Commute via Yellow Breeches Creek

"Commuters Guide Volume 2"

<<SARCASM DISCLOSURE...However, all the paddling information is true.>>

Continuing the series of how folks can consider kayaking as a green alternative for commuting to work. Today, we will look at using the Yellow Breeches Creek which conveniently serves anyone from Mount Holly Springs area to Goldsboro.

Travel from Mount Holly Springs area to Goldsboro, PA

Named “Pennsylvania Scenic River” in 1992, the Yellow Breeches Creek is even more popular today as many fishermen and paddlers seek out the pastoral views to escape the heat and everyday stressors.

The story behind the naming of this creek dates back to the Revolutionary War. British soldiers either clad in their white breeches crossed the creek, or washed their breeches in the creek, and the knickers turned—you guessed it—yellow.

Originating on South Mountain, in Michaux Forest, Cumberland County, near Walnut Bottom, the "Breeches" flows west to east over a limestone valley. Many springs along the way feed this cool-water creek making it ideal conditions for trout.

Yellow Breeches to Susquehanna River

Unlike the Conodoguinet (see Commuters Guide Volume 1), this creek wanders through areas not as developed until you approach the Green Lane Farms and Allendale communities. Up until then, the banks are not adorned with dense housing, but rather limestone hills, forests and farmland.

Water Levels

For the commuter options, we will be starting at South Middleton Township Park between Mt. Holly Springs and Boiling Springs. The Camp Hill gauge should read over 1.4’ to paddle here and down to Messiah College comfortably and 1.3’ to paddle further south. Any lower and there are areas you may scrape or have to walk, boo. On the other extreme, again based on the Camp Hill gauge, action stage is 6’ and flood stage is 7’. My advice is if the gauge is over 3.5' and 650 cfs you might want to reconsider paddling to work unless you and your coworkers don’t mind the smell of feces.

Wildlife You Might See

• Brown Trout
• Rainbow Trout
• Brook Trout
• Great Blue Herons
• Common Merganser Ducks
• Mallard Ducks
• Snapping Turtles
• Box Turtles

  

  Common Merganser Ducks

The Route

41 miles of paddling on the Yellow Breeches and Susquehanna River

Click to access sheet in a larger view

Some things to note about the route:

• Allenberry Playhouse is for sale, pending an auction in July 2016. This shouldn’t impact your paddle, but the name of the establishment may change.
• As of Spring 2016, construction on the Locust Road Bridge has washed out the area above the bridge—think swamp—so it may not be paddle-able.
• As of June 2016, construction at Messiah College has forced the student commuters to park at Starry Fields parking lot and as a result the public may be forced to park elsewhere.
• As of September 2015, Yellow Breeches Park has been closed until further notice.

Commute Times

These times are based on proper water conditions, great weather, no headwind and you are paddling the whole time.

• Coming from the east of Mount Holly Springs (South Middleton Township Park) to work at Three Mile Island near Goldsboro will take you almost 13 hours as it is over 41 miles. Ignore the fact that you have to cross five dams and multiple other obstacles and focus on all the money you are saving by not having to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike!
• Perhaps you live in Boiling Springs and work at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg. The nice thing is you are paddling right up to work after a 3-hour paddle.
• Maybe you live in Lisburn (Lower Allen Park) and work at the Rossmoyne Business Center in Mechanicsburg. The paddle would only take you to two hours. Ignore the fact that it is only an eight-minute drive—12-minutes in traffic—and your suit will need ironed when you arrive.
• If you live in New Cumberland and work at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, you are looking at a 2:15 hour commute, mostly down the Susquehanna. All the while soaking in the historic sites of the former glorious steel industry on the bank of Steelton.

Final Thought

If you work at Capitol City Mall or the Camp Hill Prison and happen to live in the area of Slate Hill Road, Valley Road or Limekiln Road, I can offer an ideal commute. This one traverses through idyllic scenery and allows one to enjoy themselves versus the road rage and stop-and-go traffic. Put-in at Slate Hill Road and take-out at Spangler’s Mill. Years ago, I had a Pitbull mix that loved to swim/run along this stretch so I named it after her, Zoe’s Run. Take in the pastoral scenery, deep shaded pools flanked by dense trees as there is barely any development and enjoy this 30-minute commute as Zoe once did.

Zoe in the Breeches by Etters Bridge

Shout out to Marty R. for her input on the western part of the Breeches.

Resources

Map

Gauge data