A. Bovard to 8.8 miles
State Route 173 (Rock Falls Park)
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Pol Level
B 3/3 Small C/B
Topographic Maps: West
Sunbury, Slippery Rock
County Maps: Butler
Description: This section is divided into two, four-mile parts by two dams. Numerous summer homes occupy the shoreline and power boats use these waters in season. [Reported 1998]
Difficulties: The first dam is at Keisters. It should be portaged on the left under the railroad bridge. The second is at State Route 173. Take out and/or portage on the left is best. Both dams are built above steeper gradients in the creek. A cascade below Keisters, and a Class III rapid below State Route 173. Beware if snow covers the ground as the portages are steep.
Shuttle: The put-in is on river right, upstream of the State Route 4010 bridge in Bovard. To reach the take‑out, go west on State Route 4010 to State Route 8. Turn left/south onto State Route 8 and continue to Keisters Road. Turn right/west onto Keisters Road. Follow this road to the intersection with State Route 173. you should be at the take‑out bridge.
Gauge: N/A
Normal Wet Period: The entire section is a pool behind two dams, so there is always enough water.
B. State Route 173 (Rock Falls Park) 9.0 miles
to Moores Corners
B. Rock Falls Park to Moores Corners
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
C 4/10 Small (150/250) A/B 2.2-??
Junction
of Wolf Creek Wurtemburg
Topographic Maps: Slippery Rock
County Maps: Butler
Description: This is beautiful country, just south of the glacial moraine. Much wildlife has been reported along this section. Most of the run is mixed pasture and woods. The final mile flows through a small gorge, reminiscent of the McConnells Mill area, but with no whitewater. [Checked 1998]
Difficulties: The put-in is immediately below a dam and Class III rapid. There is an unrunnable dam just above the first bridge (Crolls Mills). Use the easy carry on the left.
Shuttle: From the put-in in Rock Falls Park, go north on State Route 173 to the town of Slippery Rock, then west on State Route 108. Go 3.5 miles, turn left just past Wolf Creek, go 0.25 miles to the river.
Gauges: Wurtemburg. This gauge should read above 2.2 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 850 cfs. The McConnells Mills gauge downstream from this section will probably read between 2.0 and 3.0 feet.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from early March to late March. The Wurtemburg gauge is above 2.3 feet 20% of the time.
C. Moores Corners 8.5 miles
to US Route 19 (Kennedy Mill)
C. Moores Corners to Kennedy Mill
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
C 5/6 Medium (260/433) B-C/B 1.9-??
estimated Wurtemburg
Topographic Maps: Slippery Rock, Harlansburg, Portersville
County Maps: Butler, Lawrence
Description: A flat, flowing stream that wanders past farmhouses, cornfields and woods. It also passes through a trailer park and several areas of summer homes. [Checked 2003]
Difficulties: There is a dam at Kennedy Mill. This dam is at the end of a long pool with summer homes, and has a bridge above it. The portage around this dam is difficult and should be scouted from the bridge before putting on the river. You should plan to carry around on the right side on the dam. There is a long, continuous history of landowner problems at Kennedy Mill. As of 2003 the barbed wire and No Trespassing signs are gone. An alternative take-out is at US Route 19.
Shuttle: The put-in is 0.25 miles south of State Route 108 on an unnumbered road 1 mile east of the Interstate 79 exit. From the put-in, go north 0.25 miles to Moores Corners, west on State Route 108 to US Route 19, and south 1 mile to the river crossing.
Gauges: Wurtemburg. This gauge should read above 1.9 feet (2003 rating table. This corresponds to a flow of 591 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from late February to mid April. The Wurtemburg gauge is above 1.9 feet 29% of the time.
