Yellow Breeches Creek Water Trail

Y Map & Guide E K L E The Yellow miles of the Yellow Breeches Creek. This guide outlines L E O R Breeches Creek three fl oat trips: Trip A – Lower stretch (~1.8 miles), Trip W C originates on B - Middle stretch (~9.6 miles) and Trip C – Upper stretch B E S R E E C H South Mountain, (~1.5 miles). The guide is divided into three trips because in Michaux State For- of the existence of several hazardous dams and the lack of est, Cumberland County, near approved access and/or portage. Camping is prohibited at Walnut Bottom. From there the Yellow Breeches fl ows all access points with the exception of Lower Allen Com- through the limestone-rich Cumberland Valley and joins munity Park (B4). Trail use is limited to daylight hours. the Susquehanna River near New Cumberland. The mainstem of the Yellow Breeches is some 49 miles Trip A Fishing Opportunities long and drains 219 square miles of forested areas, farm- This section is small and about 20 feet wide in most land and suburbs. Most of the developed land is currently areas. The water temperatures tend to stay cool most of congregated in the lower watershed, with forested areas in the year, compared to the rest of the stream, except for the headwaters and on the hilltops. Agriculture dominates downstream, where springs empty cold water from Boiling the fertile valley areas, lending a pastoral setting to the Springs Lake into the Yellow Breeches. The water is char- middle reach of the stream. In 1992, the Yellow Breeches acterized by little rapids and pools. The Yellow Breeches is was designated a “Pennsylvania Scenic River.” The por- world-renowned for its exceptional trout fi shing. tion of the mainstem encompassed by this water trail is characterized mainly by long, shady pools with occasional Trip B Fishing Opportunities dams and riffl e areas. Small rapids, pools and smooth water characterize this This article is an abbreviated version of the full pub- section. Upstream of this section is where feeder streams lication, currently in production. For more information add cold water and fl ow that benefi t the fi sh species in on water trails, visit the Commission’s web site, www.fi sh. the stream, such as trout, smallmouth bass and rock bass. state.pa.us. The stream is narrow in some areas and then widens in others places because of the small feeder streams. Mayfl y Access hatches include the white fl y that occurs in late summer. The Yellow Breeches Creek Water Trail Map & Guide Baits that work well include minnows, waxworms and provides boating and recreation information for some 13 nightcrawlers. A R Camp Hill IVER ¨¦§81 ^ ¨¦§83 Trip C Fishing New Cumberland Hazard ^ XY*# Hazard Opportunities XY(!C3 Mechanicsburg (!C2 Hazard (!C1 This section offers water that’s over- Legend ^ XY Hazard XY 76 Trip C looked by many anglers. Throughout Dams ¨¦§ XY (! Trip A this section there are fewer anglers (! Trip B (! than on any other stretch. There will Trip C (!B6 *# USGS Gauge (!B5 also be fewer fi sh than in the more (!B4 productive upstream sections. In B2 (!B3 (! addition to trout, anglers will also (!B1 Boiling Springs HazardHazard Hazard fi nd fi sh species like rock bass, lar- ^ XYXY Hazard XY (!A2 XY Trip B gemouth bass, smallmouth bass and YELLOW BREECHES CREEK Trip B / (!A1 1 brown bullheads. Miles Trip A 16 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • July/August 2008 www.fi sh.state.pa.us

008julaug5-29.indd8julaug5-29.indd 1166 66/18/2008/18/2008 112:35:162:35:16 PPMM TRIP A cer, basketball, tennis, playground equipment, volleyball A1 - South Middleton Township Park. This 40-acre and a driving range. Camping is available by reservation. park, located on Park Drive, is owned by South Middle- B5 – Liberty Forge. Liberty Forge is a resort located at ton Township. The site provides creek access for boating 3804 Lisburn Road in Lower Allen Township that features and fi shing with ample parking. Other amenities at this an 18-hole public golf course, lighted golf practice range, park include nature trails, picnicking, restrooms, benches, miniature golf course, fl y and pond fi shing, river trips, baseball/softball, soccer, tennis, basketball, volleyball and and a nationally registered arboretum. The public may playground equipment. access the creek for boating and fi shing at the bridge at Wittlinger Nature Preserve. The Donald L. Wittlinger Old Forge Road. Nature Preserve is a 50-acre nature preserve owned by B6 - Yellow Breeches Park. Yellow Breeches Park is the end South Middleton Township that features creek access, op- point of Trip B. The site, located on Sheepford Road, is a portunities for nature exploration and hiking trails. 14-acre undeveloped park owned by Lower Allen Town- A2 – Boiling Springs. TAKE-OUT ONLY. Boiling Springs ship. The park provides creek access for boating and fi sh- is the end point of Trip A. All boaters should exit the ing. Informal parking is available along the road. 1 LLS O HI PARK RT LI

