Beaver Creek 4-14-24

[mfdanko99]

CANCELED DUE TO HIGH WATER




Little Beaver Creek

Trip Leader Mike Danko
When- Sunday April 14th
Where- 12905 Sprucevale Rd, East Liverpool, OH 43920
(Beaver Creek State Park Primitive Campgrounds)
(Sprucevale Rd also goes by County Rd 428)
GPS 40.70586, -80.580351
Time- 10:30 am
Length 11 miles
Class I & II Rapids

Beaver Creek is one of my favorite trips of the year because I grew up paddling this section and camping at Sprucevale.
We will paddle from Sprucevale to the Lock 57 Community Launch in Ohioville PA.

Beaver Creek is known for its many class I riffles and two class II rapids as well as the scenic views.
Right after the St Rt 170 Bridge in fredericktown is the first class II rapid (Eagle Rapid). The second is after Grimm’s bridge is called dead man's curve, but you can go to the river left to miss it and hit the wave train.
I advise everyone to bring a spray skirt to help stay dry. Also an extra set of clothes is advised in a dry bag. Pack a lunch as we will stop near the middle to relax and stretch.
My minimum water level is 3.5ft at grimms bridge.
Any questions please email me at mfdanko99@yahoo.com Or call / text me 330-766-3129
Mike Danko

[EAR]

What's the max level we will run this ?

[mfdanko99]

Things aren't looking to good as of Friday night.
I was thinking of capping the paddle at 5.5 maybe 6 ft. At those level it is a swift water paddle with great class II+ in fredericktown.

As of 8.17 pm Friday night Beaver Creek is at 9.2 ft

Not looking good, I am watching other creeks and rivers to see if we could paddle something else.
Mike

[mfdanko99]

I am sorry to say tomorrow's trip on Beaver Creek is canceled due to high water. As of Saturday afternoon it is 9.39 ft. I was hoping for a max high of 5.5 ft

All other creeks and rivers are to high.

[dm7211961@att.net]

Is there anywhere that we could paddle that the high water wont matter? Like maybe geneva swamp or maybe mentor lagoons? Or maybeeven somewhere closer? Im game especially if theres a way i could maybe work on my canoeing skills?

[SOS57]

Any alternatives in mind? Maybe lakes we don't usually paddle. Newport should be up. We haven't paddled Bessemer City Lake.

[KenM]

Good choice on the cancellation. It's hard to say what kind of strainers may have been flushed into river after such a high level. It's never a good time to discover them when the river is moving fast.

Another problem... There is maybe 3/4 mile of slack water before getting to the takeout. The Ohio River is high now too. Normal ≈12.5 ft now ≈ 16-17 ft. I wonder how far upstream that pushed the slack water?

K & C were in southern Ohio last week during some major rains. We had a camp site right on the Ohio River for W & Th nights. The water was already high on the tree trunks. I checked a branch as a gauge mark. An hour later it was under water! Normal river is ≈20 ft. When we left Friday morning it was near 49 ft. ...and rising. Lots of flooding.

---KenM

[dm7211961@att.net]

Thanks for that report Ken...

Is anyone interested in paddling Bessemer or lake Newport and wetlands or maybe Pymatuning creek (but thats probably loaded with strainers) tomorrow. If not I just might go solo. All are welcome though...
Im open to any other suggestions.......
Dave M. (330) 770-1305

[SOS57]

Hey Dave. I can see paddling on a small lake. Newport should be up enough to paddle up to the island without getting grounded. Bessemer Lake is basically still water. The only flow I've noticed was was towards the beaver dam. I haven't paddled on the community park lake (across from the sportsman's club but it looks like a closed lake without a current. I think any of these would make a decent practice paddle.

[JPTolson]

Originally Posted by KenM

Good choice on the cancellation. It's hard to say what kind of strainers may have been flushed into river after such a high level. It's never a good time to discover them when the river is moving fast.

---KenM

A number of us have had the experience paddling Beaver Creek at 8.7 feet back in 2011 I believe it was. It was a wild ride, especially through Eagle Rapids. As I recall there were eight spills which included one canoe that got “loaded” to the gunwales (mine!) and one serious swim. So it is prudent to save this trip for another day when the water drops to a more reasonable level.
JP