D. US Route 19 (Kennedy Mill) 1.5 miles
to Rose Point
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
II 11/11 Medium (300/500) A-B/B 1.5-??
estimate Wurtemburg
Topographic Maps: Portersville
County Maps: Lawrence
Description: As of 2003, access problems at Kennedy Mills that made this section difficult to run, are no longer present. The barbed wire fence and No Trespassing signs at Kennedy Mill are gone. [Checked 2001]
Difficulties: Put in below the dam, as it is difficult to portage or run. Immediately below Kennedy Mill dam there are three rapids. The third one has a drop of about 2.5 feet. The next 2 miles to Rose Point are flat and flowing water.
Shuttle: The put-in is on US Route 19, 1.5 miles south of the intersection with State Route 108. To get to the take-out, go south on US Route 19 to US Route 422. Turn right/west and go 1 mile to the river. New US Route 422 crosses the creek very high up. The actual take-out is just north of the four-lane (new US Route 422) along old route 422 which is down at river level. On new US Route 422, take the first right/north turn after crossing the bridge. This will be on the west side of the creek. Go 0.5 miles to the old bridge. This bridge is now (2002) closed to traffic, which makes for easy parking along the old 422 road. Note: Land owners on the east side of the bridge are not friendly to boaters.
Gauges: Wurtemburg. This gauge should read above 1.5 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 375 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from early January to late May. The Wurtemburg gauge is above 1.5 feet 42% of the time.
E. Rose Point 2.5 miles
to Breakneck (Eckert Bridge)
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
III-IV 30/40 Medium
(360/600) A/A 1.1-1.9
estimated Wurtemburg
Topographic Maps: Portersville
County Maps: Lawrence
Description: This beautiful stream runs through the gorge cut when an ancient glacial lake (now replaced by Lake Arthur) broke through its wall and rushed madly for the Ohio River. The resulting gorge, seemingly misplaced in the surrounding rolling farmland, is strewn with boulders and lined with hemlock. It is one of the finest places around to see trillium in the spring. It is a drop-and-pool river. The drops are fairly well spaced in the 1.5 miles from Rose Point to McConnells Mill and there are over half a dozen significant drops packed into "The Mile" below the Mill. The stream is runnable most of the year, becoming extremely tight, if less pushy, as the water drops below 0.0 on the gauge at McConnells Mill. A trail from the Mill to Eckert Bridge allows scouting of all but the biggest drop. [Checked 2003]
Difficulties: The first 0.5 miles is riffled. The next mile contains several drops, including two tricky S-turn rapids. These have very sharp turns at low water and very strong twisting currents at high levels. The backwater of the unrunnable dam is not very long. Portage is possible on either side of the creek; the park ranger prefers (in 2002) that you use the paths on river left. Below the covered bridge "The Mile" starts. There are several ledges, some with sneak routes, some without. There are small pools below each of the drops in which to recover, at levels below 1.0. The largest drop is hard to scout, either from the river or from the trail. Huge boulders choke the river down to a quarter of its width, and three drops closely follow each other without pause. Small differences in the level at the Mill make big differences in the Triple Drop.
Shuttle: To get to the put-in take US Route 422 to where it crosses the river. New US Route 422 crosses the creek very high up. The actual put‑in is just north of the four-lane (new US Route 422) along old route 422 which is down at river level. On new US Route 422, take the first north turn on the west side of the creek. Go 0.5 miles to the old bridge. This bridge is now (2002) closed to traffic, which makes for easy parking along the old 422 Road. Note: Landowners on the east side of the bridge are not friendly to boaters. To reach the take-out proceed east on US Route 422 to US Route 19. Turn right/south and go about 3 miles. Turn right/west on Cheeseman which is about 0.3 miles north of State Route 488. Proceed west on Cheeseman until it ends at a “T” intersection. Turn right and proceed to the river down an unmaintained road with its edges falling in, . Be careful as you descend to the river. The take-out is actually Eckert Bridge; the location has been called "Breakneck" for years. Breakneck Bridge, now closed, crosses Cheeseman Run, which enters the Slippery Rock just downstream from Eckert Bridge. It is also possible (in 2003) to put in at McConnells Mill. Unload at the Mill and move the cars to the upper parking lot. One favorite run combines "the Mile" from McConnells Mill with the next section, taking out at Harris Bridge.
