A. Rogersville to Waynesburg 14.0 miles
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Pol Level
I 5/6 Small B/B
Jefferson
Topographic Maps: Rogersville,
Waynesburg
County Maps: Greene
Description: As viewed from State Route 21, the scrap yards of West Waynesburg make it look bad, but very little of this is visible from the water. The view is primarily farm meadows and wooded hillsides. [Checked 2001]
Difficulties: Two dams and a causeway. About 1.5 miles below the put-in is a three-foot dam. Portage on the left. Upstream of East View, there is a concrete causeway with a raised ledge on its upstream side. Portage on the left. Where Browns Creek enters, there is a six-foot dam. Portage on the right.
Shuttle: The put-in is on the west side of Rogersville at the State Route 18/21 Bridge. To reach the take-out, go east on State Route 18/21. Continue east through Waynesburg on State Route 21. On the far side of town turn left/northeast onto State Route 188, and follow it to the second bridge east of the Interstate 79 overpass.
Gauge: Jefferson. Run was at 2.0 feet. No data on low or high levels.
Normal Wet Period: Through March or after a heavy rain.
B. Waynesburg to
Jefferson 7.0 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
C-I 7/8 Small
(180/201) B/A-B 2.0-??
Jefferson Jefferson
Topographic Maps: Waynesburg, Mather
County Maps: Greene
Description: Although the drainage area is mainly rolling farmlands, the creek runs largely in a wooded valley, often with a 200‑foot cliff on one side or the other. Gently flowing pools alternate with easy riffles. It is remote enough that the wildlife is abundant, and the water supports fish, primarily bass. [Checked 2001]
Difficulties: None if the indicated take-out is used. If you take out on the east side of Jefferson see difficulties in the next section.
Shuttle: State Route 188 follows the stream from Waynesburg to Jefferson, crossing it several times. The put-in is at the second crossing east of Interstate 79, at a pumping station due north of Greene County Airport. The take-out is at the third and last crossing of State Route 188 east of Interstate 79, just west of Jefferson. Shuttle directly along State Route 188.
Gauges: Jefferson. This gauge should read above 2.0 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 160 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable late December through late April. The Jefferson gauge is above 2.0 feet 30% of the time.
C. Jefferson to
Clarksville 9.0 miles
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 10/17 Small
(108/201) B-C/A-B 2.0-??
Jefferson Jefferson
Small
(199/332) mouth of stream
Topographic Maps: Mather
County Maps: Greene, Washington
Description: At first, easy riffles alternate with pools, but note the low-water bridge mentioned in difficulties. After a couple of miles the pace begins to pick up, and the last mile into Clarksville is almost continuous Class I to easy Class II. These rapids are fairly wide-open but with some maneuvering necessary. About .25 miles after joining the main fork, there is a long Class II "staircase".
The construction of several waste water treatment plants has substantially improved the water quality, and fish and birds are now plentiful. The wooded hillsides support a superb assortment of wild flowers, including some of the lushest carpets of trillium we have ever seen. Unfortunately, Trillium grandiflorum alternates with Frigidarium discardum, Every place a road runs along the creek, home appliances cascade down the hillside. Aside from the trash heaps and the half-mile-long mine dump about a mile below the put-in, it is a pleasant, pretty run. [Checked 2001]
Difficulties: About a 0.3 miles below the put-in (State Route 188 bridge near Jefferson) is a low water bridge. Sloping concrete abutments descend to a river-level roadway that will have water running over it whenever the creek is runnable. Most of the water passes through square culverts under both end abutments. Stay clear of these. Scout the bridge during the shuttle. At some levels the upstream curb on the roadway will be almost at water level and one can land in the middle and lift over the drop on the downstream side. At higher levels it might be possible to paddle between the left abutment and the shore where the bank has eroded away for 10 feet or so.
Shuttle: Put in where State Route 188 crosses the creek near Jefferson. This is the easternmost place where State Route 188 crosses the creek. Go through either Mather (west from bridge, then right) or Jefferson (east from bridge, left in town) to join State Route 1011 east of Mather. Go north (up the hill) on State Route 1011. Take the right fork at the top of the hill to follow State Route 1011 to the take-out. Note that the designation changes to State Route 2039 as it crosses Ten Mile Creek in Clarksville. Take out as for Ten Mile Creek at Clarksville, just below the footbridge and before the banks turn to concrete.
Gauges: Jefferson. This gauge should read above 2.0 feet. This corresponds to a flow of 160 cfs. On the left abutment of the State Route 1011/2039 bridge in Clarksville, 13 bricks showing yields a low but quite runnable level. In addition, the shuttle runs along the creek for a mile south of Clarksville. If this section looks good, you are probably okay.
Normal Wet Period: This section is normally runnable from late December through late April. The Jefferson gauge is above 2.0 feet 30% of the time.