Flatrock - Old U.S. Hwy 421 to Conns Creek (6.8 miles)


Flatrock, Indiana, US

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Old U.S. Hwy 421 to Conns Creek (6.8 miles) (Flatrock River at St. Paul)

Usual Difficulty I(III) (varies with level)
Length 6.8 Miles
Avg. Gradient 7 fpm
Max Gradient 10 fpm

Flatrock surfing


Flatrock surfing
Photo by Denny Wortman taken 05/10/09 @ 550

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
FLATROCK RIVER AT ST. PAUL, IN
usgs-03363500 200 - 1500 cfs I-II 00h32m 308 cfs (rc= 0.2 )
Good beginner play level. Gauge (303 sq.mi. drainage) is midway on reach, thus very accurately portrays actual flow.


River Description

The flat shelved rock (for which the river is named) creates hydraulic jumps that are a blast. At the lower discharges it should afford many surfing opportunities. At the larger levels, a thrill but probably not technically challenging.

One report forwarded to AW includes descriptions of being in troughs that "I could not see out of and at least one haystack that I avoided that was probably 7-8 feet tall."



Benjamin Swain provides (2008-04-07):
We put in at the Hidden Paradise campground just outside St Paul, rather than the old 421 bridge. A fun beginner river, some good surfing waves.


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2009-05-12 22:26:25

Editors



Tom Surfing

Detail Trip Report  Tom Surfing  Flatrock River, St Paul, IN(3.03MB .jpeg)

Punching Waves

Detail Trip Report  Punching Waves  Flatrock River, St Paul, IN(2.74MB .jpeg)

The Mini Wave

Detail Trip Report  The Mini Wave  Flatrock River, St Paul, IN(3.21MB .jpeg)

Surfing the Flatrock

Detail Trip Report  Surfing the Flatrock  Flatrock River, St Paul, IN(2.97MB .jpeg)

Catching a wave

Detail Trip Report  Catching a wave  Flatrock River, St Paul, IN(2.91MB .jpeg)

43127.jpeg

Detail Trip Report  43127.jpeg  flatrock, IN(1.03MB .jpeg)

43133.jpeg

Detail Trip Report  43133.jpeg  flatrock, IN(1.04MB .jpeg)

Flatrock surfing

Detail Trip Report  Flatrock surfing  flatrock, IN(1.02MB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

Levels of 200 cfs plus are reportedly class I. Somewhere above that, some large standing waves appear.

Benjamin Swain provides (2008-04-07):
Prime window is said to be 800 cfs to 1200 cfs. Around 1000 cfs it gets borderline Class II. A group ran it at 1600 cfs and said it was fast and there were few eddies. Looked like a bad level to swim at.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
FLATROCK RIVER AT ST. PAUL, IN
usgs-03363500 200 - 1500 cfs I-II 00h32m 308 cfs (rc= 0.2 )
Good beginner play level.
Gauge (303 sq.mi. drainage) is midway on reach, thus very accurately portrays actual flow.
RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
0 - 100 cfs extremely Low-somewhat Low I Too low for real whitewater.
100 - 200 cfs somewhat Low-barely Low I Swiftwater float; possible very minor play.
200 - 500 cfs barely runnable-med runnable I-II Good beginner play level.
500 -1000 cfs med runnable-a bit pushy runnable I-II Sweet level. Very playable.
1000 -1500 cfs a bit pushy runnable-high runnable II Pushy and probably less playable.
1500 -9999 cfs barely High-extremely High II Big water flush.

Report - Reports of Flatrock Old U.S. Hwy 421 to Conns Creek (6.8 miles) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
306d20h16m Flatrock River, St Paul [IN] Flatrock River - 1000 cfs 1000 cfs Scott Puthoff
2y277d08h16m flatrock [IN] Flatrock surfing 550 Dennis Wortman

WXPort

News





User Comments
2011-04-11 02:54:22 (306 days ago)
Ran on 3-18-2010 at 750 CFS. A few playspots downstream of Hidden Paradise CG. Put in at 421
Bridge. Out at Conns Creek. Not extremely quick current at this level and waves were such could be
run Open Canoe without flotation. Would prefer to run over 1,000 CFS. Talked to some locals who
also preferred at higher levels. Ran on 4/10/2010 at 1000-1100 cfs. I agree with all of these
statements. The most fun rapids are just after the bridges at the tri-lake/Hidden Paradise
campground section of the river. The last 20 minutes before the take-out at River Road were super
flat/smooth and relaxing. Not a good river level for beginners who have never paddled whitewater
before--we had 5 canoes and 4 flipped at some point--some more than once. Edit
Users can submit comments.

Rapid Descriptions

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 Old U.S. Hwy 421 to Conns Creek (6.8 miles), Flatrock Indiana, US (mobile)