Where to Paddle When Water Levels Are Low

Where to Go When It’s Low

The dog days of summer leads us kayakers--who love to paddle in moving water--into a quandary. 

Where is it deep enough to paddle without walking the boat?

Our hobby sometimes comes to a halt mid-summer as we suffer from what seems like near drought conditions. Like farmers, we are encouraged by thunderstorms, but their brevity doesn’t increase the flow enough to paddle with confidence. Yet we still have hope!

This list is what I call my “last ditch efforts” to paddle within 90-minutes from Harrisburg area. 

I have provided the waterway, the sections and the recommended minimum gauge height (so you don’t have to walk your boat). Cringe! 

Be careful as many waterways have dams, rock outcrops, ledges and shallows that may still require you to carefully navigate, or dare I say, walk. 

And, for all you sadomasochists who enjoy a march, feel free to ignore my blog and all gauge height recommendations and go paddle, err hike.

On the Susquehanna River near the West Fairview access point (on the right); Harrisburg, PA is on the left.

“Last Ditch Efforts”

Susquehanna River

From Port Trevorton, PA to Harrisburg, PA

Gauge: 3.25’ Harrisburg, PA

Conestoga River 

From Mill Creek below Lancaster, PA to mouth (Susquehanna River)

Gauge: 1.4’ Conestoga, PA

Monocacy River

From Devilbiss to mouth

Gauge: 1.7’ Jug Bridge in Frederick, MD

CFS: 215

“Hopefuls” but don’t hold your breath…

Juniata River

From Raystown Branch to Mount Union, PA

Gauge: 4.0’ Huntingdon, PA

Gauge: 2.6’ Mapleton, PA

From Mount Union, PA to the mouth (Susquehanna River)

Gauge: 3.5’ Newport, PA

Schuylkill River

From Auburn, PA to Port Clinton, PA

Gauge: 5.5’ Berne, PA

From Port Clinton, PA to Muhlenburg, PA

Gauge: 5.1’ Berne, PA

Conestoga River 

Brownstown, PA to Mill Creek (south of Lancaster, PA)

Gauge: 1.9’ Conestoga, PA

Monocacy River

From Rt. 77 to Devilbiss

Gauge: 2.1’ Jug Bridge in Frederick, MD

CFS: 350

Antietam Creek

From Keedysville, MD to mouth (Potomac River)

Gauge:  2.6’ Sharpsburg, MD

CFS: 165

The next blog will cover some "gems"--waterways that are a rarity to paddle (without walking), but very enjoyable.

Mastering Logistics for a Recreational Kayak Trip

Who is this for

• Recreational paddlers doing moving water with a put-in (start) upstream and a take-out (end) downstream.
• Recreational paddlers wanting to know the total time of a trip. 
• Captain organizing a recreation paddle trip with a group.

Considerations

Number of boats, gear, people and vehicles

1. Do you have a life vest, a paddle and, as of 2012, a sound-producing device* for each person?
2. Do you have enough boats for people?
3. Do you have enough vehicles to transport the boats, gear and people?

Drive time: Duration from your house to the put-in or take-out or back home

Shuttle time: Duration of shuttle

• This is personal preference, but the shorter the shuttle, the more time for fun. 10-20 minutes is typical.
• See my blog on Shuttling Step-by-Step

Distance to paddle (miles)

• The number of miles helps determine if it is a casual afternoon paddle, a day paddle or an overnight camping trip paddle.

Float time

• I call this float time, but if you are in a waterway with a current and obstacles, you might find yourself paddling just to keep in control. So factor in that it is a mix of paddling, floating and even a break for a stretch. These averages are on the low side because I factor in breaks. I’m old—I need to stretch. I’m young—I need to explore.
• In the summer when water is flowing low and slow, divide the distance (miles) by 2mph. For example, a 7-mile trip will take 3.5 hours to float.
• When water is moving (note spikes in CFS**) or you will be doing a constant paddle, divide the distance (miles) by 3mph. So a 12-mile trip will take 4 hours.

Food and drinks

• Check out this nerdery: A Hyrdation Calculator by CamelBak…I love it 
• My general rule is to have 16 oz. per hour. So a 4-hour trip would mean I bring (2) 32-oz. water containers. Also, I like cold water so I put in lots of ice and keep it in a cooler with ice packs.

Time Constraints (e.g., sunset, dinner plans, babysitter needs to leave)

• This is the tricky part. Calculate it using the formula below and back time it. For example, if your total time <<feel free to use 2mph to be sure you have enough time versus the average of 2.5mph>>

Calculation Example

A 10-mile trip with a 15-minute drive and shuttle each way would take approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes. This means if your group had to be back by 5pm, then don’t leave the house later than 10:30 AM.

Juniata River – Howe Park (3 miles south of Newport, PA) to Ann Street in Duncannon is 10-miles. The float time is 4 hours. The shuttle is 15 minutes one-way. However, from my house, the drive to put-in is 40-minutes and the drive from take-out is 35 minutes. So I average up and down to nearest quarter of an hour, and use 45-minutes as the total unpacking/packing.

Example with 2 people, 2 boats, 2 vehicles

Drive to take-out = .5 hr

Shuttle 1-way = .25 hr.

Unpack = .25 hr.

Float = 4 hours

Pack = .5 hr.

Shuttle 1 way = .25 hr.

Drive home = .75 hr.

TOTAL = 6.5 hours

Example with 4 people, 4 boats, 2 vehicles

Drive to put-in = .75 hr

Shuttle 2-way = .5 hr.

Unpack = .25 hr.

Float = 4 hours

Pack = .5 hr.

Shuttle 2-way = .5 hr.

Drive home = .5 hr.

TOTAL = 7 hours

Did you know?

*The Pennsylvania Boating Handbook lists in Chapter 2 the “operators of unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards) are required to carry a device capable of sounding a prolonged blast for 4-6 seconds that can be heard by another boat operator in time to avoid a collision. An athletic coach’s whistle is acceptable.”

**CFS means Cubic Feet per Second