Dealers' Choice-Conneaut Creek

[mfdanko99]

Conneaut Creek-State Rd to Creek Rd
Trip Leader- Mike Danko
When- Sunday April 3rd
Where- State Rd Covered Bridge -5882 State Rd Kingsville, OH 44048
GPS 41.886558875786235, -80.62064680235531
Time 12 Noon
Length- 9 Miles
Class 1+ Rapids

I finally made a choice!! Water level is holding really nice and I feel it will stay at a nice Level. At 10am the Conneaut USG Gauge is reading 3.05 ft.
Paddle Zero is 2 ft.
It's been 9 years since TCT has done Conneaut Creek as a Scheduled Trip. This hard to catch creek was designated as State Wild and Scenic River in 2006.
For a 9 mile paddle the shuttle is 3.5 miles with easy parking at both ends.
I choose the later start as it is calling for nicer weather in the Afternoon. High's about 41 Degrees and Part cloudy.
Use Cold Water Paddle Precautions
Please Post on website or Call / Text me if you plan on going. It makes it easier to know how many to expect. Any questions 330-766-3129
Hope for a nice turn out on a very hard creek to catch.
Mike Danko

[SOS57]

See you there.Looks like another good day on the water,

[mfdanko99]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRFB5_IALVc

my trip in 2015

[JPTolson]

I'm planning to attend. Have to take this opportunity when we can.

[mfdanko99]

Still a go
Looking forward to this paddle

[JPTolson]

Many thanks to Mike Danko for leading a wonderful trip down the hard-to-catch Conneaut Creek in the far northeast corner of Ashtabula County! What a beautiful and fun run it is and what a great way to brighten paddlers’ spirits on an otherwise gloomy and chilly day.

My first thought after rising and watching the early morning snow falling was ‘Why am I driving 80 miles to paddle in this miserable weather? I must be nuts!’ My first thought after paddling a quarter mile on the creek was ‘I am very happy I drove 80 miles to see this gem and experience its peppy current, many rapids, and beautiful scenery.’

Ten hardy souls (nine paddlers plus Bob Danko who came to help with the shuttle) met at the State Road covered bridge put in on a very damp, windy, overcast, and chilly day. And mud was everywhere! The conditions kept usual pre-paddle dithering to a minimum before we ran a class II-III shuttle over muddy roads filled with potholes that drivers swerved to avoid like paddlers dodging rocks on the river.

The creek rewarded everyone with nearly constant action on the water and beautiful scenery on the shore. Dozens of class I rapids delighted paddlers along the nine miles to our takeout at Creek Road. And many shale cliffs, hemlocks, and white-barked sycamores combined to paint a beautiful riverscape that was more winter-like than spring. We also saw two bald eagle nests and two bald eagles.

Several paddlers from the area added a welcome local flavor to the group of six kayakers and three canoeists. We are happy to report no carnage, although we did stop a couple times to “de-water” some of the kayaks. I believe Mike said that the USGS gage reading was 2.57 at the time we put on the creek, giving us plenty of water for an enjoyable trip.

It was another great day to be on the river!