Deckers Creek,

2. Preston Co. line 5.8 mi to WV 7

Usual Difficulty	I-IV+(V+) (may vary with level)
Length	5.8 Miles
Avg. Gradient	80 fpm
Max Gradient	250 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
DECKERS CREEK AT MORGANTOWN, WV
usgs-03062500	150 - 1000 cfs	I-IV+(V+)	01h12m	15 cfs (rc= -1.9 )

River Description

Latitude, Longitude data are approximate.

Don't be fooled by the average gradient listed here. The gradient goes, mile by mile: 40, 30, 60, 250, and 90 in the last 0.8 mile. Therefore, it averages 190 ft/mi over the last 1.8 miles. Since you can put in at various points along the road, the paddler looking for gradient probably doesn't need the first two or three miles.

Here's what Bobby Miller has to say about Decker's after one run:
"Here is my personal opinion on Deckers. I think that run is very hard and very scary. My impressions were that you could die about 5 ways in every rapid. I was scared on it (which doesn't happen a lot). Granted, I ran everything so that makes it a lot scarier but still it is very scary. I think that the Upper Blackwater is not even in the same class as Deckers. Deckers has harder rapids and more and bigger sieves. The creeks in Canaan are way more user-friendly (Otter, North Fork) with not so many undercuts to catch you if mess up. My opinion of Deckers is that it is a run for top creekers (guys who dominate easy creeks like the North Fork and Upper B) in top condition. It opened my eyes and got my heart ticking. I enjoyed Deckers but it wasn't as fun as I thought it would be. I was so worried about falling into the ugly caves and sieves that litter the run that I really couldn't sit back and enjoy as much as I hoped. I think I prefer to either not have the sieves around when I boat or not know they are there. Just my opinion."

Conservation organization: check out Friends of Deckers Creek.