East Sandy Creek guide
 

Finally got things together enough to get this video put on youtube.

It's a paddler's guide to one of the fun beginner whitewater creeks in NW PA, East Sandy Creek.

Not that it's a tough creek to paddle, and needs a guide. But beginner kayakers sometimes want to know as much info as possible before committing to a new run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3uzJaHESLw

Steve Z

Thank you for taking the time to putting the video togethor.

That is a creek I want to do.
Again thank you
Mike

Thanks for posting the video. Having biked the trail along Sandy Creek several times, I often wondered if it paddleable. Now that I see it can be paddled, I'll have to consider a paddle and pedal. Thanks again.

Very useful video guide. Thanks for posting. Hope to paddle this creek one day.

I was fortunate enough to get out Wednesday for a paddle -pedal on East Sandy. This was the first trip that was not brown water. I started the paddle in Van which is the eastern most bike trailhead. The water was clear enough to see about 3 feet deep. Likely the lowest water lvl I've paddled. I would venture to say it was about as good as it could get for a rec boat. Yes I hit a few rocks but then i enjoy negotiating rock gardens. Van is a pretty easy put in but the take out has to be desired. The trip from Van to the mouth is 11-12 miles but the current is always there. The pedal back is about 7 miles all uphill but the grade is negligible. Not a strainer to impede the paddling but one spot I ended up taking a shallow channel around a couple braided islands. Other than Mays Mill and a few cabins it is a fairly secluded valley. I will see this one again the sooner the better

Glad that you got out - that's a fun run and the weather was pretty sweet.

After reading your report I checked the gauge height for Wednesday. It was above 3.5 ft all day, up to 3.8 ft. If the level was low it confirms a suspicion of mine that the gauge has somehow changed. For years I've been looking for 3.5 or above, and felt pretty safe heading over to paddle at that level (unless the Oil Creek gauge was dropping fast). Now I'm thinking I'll be looking for a bit higher level to make the trip - maybe start out at 3.75 ft.

Thanks for the info Paul.

Steve Z

With a correlation gage you also have to consider rainfall. I was a bit concerned because the maps i looked at showed oil creek watershed received a bit more rain in the days previous to my paddle.

Painted Gage
 

I checked two guidebooks, Canoeing Guide to Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virgina, 1991 edition, and Keystone Canoeing by Ed Gentler, 2004 edition. Both mention a painted gage on the Route 322 bridge pier at Van. Gertler guesses that the minimum is 4.5 on the painted gage and that 5.5 is "excellent." He suggests the Rouseville gage on Oil Creek should be over 1,200 cfs (4.15 feet). The Western PA guide says that a reading of 3 on the painted gage is too low to put in at the 322 bridge, but adequate at the Route 257 bridge, about 5 miles downstream of Van.

Might be a good weekend for an East Sandy trip. Considering giving it a shot on Sunday, weather and schedule permitting.

Anyone interested, post up here.

Steve Z

I am interested in paddling on Sunday. If we get the predicted rain 1/4 to 1/3 inch, that should put it at a good lvl. The only problem I may have is passing Scrubgrass on the way to East Sandy.

I am interested in paddling, i thought I sent this reply 8 hours ago sorry. pH # 724-730-6351.

I put my bicycle carrier on my roof rack and will plan on peddling back to the put in.my phone 724-730-6351.

Well, it looked like a great level for East Sandy on Sunday, but my neck was giving me too much pain to consider paddling. Sat around most of the day with the heating pad on instead :(

I did get on Beaver Creek from the mill to the group camp at Sprucevale early on Saturday though. Water level was a bit lower than the last couple of times, but I was able to get some surf on the wave there at about 780 cfs (short video clip on youtube if anyone is interested - search for 'Beaver Creek Ohio surf').

Paul, I'm sure you got out on something Sunday with the water levels up just a bit. Was it good enough for Scrubgrass, or did you head over to East Sandy?

Waiting for the next rain event - although the temps the upcoming weekend are supposed to be in the 60's. If the water level drops down low enough I might try a lower Slippery Rock Creek run (if my neck or any of my 100 other injury remnants don't speak up). Anyone interested, post up and we'll try to formulate a plan.

Steve Z

I didn't get past the Big Neshannock. But I got on a stretch of the creek i hadn't previously paddled. I dropped my bicycle at the bridge in Millburn and started in Coolsprings creek behind the Mustang bar on route 58 in Mercer county. I was quite a bit surprised by the volume of water flow. If and I think it probable that there are riffles all were washed out save the ones above Hopes Mill. I was able to negotiate approximately 6 strainers that had i been in a recreational boat I would have definitely portaged. Some because of turns more a spin and a couple with low clearance. After passing route 258 the scenery was all wooded and seemingly fairly remote. The bicycle shuttle was mostly route 19 a designated bicycle route and passable. It's always good to get out and double that on new water even if you don't find compelling reasons to return, but I wouldn't bet against my paddling that section again. I think less water would be preferable it i will take what I can get.