Beaver Creek, Pennsylvania, US

Alpine Road to Bull Road

Entering Ring Rapid, Beaver Creek

Entering Ring Rapid, Beaver Creek
Photo of Keith Strausbaugh by Mark Kennell

River Description

River Description:

This creek flows out of Gifford Pinchot Park Lake (Northeast corner of the lake). Beaver Creek's upper reaches lie underneath the manmade Gifford Pinchot Park lake.

Beaver Creek begins at the bridge on Alpine Road. Parking is available on the upstream river-right side of the bridge. The takeout is located on Bull Road at the bridge crossing. Parking is available on river right, downstream of the bridge.

The run can only be made in the late fall, winter or spring after heavy rains or continuous rain for several days. This dam has a spillway and a drain valve; when the lake is full, water will naturally flow over the 100-ft spillway to provide natural flow. Sometimes, water is released from the dam through a drain valve. Every three years, the lake is drained to a certain level to allow algae to be killed. This release typically lasts one week. The release is typically enough (valve 1/2 way open) to provide minmum runnable levels.

This creek is very tight (15 feet at its narrowest). The entire run is approximately 1.5 miles long. The first 0.5 miles is relatively flatwater (Class II).
The next and final mile is continuous Class III-IV.

Wood is definitely a problem on this creek, including fallen trees and overhanging trees.

Main rapids described in rapids section. All other rapids are class III-III+.