Tohickon Creek, Pennsylvania, US
|
|
Ralph Stover State Park to Point Pleasant (PA Route 32)
| Usual Difficulty |
II-III (for normal flows) |
| Length |
3.8 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
42 fpm |
| Max Gradient |
70 fpm |
The Green Monster
The Green Monster
Gauge Information
River Description
Typically releases are scheduled for March & November.
Hope to see you there!
The Tohickon is a jewel to us locals. It offers some great play, scheduled releases, and lots of
activity after heavy rains. It is a good Class III run that can be viewed as a stepping stone for
novice and intermediates or as a fun play creek for intermediate and advanced paddlers. There is a
fun play hole that serves up some great surfing and verticality to those that are patient. There
are at least six challenging rapids in this 3 mile stretch that will keep anyones attention.
Scheduled two day releases are generally the last weekend in March and the first weekend in
November.
Ralph Stover State
Park
For more information, see Keystone Canoeing by Gertler
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2004-11-09 19:47:18
Editors
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
(iCal)
User Comments
waterlevel to the left of Pyramid rock.
at the water level and not visible from above till your right on top of it. I would strongly advise
running the left side of this rapid until this has been verified clear, the normal line next to
pyramid rock will lead you directly into this dangerous strainer. This tree has been there for over
a month, it's probably going to stay until someone removes it.
at the takeout, both put in/take out have no charge on dam release and both have parking lots.
http://adf.ly/3dbgp
weren't but might get there the next time it rains, there is a new pinning hazard that I want to
publicize. DON'T take the 'sneak' line on far river left on second ledge, the one where you drop
through a slot into a pool and miss all the holes. I've run it many times but now the drop has
changed (I'm told a log that was in the crack between two rocks is gone) and now it's very
dangerous! I personally saw 4 pins in that crack over the weekend, and there were many more. The
crack was catching all boats big and small but it was far worse with a playboat, one that I saw
with a very small boat actually had the paddler and boat slip down totally into the crack, all that
was above water was one waving hand! This could have easily been a disaster..so BEWARE!
clips from all the rapids on the tohickon after the nockamixon dam release in 720p HD ------>
http://adf.ly/3aedH
200 yards above Pyramid Rock. Passage on extreme left. Hazard for swimmer, beware at higher levels
than today (3/4/10 at 600 cfs).
info. at Northeastern Whitewater USA. (www.balajthy.com/tohickon.html). The section from Lake
Nockamixon to Ralph Stover State Park is a easy class II through farm country. The whitewater
section starts at Stover and runs down to the Delaware at Point Pleasant, PA. It is about 3 miles
of medium to hard class III. A lot of surfing waves, holes and ledges makes it very popular and
very crowded during release weekends. The put-in is at the old bridge at Ralph Stover State Park.
After a few hundred yards of warmup, the river starts off with a bang at Fish or Swim. A large
sticky surfing hole on river right, with a surfing wave in the center right next to it. There is a
small eddy on the right, and a large one on the left. Just below on the left is a small friendly
side surfing hole. Down past the rock climbers at High Rocks is Corner Hole. A surfing hole on the
left, with an eddy below and above. The left side of the hole is a little sticky and pour-over-ish,
but its easy to get out the right side (and then some power stroking to get back into the eddy).
After some small ledges is the Chute (a.k.a. Chainsaw or Flume). There are boofing rocks with a
micro eddys behind them on the right or left, with a big eddy below the chute on the left. Nice
surfing waves in the center. 100 yards below is a small ledge with an eddy to its right, with a
squirtable eddy line. Some more small ledges and waves leads to the first ledge, No Name Ledge.
This is a small single drop which can be run down the center, or thru a slot on the right. The
right side slot can give rocky popups to short boats. A side surfing hole is about 100 yards below.
