Octoraro Creek

April 14, 2010

Paddled beautiful Octoraro Creek tandem with Cathy Gunn on Wednesday, April 14th on a sunny day with temps topping out in the high 60s. Put-in was at the covered bridge below Octoraro Lake near the water treatment plant. Take-out was 15 miles downstream at the bridge on Horseshoe Road. The gradient on this stream is 9 feet per mile and it was evident right at the put-in that it would be a fast trip in swift current. Octoraro is an Algonquian word meaning "rushing waters" and the Lenape named this stream appropriately. The creek drops approximately 130 feet in 15 miles and it is characterized by a succession of ledge drops and rock gardens separated by placid pools.

When we put in around 10:00 a.m., the morning fog had already burned off, but the air was still cool. Once we pushed into the current we immediately had to start the never-ending process of darting between rocks which dot this creek like freckles on a red-head. The rocks and boulders you can see are realatively easy to avoid. It's the stealth rocks just below the surface that play havoc with you on this stream.

The Octoraro cuts a meandering course through rich farmland and rural countryside in southern Chester and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania and Cecil County in Maryland as it makes its descent to the Susquehanna River. Along the way it moves swiftly through rolling hills and wooded glens with huge boulders often lining its banks. The scenery is magnificent and wildlife abundant. The highlight for us was seeing two huge bald eagles in full plummage - one flying directly in front of our canoe and the other roosting in a creekside tree. They are truly majestic birds.

After stopping for a nice lunch along the banks, we passed by the one eyesore on the creek - a large quarry operation with its heavy machinery and stone-crushing equipment grinding away. The quarry lines the right bank for about a half mile. Although the commercial quarry mars the bucolic nature of the scenery, it is fascinating to watch the men and machines making huge piles of stone from the extensive rock deposits.

The creek requires diligence in navigating the ledge drops and multitude of rocks. Although one is tempted to act like a tourist and watch the beautiful scenery, you really can't be that casual on this waterway. You have to pay close attention and continually scan for rocks just below the surface. As we appoached the final two miles, we knew our greatest challenge awaited. In scouting the finishing stretch on GoogleEarth, it was obvious the creek would make one long drop with a continuous succession of rock gardens in swift current.

As we began this final section the current quickened  and the rocks came at us fast and furious. We darted in and out of stone guardians, often changing course on the fly to draw away from an obstruction we saw at the last second before kissing it. The stealth rocks tried their best to snare us. In the last 20 minute slalom scramble to the take-out we got hung up on  submerged rocks twice. Both times we wiggled off by pivoting 180 degrees with the bow pointing upstream. Each time another quick 180 put us back on course pointing downstream.  The Octararo saved its best for the last. Once we passed under the bridge at the take-out,  we made a quick eddy out on the right and beached the Pathfinder.

The Octoraro really tested our tandem skills, especially in the final mile. Tandem canoeing, even in class I and II whitewater, is always a challenge and much more difficult than paddling solo. Communication and coordination of maneuvers is critically important. Teamwork doesn't come without a lot of effort.

If you get a chance to paddle the Octoraro, don't miss this beautiful and exciting waterway. The level for our trip was 3.45 feet on the Octoraro / Richardsmere gage. Levels below 3.00 feet would probably be scratchy.