Gauges: Wurtemburg. This gauge should read between 1.1 and 1.9 feet (2003 rating tables). This corresponds to a flow of 185 to 650 cfs. There is a staff gauge at McConnells Mill, located where the water flowing through the mill re-enters the creek. Because of its location and the lack of calibration for levels below zero, this gauge does not give reliable readings below about minus 0.1 ft. The correlation between McConnells Mill and Wurtemburg is given by the following graph
Note that the correlation is poor when the Mill reads below zero. The McConnells Mills gauge on the river side of the mill should read between minus 0.3 and 1.0 (open boats) or 1.5 (closed boats) for the best run. Since the gorge is so steep, the stream gets narrower rather than shallower as the level drops.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from mid November to late June, except it is normally too high from late January to early May. The Wurtemburg gauge is above 1.1 feet 62% of the time and above 1.9 feet 27% of the time.
F. Breakneck (Eckert Bridge) 3.2 miles
to Harris Bridge
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
II-III 23/27 Medium
(380/633) A/A 1.1-2.4
estimated Wurtemburg
Topographic Maps: Portersville
County Maps: Lawrence
Description: The valley is still deep, but not as canyon-like through this stretch. The river becomes calmer than it is upstream. However, the rapids in this section will still challenge intermediates. They have the same S-turn character as rapids farther upstream, although they are not as tight. The river is still strewn with immense boulders, some of which are undercut.
The pool above the Eckert Bridge is a great place to practice and ply with out shuttling. There is also practice opportunities in Entrance Rapid, about 90 yards below the bridge. There is a path on river right to hike back on. [Checked 2003]
Shuttle: To get to the take-out go back Cheeseman Road to US Route 19. Turn south and go the short distance to State Route 488. Turn right/ west on State Route 488 and proceed for about 3 miles to Mountville Road, State Route 2030. Turn right towards Mt. Hope church. Continue about 3 miles to the river.
Gauges: Wurtemburg. This gauge should read between 1.1 and 2.4 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 185 to 990 cfs. The McConnells Mills gauge on the river side of the mill should read between minus 0.3 and 1.5 (open boats) or 2.0 (closed boats) for the best run. The previous section discusses the uncertainty in using McConnells Mill gauge at levels below zero.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from early November to early July, except it is normally too high from early March to early April. The Wurtemburg gauge is above 1.1 feet 62% of the time and above 2.4 feet 17% of the time.
G. Harris Bridge to Ellport Park 6.0 miles
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 12/13 Medium (398/572) A-B/A-B 1.3-2.8
Wurtemburg Wurtemburg
Topographic Maps: Portersville, Zelienople, Beaver Falls
County Maps: Lawrence
Description: From Harris Bridge to Connoquenessing Creek, the river is essentially flat with a few riffles. [Checked 1998]
Difficulties: There are two permanent dams on this section, a runnable broken-out dam, and a movable dam just above the junction with the Connoquenessing. The first dam is immediately below Harris Bridge. Portage on the right. The broken-out dam is at the end of a high concrete retaining wall on the left bank. The dam may be run on the right. The second dam is located at Camp Allegheny just after a foot bridge. It is about 2 feet high and is portaged on the right. The movable dam is just above the junction with the Connoquenessing. If it is up, the portage is on the right.
Shuttle: To get to the take-out, go back Mountville Road to State Route 488. Turn right/west. After crossing the creek three times take the first right past this third 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. 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 sometimes locked at nightfall. Plan your trip to out of the park before then.
Gauges: Wurtemburg. This gauge should read between 1.3 and 2.8 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 285 to 1,340 cfs. The McConnells Mills gauge on the river side of the mill should read between 0.2 and 2.0. The painted gauge on Harris Bridge is approximately equal to the McConnells Mill gauge.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from early January to late May. The Wurtemburg gauge is above 1.3 feet 50% of the time and above 2.8 feet 11% of the time.