A. Hutchinson to Vances Mills 7.5 miles
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Pol Level
II 13/50 Small (109/) B/C
Mouth of Stream Streamside
Topographic Maps: Uniontown
County Maps: Fayette
Description. Rushes through Uniontown, going underneath buildings twice, including one unique right-angle turn. Stream has tons of trash, acid mine drainage, and shots of raw sewage. Still, well below town it is attractive. The stream generally runs through a wooded setting with some farms, roads, and villages. There are some mining scars. [Reported 1994]
Difficulties: One or two strainers.
Shuttle: To reach the put-in, head east on US Route 40 in Uniontown. At the south edge of town, just before the US Route 119 interchange, turn right/west on State Route 3027 (Fairchance Road). Follow State Rout 3027 for about 0.7 miles to the stream crossing/put‑in. To reach the take‑out, return to US Route 40 and turn left/west. Follow US Route 40 into Uniontown to the intersection with State Route 51. Turn right/north on State Route 51 and go 4.2 miles to State Route 1043. Turn right/east on State Route 1043 towards Vances Mills. The take‑out is immediately after the turn and before the railroad track.
Gauge: USGS gauge in town above Rte. 40 has staff. It read 2.5 ft. Adequate at start and plenty below.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.
B. Vances Mill to Smock 6.3 miles
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Pol Level
I 11/17 Tiny C/B
Streamside
Topographic Maps: Uniontown,
New Salem
County Maps: Fayette
Description: A part of this creek between State Route 51 and Smock is remote, but the upper miles have the roads and railroads close by. {Reported 1997]
Difficulties: none
Shuttle: The put-in is at the intersection of State Route 51 and State Route 1043. To reach the take-out, follow State Route 51 north until you see the sign for Smock. Turn left/west on State Route 4016 and follow to the first creek bridge.
Gauge: None. If the shallows at the put-in bridge are passable, the run will be OK.
Normal Wet Period: Through March or after a heavy rain.
C. Smock to Albany 8.5 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
II 15/20 Small (74/101) C/C 0.8-??
Waltersburg Waltersburg
Small
(109/182) mouth of creek
Topographic Maps: New Salem, Fayette City, California
County Maps: Fayette
Description: The creek is aptly named; it flows through several old mining towns, and past many mine outflows. The mine acid drainage gives the creek its reddish color and bottom. The old towns give it a sewage smell. There are however remote stretches between the towns that are pretty. Below Linn to the take-out at Albany the river becomes a flat Class I stream. [Reported 1997]
Difficulties: About 50 yards below a cast iron bridge the creek flows straight into a sheer hillside and turns left at a 90 degree angle. A rock sits in the middle of all this and can be difficult to spot. The standing and reactionary waves will give you a good gyration. At the bridge in Grindstone there is a strainer that blocks over 80 percent of the river. It is passable if you are very careful, or it may be portaged around on the island. Make a short side trip on the shuttle to check it out from the bridge. Below Grindstone is a two foot ledge.
Shuttle: To get to the put-in head west from Smock and take the right-hand fork of the “Y” at the WWII memorial. Follow this road about 0.7 miles to the intersection with the put-in bridge and the Smock Gun Club road.
Gauges: Waltersburg. This gauge should read above 0.8 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 69 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: The Waltersburg gauge is above 0.8 feet 40% of the time.