A. Big Run (Upper
Bridge) 10.9 miles
to Punxsutawney (State Route 436 Bridge)
A. Big Run to Punxsutawney (State Route 436 Bridge)
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
C 7/11 Small (158/277) B-C/B
Punxsutawney Punxsutawney
Topographic Maps: McGees Mills, Punxsutawney
County Maps: Jefferson
Description: The creek winds through a broad flood plain.
It parallels US Route 119 for most of its length, often very close. The railroad
crosses the creek 4 times in the section.
Difficulties: The remains of an old dam, most of which is silted in, provides a 4‑foot drop. Paddle down the right side and carry the canoe over the concrete. The dam is about a mile below the Cloe Bridge (9th bridge, if you count bridges). There is another very old dam or pipeline across the stream which sets up a diagonal small ledge about 0.5 miles further down next to the rail yards. [Reported 1982]
Shuttle: To get to the put-in, follow US Route 119 north from Punxsutawney. Continue through Big Run, turn right at the small bridge near the main road, then immediately right on the levee road. To get to the take-out, follow US Route 119 south into Punxsutawney, then take State Route 36 north through town. On the west end of town, just after State Route 36 kinks to the right, and one block before State Route 436, turn left/south, go one short block and turn right/west on Water Street to pass under the high State Route 436 bridge. Take out where the street passes near the stream.
Gauges: Punxsutawney. We do not have enough information to report runnable levels on this section. A reading of 2.2 feet (2003 rating table) on the Punxsutawney gauge corresponds to the mean flow of 277 cfs. Since this is a small river, we speculate that the runnable level will be at least 2.2 feet and perhaps more.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.
B. Punxsutawney
(State Route 436 Bridge)
to Lower Valier Bridge 9.5 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
B 3/3 Small (158/269) B/A-B
Punxsutawney Punxsutawney
Topographic Maps: Punxsutawney, Valier
County Maps: Jefferson
Description: A very slow and winding section. Six ox-bow loops wander back and forth. [Reported 1982]
Difficulties: None.
Shuttle: From the junction of State Route 36 and State Route 436 in Punxsutawney, take State Route 436 south to US Route 119 and turn right/south. Go about 1.0 miles then turn right on State Route 210 (Trade City Road). Follow this 1.5 miles and turn right toward Valier. Go straight through the village, then turn left. The lower bridge is another 0.5 miles.
Gauges: Punxsutawney. We do not have enough information to report runnable levels on this section. A reading of 2.2 feet (2003 rating table) on the Punxsutawney gauge corresponds to the mean flow of 277 cfs. Since this is a small river, we speculate that the runnable level will be at least 2.2 feet and perhaps more.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.
C. Valier to
State Route 839 Access Area 17.1 miles
(Milton Loop Boat Launch)
C. Valier to State Route 839 Access
Area
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
C 7/9 Medium (200/333) B/B
estimate Punxsutawney
Topographic Maps: Valier, Dayton
County Maps: Jefferson, Indiana, Armstrong
Description: The scenery from Valier to the dam is quite pretty. The Mahoning Dam sometimes backs water up to the mouth of the Little Mahoning Creek which is about 2 miles above the Mahoning Lake State Route 839 take-out. At summer lake levels, however, you will have less than a mile of flatwater paddling. [Checked 1982]
Difficulties: There is only one major riffle between Valier and the Little Mahoning, which should pose no problem.
Shuttle: The best car shuttle route for this section of the stream runs along the north side of the stream using State Routes 4028 and 4026. The best take-out is the Milton Loop launch ramp for Mahoning Lake, about a quarter mile below the State Route 839 bridge. One can choose to shorten the trip by 2 miles of potential flatwater by taking out at Little Mahoning Creek near the State Route 4026 bridge.
Gauges: Punxsutawney. We do not have enough information to report runnable levels on this section. A reading of 2.2 feet (2003 rating table) on the Punxsutawney gauge corresponds to the mean flow of 277 cfs. Since this is a small river, we speculate that the runnable level will be at least 2.2 feet and perhaps more. The McCormick gauge on nearby Little Mahoning Creek will probably read between 1.9 feet and 2.6 feet.
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 839
(Milton Loop Launch) 6.0 miles
to Mahoning Dam
D. State Route 839 Access Area to
Mahoning Dam
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
A Lake Medium (321/561)
Dayton
Topographic Maps: Dayton, Distant
Description: This is flatwater above the Corps of Engineers Flood Control Dam. The lake is slightly over 5 miles long in a narrow valley. The first 2 miles retain the appearance of a river. The last three widen out. If the lake is down 10‑20 feet, then the moving water will extend to within 3 miles of the dam. The lake has a ten horsepower limit on motorboats. [Reported 1989]
Difficulties: None.
