A. Wolf Creek Above Grove City 4.0 miles
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
A Swamp Tiny (13/22) A/A
6 mi north of Grove City
Topographic Maps: Grove City
County Maps: Mercer
Description: A nice poling expedition begins at a put-in on the backwater of the old mill dam, just above the bridge by the old police station in Grove City along State Route 58, two blocks east of McDonalds. First paddle upstream on the backwater past the college campus, and then start poling above the Pine Street bridge, on up to the second low dam at the State Route 208 East bridge. Above the dam, paddle through a short marsh, and start into the very small stream, poling and paddling several miles upstream through beautiful low woodlands until it becomes too narrow. Only a true stump jumper would want to go above Interstate 80. [Reported 2002]
Difficulties: None on the river.
Shuttle: None if poling.
Gauges: None.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is tiny, it should normally be runnable only after a heavy rain or during spring snowmelt.
B. Grove City to Courtneys Mills 4.5 miles
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
C-I 9/10 Small
(87/133) A-B/A 1.6-4.3
Courtneys
Mills Wurtemburg
Topographic Maps: Grove City, Slippery Rock
County Maps: Mercer
Description: A pleasant trip through rural or isolated country.
Difficulties: No major problems other than fallen trees. [Checked 1998]
Shuttle: Put in on Sewage Plant Road (Greenwood Drive) about 0.25 miles downstream from the unrunnable dam at the old police station. Take State Route 173 south about 3 miles. Take right turn for Linley's Fishing Lake and continue about 0.75 miles to the creek. Ask permission of Mr. Linley to take out on his land next to the bridge. An alternate take-out would be at State Route 258.
Gauges: Wurtemburg. This gauge should read between 1.6 and 4.3 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 425 to 2,900 cfs. However, because of the distance to the gauge, Wurtemburg is at best a weak predictor. The shallowest part of the trip is just above the Lake Linley (Courtneys Mills) Bridge. McConnells Mill gauge further downstream will probably read above 1.0.
Normal Wet Period: The Wurtemburg gauge is above 1.6 feet 39% of the time and above 4.3 feet 3% of the time.
C. Courtneys Mills 7.3 miles
to junction with Slippery Rock Creek
Courtneys Mills to Slippery Rock Creek
Class Grad Size
(Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 11/20 Small
(100/167) A/A 1.9-4.3
mouth
of creek Wurtemburg
Topographic Maps: Slippery Rock
County Maps: Mercer, Butler
Description: This is a pleasant run through fairly remote areas. The stream is usually shallow, flowing over a gravel bed that occasionally changes to large flat rocks. The first few miles of this section are isolated, with the best rapids and the best scenery. The last several miles are much flatter and the shores are heavily populated by summer cottages.
In 1980, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy acquired 100 acres of virgin timber, wildflowers, and prime fishing waters including the 1 mile section known as Wolf Creek Narrows. It is appropriate for poling. [Checked 1998]
Difficulties: When spring thaw or heavy rain brings high water, fallen trees may block the river as potentially lethal strainers. Be very careful at high, fast levels.
Shuttle: To find the put-in take State Route 173 north from the town of Slippery Rock. After about 4 miles, take a left turn for Linley's Fishing Lake and continue about 0.75 miles to the creek. Ask permission of Mr. Linley to put in on his land next to the bridge. To find the take-out, return to Slippery Rock. Turn right/west on State Route 108. Go 3.0 miles to Moores Corner with the Dairy Queen. Turn left/south on State Route 4007 and go 0.2 miles to the Slippery Rock and turn left into the parking lot. Wolf Creek enters the Slippery Rock about a tenth of a mile upstream of this take‑out.
An alternate take-out is 2.5 upstream at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy's parking lot. To reach this take-out from the put‑in, continue past Linley's Fishing Lake at the put‑in and go to State Route 258 at North Liberty. Turn right/northwest on State Route 258 and go a short block to N Liberty-Pine Grove Road. Turn left/southwest onto N Liberty-Pine Grove Road. Go about 0.4 miles and turn left/south on Digit Road. Follow Digit Road for about 2.5 miles to the bridge. Turn into the Conservancy parking lot.
Gauges: The shallowest part of the trip is just above the Lake Linley (Courtneys Mills) Bridge. If the water is sufficient here, the run will probably be okay. The Wurtemburg gauge on nearby Slippery Rock Creek will probably read between 1.9 and 4.3 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 650 to 2,900 cfs at Wurtemburg. However, Wurtemburg is too far downstream to give a good indication of runnability. The chart below shows that readings below 2.8 (1,300 cfs) have been too low. McConnells Mill gauge, a little closer, will probably read between 1.0 and 5.0. This section is a major tributary of the Slippery Rock Creek, so it is probably too low when the Slippery Rock is low or marginal.
From 1976 to 1982 the US Geological Survey operated a
gauge at Courtneys Mills Bridge. Runnable levels on the Courtneys Mills gauge
were in the range 330 to 750 cfs. The correlation between that gauge and
Wurtemburg for 1982 is given by the graph below.
As the graph shows, Wurtemburg is only a fair predictor for Wolf Creek,
especially when water levels are rising or falling rapidly. There is no reason
to believe that McConnells Mill is much better.
Normal Wet Period: The Wurtemburg gauge is above 1.9 feet 27% of the time and above 4.3 feet 3% of the time.