A. Yellow Creek
State Park Dam Outlet 3.0 miles
to Ferrier Run Road
A. State Park Dam Outlet to Ferrier Run Road
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 24/29 Tiny
(40/67) A/A
estimate
Topographic Maps: Brush Valley
County Maps: Indiana
Description: The problem with paddling this section is that you are not allowed to land a boat on the spillway or breastwork of the State Park dam. This results in either a 0.5-mile carry to the put-in or a 1.25-mile paddle on the lake and 0.25-mile carry. If you paddle the lake, take out to the right of the outlet tower on the inclined road to the top of the dam. Then carry across the breastwork and down to where the outlet and spillway meet.
This is a trout stream and is lined with beautiful overhanging hemlocks and rhododendron thickets. The first 1.5 miles is easy paddling with riffles and chutes and lots of room to pick a route. The second half is a lot faster, starting with a roaring chute after a long quiet section. Other difficulties are tight turns with fast current and fallen trees. This proves to be an exciting run when the water is up. The take-out is on the right side at the old Ferrier Run Road bridge abutment (no bridge). Within the last 100 yards or so, there is another exciting chute-ledge which has a big wave you must crash through. [Checked 1999]
Difficulties: Respectable Class I-II stream with downed trees blocking or partially blocking the paddling route.
Shuttle: To put in below the lake, take US Route 422 bypass east from Indiana; take Chestnut Ridge exit, right about 100 yards, sharp right back toward bypass, left about 400 yards and down over the hill to the gate at the parking lot. Carry equipment past the gate and follow the road to the right towards the dam, cross the breastwork and continue down to the junction of the spillway and dam outlet where you can put in. For the lake put-in, follow US Route 422 to State Route 259 (just past Pikes Peak Nursery). Turn right, away from the marked routes, and follow the blacktop lane to the North Shore Boat Launch on Yellow Creek Lake. To find the take-out point, follow State Route 954 south past the US Route 422 ramp and turn left on a blacktop lane which parallels US Route 422 Bypass. At the next dip, in about 1.1 miles, turn right on Ferrier Run Road. This dirt roads ends at the stream.
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. Ferrier Run Road
2.5 miles
to State Route 954 Bridge
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 32/46 Tiny
(55/92) A/A-B 2.2-??
estimate Homer
City
Topographic Maps: Brush Valley, Indiana
County Maps: Indiana
Description: It's well worth the extra effort to carry up stream 100 yards to catch the chute/ledge in this section. There is no warm-up on this stretch because the rapids and rocks start right away. In lower water you have to watch for rocks, and in higher water you get a lot of choppy waves. The hardest rapid is just above the backwater of the Waterworks Dam. This rapid, which was man-made by bulldozers creating a barrier 3 to 4 feet high, is runnable through a narrow chute on the extreme right. It is best to eddy out on the right side and walk down to see if there are any logs or strainers. The rapids on this lower section are more technical because of the many rocks. [Checked 1992]
Difficulties: Scout the 3‑foot man-made drop above the Waterworks Dam. Portage the dam on the right side, land 100 feet upstream from the breastwork. The dam is about 15 feet high. It has a nasty hydraulic at the bottom. Launch downstream beyond the strong backwater created by the dam.
Shuttle: To find the put-in follow the instructions for the take-out on Section A, above. To get to the take-out follow State Route 954 south into the Yellow Creek valley. Take out on the left side of the stream, upstream of the bridge.
Gauges: Homer City. This gauge should read above 2.2 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 85 cfs. There is a gauge 100 yards upstream of the Waterworks Dam on stream left, but the gauge is not reported. If it reads 3.0 feet, the stream will be a rocky run. Between 3.5 and 4.5 feet is a very exciting level. Above that, the gauge is washed out and the stream is quite fast, with bigger standing waves. To get to the gauge, take a stripmine road which runs up the left side of the stream and a side road to the Waterworks Dam, and hike up to the gauge. The easiest way to check the water level is to look upstream at the State Route 954 rapid. If it looks obviously low, do not go. If the water is so high it is frightening, do not go.
Normal Wet Period: The Homer City gauge is above 2.2 feet 40% of the time. Since this section is tiny, it should normally be runnable only after a heavy rain or during spring snowmelt.
C. State Route 954
Bridge 3.5 miles
to State Route 56 Bridge
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 23/80 Tiny
(57/107) A-C/A-C 2.2-??
Homer
City Homer
City
Topographic Maps: Indiana
County Maps: Indiana
Description: Launch upstream of the bridge on the left side. Within sight of the bridge the stream divides into three channels. After a mile or so you paddle out of the woods into the barrens of a mining area. Here the water changes from trout stream quality to a vile yellow brew of acid mine drainage. In several sections the stream becomes quite wide; if you run it too low, you will have to walk your boat a little. After passing an old coal tipple the stream approaches the US Route 119 bridge, where there is a lot of concrete rubble which is very tough on boats. The left span under the bridge ends in a 3‑foot vertical drop; the right side is runnable, but narrow (this is the best side to walk the boat if water is low). Next is a small iron bridge and then the Main Street bridge in Homer City. After a swift S-turn rapid, Yellow Creek flows into Two Lick Creek. The State Route 56 bridge is just downstream of the junction. Take out on the left side downstream of the bridge. [Checked 1992]
Difficulties: Watch out for the first rapid where the stream narrows and splits into three. The best chute is the first branch to the right; the other two run through narrow brushy routes. However, the best chute is quite swift and flows toward the bank with some overhanging trees. Run it tight on the inside of the turns. You may want to stop and scout the hidden end of the chute. The US Route 119 bridge is dangerous on the left side due to a 3‑foot vertical drop and a lot of sharp concrete rubble. Run under the right span of the bridge; it is narrow, but has no vertical drops.
Shuttle: The put-in is on the bridge where State Route 954 crosses the creek. Turn south to get to State Route 56. Follow State Route 56 west through Homer City to the bridge. The FMC company has a large parking area at the take-out and has allowed boaters to use their property in the past.
Gauges: Homer City. This gauge should read above 2.2 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 85 cfs. A large rock in the center of the stream just upstream of the Main Street bridge in Homer City is a good indicator. If you see more than a foot of the rock it will be a tough trip with scraping and boat walking. If you just see the rock and can pull into the eddy behind it, the level is about just right. If higher than that, the stream washes out many interesting rapids making the course straightforward with bigger waves.
Normal Wet Period: The Homer City gauge is above 2.2 feet 40% of the time. Since this section is tiny, it should normally be runnable only after a heavy rain or during spring snowmelt.