Shuttle: Put in at the Milton Loop Boat Launch on the north side of the lake abut 0.25 miles downstream of where State Route 839 crosses the lake. Take out on the right side of the lake by the dam above the log boom. There is a 0.25 mile trail up to the road. From here it is another 0.5 mile to the put-in for the next section. An alternate put-in for this section is to take State Route 4026 upstream on the river right for about 3 miles to the junction with the Little Mahoning Creek.
Gauges: None.
Normal Wet Period: Lakes are canoeable all year except when frozen.
E. Mahoning Dam to
Putneyville 5.5 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 12/13 Medium
(344/601) A-B/A 2.8-3.9
Mahoning
Dam Mahoning Dam Outflow
Topographic Maps: Distant
County Maps: Armstrong
Description: Downstream of Mahoning Dam the stream cuts through and snakes around some 300 to 400 foot slopes. There are several short, swift and powerful chutes on this section with standing waves. However, most of it is easy paddling. [Checked 2004]
Difficulties: Three or four places between Eddyville and Putneyville, the river narrows to less than half its usual width, the current picks up speed, and rocks, ledges, or standing waves require attention.
Shuttle: The put-in at the McCrea Furnace bridge is a tough one without a map. McCrea Furnace is about 0.5 miles below the Corps of Engineers dam, and about 2.0 miles north of the village of Belknap.
To reach the put-in from State Route 28/66, turn east at Baum onto State Route 1018 and follow the brown signs for Mahoning Lake. This will take you on State Route 1018, past the turn off to Belknap (State Route 1025). About 0.25 miles past the Belknap road, turn left onto an unnumbered road. Go about a mile to a "T" intersection. Turn left, go another mile to a "Y" and bear left. Then go another mile to a second "Y" with the left going uphill (this will be the shuttle road) and the right arm continuing level. Go right and put in along the river or at the bridge. Respect private property.
To reach the put-in from Putneyville go south on State Route 1025 until State Route 1008 comes in from the left. Bear right and continue on State Route 1025 for about 0.1 miles. Here go straight on a dirt road rather than turning right to follow the paved State Route 1025. Continue straight on this dirt road until it tees, at which point turn left and continue to the river.
To get to the take-out, start back up the hill on the other branch of the "Y". Take the first right turn (northwest). After 0.4 miles, cross State Route 1010, and continue on for 0.7 miles. Turn right/north on State Route 1025. Follow this for 4 miles to Putneyville. This section can be lengthened by putting in where State Route 28/66 crosses the creek.
Gauges: Mahoning Dam Outflow. This gauge should read between 2.8 and 3.9 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 345 to 1,050 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: Completely controlled by Mahoning Dam. This section is normally runnable from early December through late May and there is not a normally too high season. The Mahoning Dam Outflow gauge is above 2.8 feet 45% of the time and above 3.9 feet 15% of the time.
F. Putneyville to
Allegheny River 16.5 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 7/13 Medium (425/708) A-B/A 3.0-??
mouth
of stream Mahoning dam outflow
Topographic Maps: Distant, Templeton
County Maps: Armstrong
Description: The first mile below Putneyville is a rock garden that requires at least a gauge reading of 3.0 to avoid scraping. The remainder is flat and flowing. The scenery of gentle bends and steep hillsides is interrupted 3 miles from the Allegheny by a coal mine and coke oven operations. Cottages and homes dot the last 2 miles. Otherwise the stream valley is empty. There is a final rapid just before hitting the backwater from the Allegheny River. At higher level (900cfs) it is a feisty Class I with a good wave train on the left side. [Checked 2003]
Difficulties: None.
Shuttle: The put-in is where State Route 1025 crosses the creek in Putneyville. To get to the take-out, go north about 2 miles and cross US Route 28/66 at Distant. Turn west onto State Route 1004. Go 5.5 miles to Widnoon and turn left/south on State Route 1003. Go 3 miles to the bridge at the mouth of the Mahoning. This is not a great take out so you might want to continue on State Route 1003 for another mile to Templeton. After crossing a small stream and rounding a bend into town State Route 1003 becomes State Route 1031. At the fork (about 100 yards from the bend) go straight. Take the last left in town on Allegheny Avenue and look for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Access Area on your right. Using this access will add about 1.0 miles to the trip. On the river, when you reach the Allegheny, you should turn left (downstream) and go about a mile to the access on river left. This section can be shortened by putting in where State Route 28/66 crosses the creek.
Gauges: Mahoning Dam Outflow. This gauge should read above 3.0 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 480 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: Completely controlled by Mahoning Dam. This section is normally runnable from early January through late May. The Mahoning Dam Outflow gauge is above 3.0 feet 35% of the time.