Yough

Lower Yough - 2006

Ohiopyle to Bruner Run

7.4 Miles

Class III-IV

Avg Gradient: 25 fpm
Max Gradient: 45 fpm

Gauge: Youghiogheny at Ohiopyle, PA

*Pictures & Video compliments of Patty Hachick
Click pictures to enlarge

**Must have QuickTime Player to view videos**
(get QuickTime Player)

7/16/2006
Level: 2.15 ft, 1150 cfs?
Craft: OC-1

Railroad Rapid

Video Clips

Railroad Rapid

The Frogs Back

Dave at Railroad

Bruce Running Railroad

Click hyperlink to view video clips

6/17/2006
Level: 1.77 ft, 924 cfs
Craft: OC-1

Cucumber Rapid

Video Clips

Rock Garden above Cucumber

Cucumber Rapid

Dave Surfing at Cucumber

Bruce Running Cucumber

Click hyperlink to view video clips

Page design by:

Send mail to riverrat1969@comcast.net
with questions or comments about this website.

Finally, I've been able to paddle this stretch of river enough; so, I can give my description of it. It all seems to start quite quickly after putting in below the 20' waterfall at Ohiopyle.

"Entrance" is the first rapid encountered. If play is what you're looking for, you'll enjoy this one. Starting with some nice surf spots, things soon become more complex. Ledges occur as the channel twists to the left. To make things more interesting, boulders are mixed in as well. This combination creates several hydraulics and irregular waves. The goal is to end up in the eddy on river left.

Looking up at "Entrance"
Photo taken from "Cucumber Run"
June 2002
Level unknown

Peel out and work your way though a class 2 rock garden to set up for the biggest drop on the river. This would be known by many as "Cucumber" A good place to be is just right of "Table Rock" in the middle of the river. Otherwise, a hole may eat you.

Next is "Camel and Walrus" It is sort of an illusion from above. Left of the "Camel" right of the "Walrus" is a good thing to remember.

Name says it all for this one. "Eddy Turn" can be negotiated in different ways, easiest is down the left side. Then, catch an eddy to get right. Catching eddies down the right side is a little trickier.

The final rapid in "The Loop" is "Railroad" If there is enough flow (est. at least 2') "Frogs Back" can make this one a breeze. If not, be prepared to drop a ledge in the center. Either way, an eddy to the right will give you a chance to make a choice. A popular move from the eddy is to ferry in front of the hole to river right.

This completes mile 1. The next 2 miles are known as "The Doldrums" There is some class 2 water here.

"Dimple" is the next major rapid. A fast river left channel into a dangerous undercut known as "Dimple Rock" This can be scouted or portaged from the landing on the right. Shoot for the eddy behind "Vulture Rock" If you don't make it and manage to avoid "Dimple Rock" "Pour-over Rock" will be waiting for you. A sneak exists down the center, if there is enough flow (EST at least 2') Below "Dimple Rock" there is some heavy water, a large eddy and some more heavy water.

"Swimmers" is a river wide hydraulic. Great Play! If you don't want any part of it, Stay far right.

Run "Bottle of Wine" on river right. There are some nice waves below the drop.

"Double Hydraulic" is best described by a large hole with a big wave below. The wave becomes a hole at lower levels.

You'll known when you're at "Rivers End" The river appears to be blocked by huge boulders. It's not. Angle left and paddle hard to get into the eddy on river left. The first time that I ran this was a blast. I recall the moment when I was on top of a wave looking down into the eddy. Awesome!

"Killer Falls" is rough. If you don't run it backwards, the river gods will be angry.

The easy line through "Bruner Run" is down the right. Down the left, there is a move between two rocks. Be sure to be in the right place because there are some mean holes here. Take out on river left.

Note: There is a visible gauge at the put-in. Not sure what the correlation is between it and the government gauge, but it is not the same. I believe the one at the put-in reads lower.

I ran this stretch around a half dozen times in the last 2 years. I've seen the river at different water levels. At approximately 5' It looks nasty for open boats. I've ran it at lower water levels around 1.8' and it is still doable. However, the long flat stretch called "The Doldrums" makes one become very choosy. The good thing about this run is that due to the dam, it usually runs when everything else is too low. The dam also adds another factor. The water is always cold even in the dead of summer.

This is no doubt a commercial stretch of river. If the weather is good, you will share the river with several rafts rented from the many outfitters in Ohiopyle. Some outfitters may provide shuttle as long as you inquire early enough and they can fit you in with their groups.

Heard a lot about the great fishing on this run. I tried a couple of times with no luck.

My First Love, Since this is where I grew up. I'm currently living in Greenock, PA. Very close to what is called "The Bottom Yough" It is nothing more than a Class C rating but offers great bass fishing in a moderately populated setting.

My first paddling experiences were on this river. Thinking back, I believe it was the first time I canoed. My cub scout pack took a fleet of canoes down "The Yough" Can't recall what section it was. My recollection was that I was in the only boat out of 10 that didn't flip in the "rapids" Years later, I paddled Dawson to Layton and took a Shredder down "The Middle Yough"

This is also where I learned to respect the power of water. In 2000, I met Ed while I was working for Nick. Ed once worked for Laurel Highlands River Tours in Ohiopyle. At this time, Nick had a few river trips under his belt, a couple with Ed and a couple with Andy. Meanwhile, I was running sections of "The Bottom Yough" with a borrowed canoe known as "The Radisson" I was also renting canoes to run Dawson to Layton "The Radisson" was made of thin aluminum with a flat stern for a trolling motor. My friend Joe and I ended up taking this boat down "The Middle Yough" with Ed sporting his Mad River Guide. A year later, growing with enthusiasm for the sport, I decided to buy a cheap Coleman Ram-X. Knowing what these boats were like in the past, I thought this would be sufficient. However, around this time Coleman moved the company to Canada and the new models didn't compare to the old. This boat was purchased prior to my first overnighter on The South Fork Of The Shenandoah in Virginia. This is also where I met Andy and Dory. I guess what I'm trying to say is that "The Yough" is "The route of it all" Getting back to the respect for water, The second time I used the Coleman was with Joe. We started down "The Middle" with Nick in his touring kayak. It was early April 2001. The water level was about a foot above the recommended limit. Joe and I approached "Ramcat" After punching into some standing waves, the canoe was thrown off balance and turned sideways. We were going for a swim! I grabbed the boat. It was upside down then full of water and sinking. The force was taking me with it. I let go and took a ride through the rapid. After getting washed out, I saw the canoe under the surface and tried to get it. There was no success due to the weight of the swamped boat and the swift current. The Coleman was never seen again. Needless to say, a lot was learned that day. From then on, I started becoming familiar with topics such as outfitting, clothing and river levels. I was paddling again soon. By the end of the month, I purchased a Mad River Teton.


Above "Cucumber Rapid" Photo taken from "Cucumber Run" June 2002 Level unknown	Shredder near "Table Rock" "Cucumber Rapid" Taken from "Ferncliff Trail" Summer 2001 Low water