Bradleytown to French Creek 11.2 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 18/27 Small
(166/267) B/A
Sugar
Creek Sugar
Creek
Topographic Maps: Dempseytown, Utica, Franklin
County Maps: Venango
Description: This stream flows mostly between high mud banks through forest. This is an interesting and beautiful ride for the novice at levels up to 1.0 foot above the low mark. Above this level, have plenty of experience or you will surely get it fast. [Checked 1999]
Difficulties: Trees down in bends are the greatest hazard. After passing the mouth of Lake Creek, look for a picnic area on the left bank to warn of a bad "S" bend which is tricky in high water. If you continue into French Creek at low water, go right of the island at the confluence. The left channel is likely to be low.
Shuttle: Put in where State Route 427 crosses the creek, just north of Bradleytown. To get to the take-out, go south on State Route 427. Turn left/east onto US Route 322. Go about 3 miles and take a sharp U turn to the right onto State Route 4010. This road is between US Route 322 and French Creek for about 0.5 miles. The take-out is on Sugar Creek between the road bridge and the railroad bridge. Parking will be a problem since there is not much room. An alternate put-in which extends the trip for about 3 miles is at Fedderman's bridge on State Route 4009 using a portion of the East Branch Sugar Creek.
Gauges: Sugar Creek. We do not have enough information to report runnable levels on this section. The Rouseville gauge on nearby Oil Creek will probably read between 3.7 and 5.0 feet. If too high consider the East Branch of Sugar Creek. A streamside gauge is the road bridge at the take-out. No more than 2 blocks should be showing. If French Creek is high, the backwater from French Creek can give you a misleading high reading.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.