A. Lilly to Portage 5.6 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
III-IV 53/100 Small
(60/100) C-D/C
estimate Streamside
Topographic Maps: Cresson, Ebensburg
County Maps: Cambria
Description: This stream is tiny, especially at the start. Small streams joining in Lilly make this run possible. [Reported 1981]
Difficulties: About 1 mile downstream of Lilly in Cassandra between 3 railroad bridges, the gradient picks up to 100 feet per mile, but the small size keeps the excitement down.
Shuttle: State Route 53 follows the run at various distances. Take out at the State Route 53 bridge near Portage.
Gauges: None. If the rapid just downstream of the South Fork bridge at benchmark BM 1496 looks runnable, there is enough water.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.
B. Portage to South
Fork 10.4 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 12/20 Small (100/167) C/C
estimate Seward
Topographic Maps: Ebensburg, Beaverdale, Geistown, Nanty Glo
County Maps: Cambria
Description: The stream is a gentle meandering stream in a valley with a wide valley floor. The shoreline is mostly wooded, but development is just beyond the edge as the road parallels this section. [Reported 1989]
Difficulties: Some strainers on the bends.
Shuttle: State Route 53 parallels the run.
Gauges: East Conemaugh. We do not have enough information to report runnable levels on this section. Seward gauge on Conemaugh River will probably read between 2.7 and 4.0 feet (2003 rating table).
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.
C. South Fork to
Johnstown 10.2 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
II-III 23/30 Medium (183/328) B/B-C
East Conemaugh East Conemaugh
Topographic Maps: Geistown, Nanty Glo, Johnstown
County Maps: Cambria
Description: This run follows the route of the 1889 Johnstown Flood when the South Fork Dam broke. About a mile below the put-in is a beautiful 1 mile loop of Class III difficulty ending at a massive, double arch railroad bridge. The next 2 miles to Mineral Point is Class II, continuing 2 more miles to the loop cut. Bethlehem Steel of Johnstown has diverted the stream across the top of a 1 mile loop to create a slag dump. The falls created here should be carried on the left through the railroad cut. The next 4 miles is Class III with rapids created by slag. [Reported 1981]
Difficulties: Small dam 0.5 miles below the put-in. Carry on the left. Loop Cut Falls is a 20‑foot falls which should be carried on the left. It is 2.6 miles below Mineral Point where the river makes a left turn into a deep rock cut. Because dynamiting created the cut, the rock within the cut has very sharp edges. A spill going through the rapid would result in lots of nasty slashes. It should be portaged along the railroad tracks on river right. The last mile is in a concrete channel and ends at a small dam/weir at the mouth. This is a uniform river-wide drop with concrete walls on either side. Look at it during the shuttle and consider the alternate take-out.
Shuttle: To reach the take-out from South Fork, take State Route 53 west to downtown Johnstown. Take out at the junction with Stony Creek. Note that this take-out involves dealing with a miserable small dam and its concrete walls near the mouth. A better take-out is located about 2.6 miles further upstream at a concrete emergency access ramp. Head north on State Route 271 from Johnstown. At the third crossing of the stream, the ramp is on river right, upstream of the bridge in Franklin. Do not block the ramp, as it is emergency access for fire vehicles.
Gauges: East Conemaugh. We do not have enough information to report runnable levels on this section. Seward gauge on Conemaugh River will probably read between 2.7 and 4.0 feet (2003 rating table).
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is medium-sized, it should normally be runnable approximately December through May.