The fun starts with the next rapid, First Ledge. This can be run center-right over some pillows
down thru a surfable wave/hole. Alternatively you can eddy out left after the first little drop,
and then ferry right (with a couple of stops to surf waves) and down to the wave/hole. Then pick a
number and get in line to surf the hole. Great backenders for boats with low volume back decks. A
quick pool to catch your breath, and you come up to Second Ledge. This is a two part drop (this
ledge and the one above is is also called Triple Drop). The first river wide ledge can be run to
the center right, and then down to the right of the washed over rock at the bottom. Or you can run
a chute on the center left of the first drop, eddy out in the pool, and either then ferry over far
right or thread the needle to the left and then behind the washover rock (a raft snagging rock is
ready for you if you don't cut behind the washover rock). Another pool brings you to the start of
the area used for slalom races - the Race Course Rapid. You can enter on the left, and stay middle
left down past rocks and ledges to the end of a small island. Or, you can catch a slot to the right
of a washed over rock in the center, and then down to a surfable hole. Head left after the hole to
the end of the island, and then down thru some nice waves in a fairly narrow section. Eddy out at
the bottom. The last big drop is Hat's Rock Rapid (a.k.a. Ricki's Rapid). Scout it from the left
shore to be sure to catch all the good spots on the way down. You can enter it on the right past
some irritating small rocks, then down through waves and a couple holes on the right side. Keep the
big rock to your left at the bottom. For the more adventurous, you can enter it at a small chute at
the center left. Spin your boat and drop into the hole facing the left side. Back out of the hole
and ferry over right to drop into two holes in the center of the drop. If you come out of the left
side of the first hole, you are in for an interesting ride through some slots down the left side of
the river (especially if you are in a low volume boat). Below this drop is a rather sticky hole
along the right shore, and then the last gasp of the Tohickon, Pyramid Rock. Aim just a shade to
the left of this rock which is just off the right shore, brace off some steep pillows, and shoot
past the rock. Or, eddy out on the right shore just above the rock, and ferry over into the pillows
above the rock. For the less adventurous, it can be completely snuck by staying left. The site of
my first (and unfortunately not the last) swim on the Tohickon back in the dark ages of prehistory.
Coast on into Point Pleasant, enjoying the scenery, and take out at the small park (if you have a
shuttle bunny - don't park there and don't block the road), or at Bucks County River Country (and
pay some $ which goes to the local fire department), or continue on to the Delaware and head
downstream to Bulls Island State Park take-out on the Jersey side. Its about a mile and a half down
the Delaware just below the Lumberton wing dam. Don't block the roads when loading or unloading to
keep the locals happy. The local Boy Scouts sell some great hot food at the Ralph Stover put-in on
fall release weekends.
http://www.iplayoutside.com/Events/2004/11/6538e.html<br>
<br>
Tohickon Creek Description<br>
Photos & Info. by Northeastern Whitewater USA.<br>
<br>
The section from Lake Nockamixon to Ralph Stover State Park is a easy class II through farm
country.<br>
<br>
The whitewater section starts at Stover and runs down to the Delaware at Point Pleasant, PA. It is
about 3 miles of medium to hard class III. A lot of surfing waves, holes and ledges makes it very
popular and very crowded during release weekends. The scenic [Put-In]<br>
<br>
After a few hundred yards of warmup, the river starts off with a bang at [Fish or Swim] A large
sticky surfing hole on river right, with a surfing wave in the center right next to it. There is a
small eddy on the right, and a large one on the left. Just below on the left is a small friendly
side surfing hole.<br>
<br>
Down past the rock climbers at High Rocks is [Corner Hole] A large sticky surfing hole on river
right, with corner Hole (a.k.a. Diagonal Ledge). A surfing hole on the left, with an eddy below and
above. The left side of the hole is a little sticky and pour-over-ish, but its easy to get out the
right side (and then some power stroking to get back into the eddy).<br>
<br>
After some small ledges is [The Chute] (a.k.a. Chainsaw or Flume). There are boofing rocks with a
micro eddys behind them on the right or left, with a big eddy below the chute on the left. Nice
surfing waves in the center. 100 yards below is a small ledge with an eddy to its right, with a
squirtable eddy line.<br>
<br>
Some more small ledges and waves leads to the first ledge, [No Name Ledge]. This is a small single
drop which can be run down the center, or thru a slot on the right. The right side slot can give
rocky popups to short boats. A side surfing hole is about 100 yards below.<br>
<br>
The fun starts with the next rapid, [First Ledge]. This can be run center-right over some pillows
down thru a surfable wave/hole. Alternatively you can eddy out left after the first little drop,
and then ferry right (with a couple of stops to surf waves) and down to the wave/hole. Then pick a
