
Gauges: Idaho. This gauge should read between 3.0 and 4.7 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 170 to 1,080 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from early January through mid May. The Idaho gauge is above 3.0 feet 43% of the time and above 4.7 feet 5% of the time.
D. Girty to
Cochrans Mills 7.2 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 9/11 Medium (200/333) B/B 2.7-4.3
estimate Idaho
Topographic Maps: Whitesburg
County Maps: Armstrong
Description: Numerous small ledges and rock gardens. The creek runs close to overhanging cliffs and once past the gas pumping station is fairly scenic. An often-run alternative trip is to put in at South Bend at the western bridge of State Route 156, run 3.2 miles to Girty, continue 4.2 miles to Mateer Bridge. [Checked 1990]
Difficulties: None, except the mud banks at the take-out.
Shuttle: To reach the take-out, go north across the Girty Bridge, turn left/west onto State Route 2026. Go 2.0 miles to the fork. Bear right at the fork and follow this road to the Cochrans Mills Bridge. For the Mateer Bridge, bear left at the fork. To extend the trip upstream about 3 miles, the road to South Bend from Girty runs along the right/north bank of the river. Just before crossing the Cochran Mills Bridge, turn right onto the old roadway and proceed about 100 feet to a small public parking area.
Gauges: Idaho. This gauge should read between 2.7 and 4.3 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 85 to 770 cfs. If you can get over the shallows at the bridge in Girty, the rest of the stream is runnable.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from late December through late May. The Idaho gauge is above 2.7 feet 61% of the time and above 4.3 feet 9% of the time.
E. Cochrans Mills
to Crooked Creek Dam 8.0 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
A Lake Medium (278/423) B/B
Crooked
Creek Dam
Topographic Maps: Whitesburg, Leechburg
Other Maps: Corps of Engineers has a map of the Crooked Creek Lake Recreation Project. See Appendix D for the address.
Description: Depending on the water level in Crooked Creek Lake, the reservoir backwater sometimes reaches all the way to Girty. If the lake level is low (860 ft), this section is a slow flowing stream; if the lake is up (880 ft), then this stretch becomes flat.
The backwaters of Crooked Creek Dam provide good still-water canoeing, boating, waterskiing and swimming. To get away from the powerboats paddle upstream from the boat launch area. One can paddle several miles even in late summer when the water is low. The banks are attractive and there is a good swimming spot just before the current begins to get strong. [Checked 1999]
Difficulties: In the reservoir itself there are numerous powerboats towing water skiers at high speed.
Shuttle: Several access points are available in the park. Obtain a Crooked Creek Reservoir map at the park office.
Gauges: To obtain the reservoir level check on the web for the Corps of Engineers Daily Reservoir Report and Forecast or call Crooked Creek Park (724) 763-3161
http://wmw.lrp.usace.army.mil/current/forecast.html (2004)
Normal Wet Period: Lakes are canoeable all year except when frozen.
F. Crooked Creek
Dam 7.0 miles
to Rosston (Allegheny River)
F. Crooked Creek Dam to Rosston
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
B 5/5 Medium (292/487) B/B
Crooked
Creek Dam
Topographic Maps: Leechburg
County Maps: Armstrong
Description: This flat stream flows through farm land between mud banks. [Checked 1999]
Difficulties: None.
Shuttle: Put in below the dam on river left, at the outflow picnic area. Drive west 0.9 miles on State Route 2019. Turn north on State Route 66 to Ford City, south along State Route 128 to the bridge on the Allegheny River. Instead of crossing the bridge turn left and follow the riverbank 1.0 miles to Rosston.
Gauges: Crooked Creek Outflow. Call the Corps of Engineers at Crooked Creek Recreational Area (724) 763-3161 to determine the amount of water being released. Or check the web site.
http://wmw.lrp.usace.army.mil/current/forecast.html (2004)
Normal Wet Period: This section is entirely dam controlled.