Lockatong Creek, New Jersey, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III-IV (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 4.5 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 72 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 90 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockatong Creek at Raven Rock NJ | ||||
| usgs-01460880 | 3.90 - 5.50 ft | III-IV | 00h58m | 1.55 ft (rc= -1.5 ) |
Stephen Strange contributes:
Lockatong Cr. has the exact same geology as the Tohickon across the river in Pa. but instead of getting rid of its gradient evenly, it occasionally dumps a bit of it all at once. There is a 12' waterfall and at least two other ledges that are 5-6'. If there is a day or two of hard rain in the late fall to spring, this and Wickecheoke will come up and can be easily done together in a day.
The put-in for Lockatong Cr. is off of the side road, which is off of Rte. 651 (The Coordinates are UTM 18 497815E 4478741N). Basically you are putting in right at the confluence of the tiny tributary and Lockatong Cr., just upstream of Idell.
Though you can also take out at the picnic area on Rt. 29 along the Delaware (river-left for paddlers on the Lock.), most people take out at Raven Rock Rd. where it crosses the creek. The gauge is also there, on the river right abutment of the bridge.
The Online gauge is the Lockatong at Raven Rock,
Minimum to paddle all of the drops is 3.8-3.9'
Optimum range is 4.5-5.5'
Above 5.5' it gets very "exciting"
"The onsite gauge is at the Raven Rock Rd. takeout, on the river right abutment of the bridge.
"bare minimum water to paddle all of the drops is about 7', but the minimum fun level is about 7.5' and optimum is above 8'. I would imagine it would get pretty hairy at around 10'."
You can get an idea of the recent rainfall by checking the AFWS. The Stockton gage, #6453, is probably the closest to the watershed.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockatong Creek at Raven Rock NJ | ||||||||||||
| usgs-01460880 | 3.90 - 5.50 ft | III-IV | 00h58m | 1.55 ft (rc= -1.5 ) | ||||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockatong Creek [NJ] |
Lockatong Gorge
|
n/a | Robert Sandow | |
| 1y329d13h25m | @Lockatong Creek Just upstream of Idell to Raven Rock Rd. [NJ] |
Dave Milrod running Lock Falls
|
900 cfs | Robert North |
| 1y334d17h58m | @Lockatong Creek Just upstream of Idell to Raven Rock Rd. [NJ] |
Boofing the Dam
|
650 cfs | Robert North |
| 5y107d06h28m | Lockatong Creek [NJ] |
Lock Falls
|
~9 1/4 on brdige (~1 | Robert North |
| > 10 years | Lockatong Cr. [NJ] |
One of the smaller ledges
|
7.4' | Stephen Strange |
| > 10 years | Lockatong Cr. [NJ] |
Lockatong Falls
|
7.4' | Stephen Strange |
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. reach
state
reachlink
Just upstream of Idell to Raven Rock Rd., Lockatong Creek New Jersey, US (mobile)
User Comments
on the internet gage, 4.5' (400 cfs) should be the recommended minimum flow for running this. Also,
the upper recommended level is too low. Most Class III/IV paddlers will have a blast at 1000-1200
cfs, which is 6-6.2' on the internet gage (9-9 1/4 on the old painted gage) and can handle it up
reasonably well up to 1500 cfs (6.5' internet, bet 9 1/2 and 9 3/4 painted gage). Definitely
runnable by skilled crews up to 2000+ cfs (7' internet, ~10' painted gage) but it does get pretty
exciting at that level. Rule of thumb - If you have to hug your deck to get under the first bridge
down from the put-in, it is not for the meek of heart. If you can't get under the bridge, consider
another creek.
<p>
To summarize, here are my recommended levels:
</p>
<p>
Low = 400 - 575 cfs = 4.5' - 5.0' internet gage = 7 3/4 - 8 1/4 painted gage
</p>
<p>
Friendly Medium = 575 - 975 cfs = 5.0 - 5.8' internet = 8 1/4 - ~9 painted
</p>
<p>
Medium-High = 975 - 1500 cfs = 5.8 - 6.5' internet = 9 - 9 1/2 painted
</p>
<p>
High = 1500 - 2100 cfs = 6.5 - 7.2' internet = 9 1/2 - ~10 1/4 painted
</p>
<p>
Paddlers have been on it when surged to ~13' and have run the lower third at ~15-16' but these
were apparently epic adventures and definitely not recommended. My recommendation is don't put on
above 1500 cfs unless your with a strong crew that knows the creek since it is a fairly
continuous flush the entire 4 plus miles.
</p>
<p>
One last thing, I have only heard of the Lock or Wick holding for more than one day once (after a
tropical storm). You pretty much have to get on it the day of the rain or the next morning if it
rains overnight.
</p>
drop (right down the center ) wlll land you on some rocks. otherwise everything is runable. Note
that as of 12/12/10 that Lock Falls is better run from the left channel due to wood in the main
line. 2000 cfs is a good upper limit for most boaters. Gets pretty crazy at this level or above.
(Raven Rock Road)
<br>
Internet levels: Bare minimum water to paddle all of the drops is about 3.8'-3.9, minimum fun level
is about 4.5' and optimum is above 5.0'. Pretty hairy at around 6.5'. (updated 2006-11-24)