Codorus Creek, Pennsylvania, US

PA Route 24 to Codorus Furnace Road

Usual Difficulty	II(III) (for normal flows)
Length	4.4 Miles
Avg. Gradient	16 fpm
Max Gradient	30 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
Codorus Creek near York, PA
usgs-01575500	2.30 - 4.30 ft	II(III)	12h01m	3.02 ft (rc= 0.4 )

River Description

River Description:

General

The Codorus Creek is also called the inky stinky Codorus, because there is definitiely an unpleasant smell and taste to the water. For one PH Gladfelter(pulp and paper company) dumps "treated process" water into the Codorus Creek many miles upstream. I think this gives the water the light chocolate color. In addition directly below the put in bridge a sewer treatment plant dumps treated water into the Codorus from river right. The water quality is accepatable for plant and fish(according to PA DEP), however I know a few people that have gotten sick from taking in two much water on this creek. Aty lower levels the Creek definitely smells, at higher levels it is not as noticeable.

With all that said the creek is still a fun beginneer to intermediate level creek.

Put In

From Route 30 Take Mt Zion Exit(Route 24) North. The York Galleria Mall will be on your left as you travel north on Route 24. Travel(approx 3-4 miles) through a few stop lights, up over Rocky Ridge and at the bottom of the hill will be a Stop Sign. Turn right onto Sheman Street Extended(Rt 24). Travel approximately 0.5 miles to the Put In bridge. You can park on the downstream side/river right side of the bridge/road.

Takeout

From the Put In, cross over the Codorus Creek and continue north on ShermanStreet Extended(Rt 24) for approximately 4 miles. You will come to a tee in the road. Turn Right onto Codorus Furnace Road. Follow this road for approx. 3 miles. You will go down a hill and at the bottom you will cross over the Codorus Creek at the take out bridge. After you cross over the take out bridge turn right, continuing on Codorus Furnace Road and travel another 50 yards. Parking is available on your left at the stone Codorus Furnace.

Major Rapids:

The first mile is mostly flat water.

Entrance(?)(II+)

The first rapid has no name(I'll call it Entrance) that I'm aware(If you know a name let me know). It starts out with a nice little surfing hole at the top(on river left) of the sloping rapid. at the bottom of the rapid, catch the river right eddy and try your luck at the surfing wave/hole attached to this eddy.

Buckshot Rapid(III)

This Rapid can be run straight down the center, boofing off the rock in the middle. At higher level(>4.3 ft), there is a slightly sticky hole below the boof rock. You can also run a fun slot move on river right from the top and then work back into the center flow and catch the boof rock.This rapid got its name because you sometimes get hit by shotgun pellets from above. There is a shooting range*clay pigeons) on top of the canyon wall. It is a little unnerving if it happens to you and your not aware of what is going on. Don't worry no one has ever been hurt that I'm aware of.

Upper Dees Rapid(III+)

Start this rapid in the center, drop over the first ledge and try to catch the left or right eddy. In the first drop is a rock that has water rooster tailing off of it. This rock is not a big concern and can be paddled over at higher levels. Below the first set of right and left edies is a second right and left eddy that allows you to surf a river wide wave. Below this is a large rock with a channel running through it. You can paddle through the channel or you can go left of the rock or right of the rock. The hardest move is going through the rock. A slightly stick hole is on the other side of the center slot. On the rive right side of the rock , you can try your luck with stern squirts and cartwheels of the edge of the rock.

Lower Dees Rapid(III+)

Lower Dees is seperated from Upper Dees by 100 yards. Start this rapid in the center and work left . Catch the river left eddy in front of the huge rock in the center of the river. From this eddy you can surf a small dynamic wave. When you peel out of this eddy, you need to work towards river right so you do not get hung up on the rock. Below this is a pool and Dees Run comes in from river right. This a neat little falls.

Trout Run Rapid or Dead Dog(II)

This is a minor rapid, but it has an awesome squirt line on river left behind a sloping rock. You will know you are there because on river right there is a huge rock sticking out of the bank and Trout Run comes in from the right behind this rock.

For more information, see Keystone Canoeing by Gertler, E.