number and get in line to surf the hole. Great backenders for boats with low volume back decks.<br>
<br>
A quick pool to catch your breath, and you come up to [Second Ledge]. This is a two part drop (this
ledge and the one above is is also called Triple Drop). The first river wide ledge can be run to
the center right, and then down to the right of the washed over rock at the bottom. Or you can run
a chute on the center left of the first drop, eddy out in the pool, and either then ferry over far
right or thread the needle to the left and then behind the washover rock (a raft snagging rock is
ready for you if you don't cut behind the washover rock). Another pool brings you to the start of
the area used for slalom races - the [Race Course]. You can enter on the left, and stay middle left
down past rocks and ledges to the end of a small island. Or, you can catch a slot to the right of a
washed over rock in the center, and then down to a surfable hole. Head left after the hole to the
end of the island, and then down thru some nice waves in a fairly narrow section. Eddy out at the
bottom. The last big drop is Hat's Rock] (a.k.a. Ricki's Rapid). Scout it from the left shore to be
sure to catch all the good spots on the way down. You can enter it on the right past some
irritating small rocks, then down through waves and a couple holes on the right side. Keep the big
rock to your left at the bottom.<br>
<br>
For the more adventurous, you can enter it at a small chute at the center left. Spin your boat and
drop into the hole facing the left side. Back out of the hole and ferry over right to drop into two
holes in the center of the drop. If you come out of the left side of the first hole, you are in for
an interesting ride through some slots down the left side of the river (especially if you are in a
low volume boat). Below this drop is a rather sticky hole along the right shore, and then the last
gasp of the Tohickon, [Pyramid Rock]. Aim just a shade to the left of this rock which is just off
the right shore, brace off some steep pillows, and shoot past the rock. Or, eddy out on the right
shore just above the rock, and ferry over into the pillows above the rock. For the less
adventurous, it can be completely snuck by staying left. The site of my first (and unfortunately
not the last) swim on the Tohickon back in the dark ages of prehistory.<br>
<br>
Coast on into Point Pleasant, enjoying the scenery, and take out at the small park (if you have a
shuttle bunny), or at Bucks County River Country (and pay some $ which goes to the local fire
department), or continue on to the Delaware and head downstream to Bulls Island State Park take-out
on the Jersey side. Its about a mile and a half down the Delaware just below the Lumberton wing
dam. Don't block the roads when loading or unloading to keep the locals happy.<br>
<br>
The local Boy Scouts sell some great hot food at the Ralph Stover put-in on fall release
weekends.<br>
We put on at the so-called secret put in, just upstream of Ralph stover park. Pretty continuous
water all the way to the dam at the normal put in. There is a break in the dam, run with a slight
left to right angle to hit the break in the hole. Easy move.<br>
<br>
From there the first good rapid is just a little downstream and around a left bend. This from what
i understand is the so-called green monster. Nice hole top right, and a smaller hole on the bottom
left. Easy 2+ move thru the rapid if you can read it. Nice eddy for play on both sides.<br>
<br>
Next was a bunch more fast moving class 2 followed by a river left ledge hole. Easy to avoid on the
right, or catch the left eddy to play the hole. More fast moving class two water leads you to the
three ledges. There is a false ledge before you get to the big three. For intermediates these are
all read & run. Easy scouting and portaging on both sides for beginners. Most of the ledges
were run down the right side.<br>
<br>
Then more fast class two. Not a whole lot of flatwater on the run. Nice!<br>
<br>
I can't remember if the rapid split by the rock was above of below the ledges. The left side drops
you into a shallow but punchable hole, the right side is a sneak. Easy portage on the right and
left. Lots of surfing done in this one.<br>
<br>
<br>
Next biggie was the race course. Its the longest rapid on the river. Easiest route is down the
left, but there are option center & right and some holes to be avoided. Once again, read &
run for an intermediate.<br>
<br>
The final big rapid had a garage sized rock on the right. There was a nasty log over there, so most
of us ran left.<br>
We took out at the big confluence parking lot with the delaware.<br>
<br>
Fun run, easy shuttle, good play. A nice one for a beginner looking to bounce up a notch.<br>
Brad.
somehow manages to provide excellent traffic flow at the put-in but do follow the instructions of
park police and the temporary traffic signs. Takeouts basically include one pay to park location at
the mouth of the creek (river left) and some other tiny legal and illegal spots. Please patronize
the big pay to park site. Funds go to support local activities (fire department, etc.) The
beginning of the first day of the release weekend bunches up the paddlers at all play spots but by
afternoon or morning of the next day things are more relaxed on the creek.