LAVINA BER 15 ON LL REYN O Rt RCHARD PS creek on the left before the stone bridge near the swim- WINDING HI TY WINDING HI THOM

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LAVYNNDON GR D Rt 15 O D BR !(B6 OAK LAKE WO CA AM NAGOL BER ELSTAR swimming pool at Race Street. Additional parking is avail- SCAD JO FO BL XF EW OOD KSHIRE EBERLY ZLER KE HERT IR MP Y E OOD DW LL RAVEN HILL HO NT E GHT RA RE FO

TTANY KLIN NI XF S CRES ELGIN UMM RT 15 M A able at Children’s Lake (Front Street) and the Historic Iron KI ER IR U ERFIEL S WIST ED TU ANDE E BROOKW MN ENIC SC IN M W D MP BIG HORN EAD OOD A ST OOD W B5 OW SPEN !( LI N JUAN SBURN SPRING RUN PINE SA 15 RA LLO

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Trip A ARCONA Trip A MA T M WA Ch CCORM BIRCHW BURY COND NDA il R LLCRESTSE BRE dr ER HI 0.1 LNUT GRANDV D La RM IEW en RIDE IC OOD ke P Miles THIR ’s K Z BURNS BUCHER HI M LI A MI !(B3 LL B2 !( ARF

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MIDDL BR RACE EGE WN ON OP ENN LL CREEKSIDE E HI SH E JA G CO HI BI ME H B1 GH S !( LA L MARTIN Trip B ND NDERSONTO JESSI MILL A WHARF CA IT YO 0.3 Y RUN SAW ET ON RK S SUMM ST O Miles LL GI BI N LBER I A T TRIP C C1 - Creekwood Park. Creekwood Park is a 12-acre unde- Wittlinger Preserve veloped park owned by Lower Allen Township. The site is located at the terminus of Creekwood Drive. The loca-

!(A1 ER tion provides creek access for boating and fi shing, limited TANG N AI

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MO Y C2 – Lower Allen Township Authority. The Lower Al- H len Township Authority on Limekiln Road permits public TRIP B creek access for fi shing and boating opportunities. En- B1 - Messiah College. Messiah College is a privately trance to the facility is via Beacon Hill Boulevard. Limited owned educational facility in Grantham. The public may roadside parking is available along the driveway, outside access the creek at the historic covered bridge on campus. the facility fence. Parking is available at Starry Field. Beacon Hill. EMERGENCY TAKE-OUT. Beacon Hill is a B2 - Simpson Park. Simpson Park is a 20-acre park owned 7-acre undeveloped park owned by Lower Allen Township. by Upper Allen Township and located on Route 114 near The site is located on Beacon Hill Road. Because of the Bowmansdale. The park features creek access, walking lack of facilities, the site should be used only as an emer- trails, picnic facilities, grills and restrooms. gency take-out point. Access is available on a walk-in basis B3 - McCormick Park. McCormick Park is a linear park only and parking is this location is limited to the street. owned by Upper Allen Township on McCormick Road. C3 - New Cumberland Borough Park & DAM. TAKE The site provides creek access for fi shing, canoeing and OUT ONLY. New Cumberland Borough Park is the end tubing. Informal parking is available along the road. point of Trip C. Do not attempt to navigate over the dam! B4 - Lower Allen Community Park. Lower Allen Commu- All boaters should exit the creek on the left immediately nity Park is a 110-acre park owned by Lower Allen Town- on entering the park. This 29-acre park is owned by New ship. This facility is located at 4075 Lisburn Road. The park Cumberland Borough. The entrance to the site is located provides creek access for boating and fi shing with ample on Front Street. Amenities at the park include creek access parking and restrooms. The park also features nature trails, for fi shing and take-out only, baseball/softball, playground biking trails, picnic tables/pavilions, baseball/softball, soc- equipment, restrooms, picnic tables/pavilions, benches

www.fi sh.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • July/August 2008 17

008julaug5-29.indd8julaug5-29.indd 1177 66/18/2008/18/2008 112:35:182:35:18 PPMM and a drinking fountain. Camping and boat mooring are Current: Never underestimate the power of moving strictly prohibited. water. Boaters who are not sure that their boat or their 3 MA RAMP C T LOCUS M RK ARDM APL ET BROOKHAVEN A TH H BR LLE IT SUSQUEHANNA IGH T IDGE E N E OR LL SM ^ RIVER ability is up to the prevailing conditions should stay off CE E DA GE DA VI LSON SEVENTH NewAR CumberlandR COND S FIRST WI BEACON HI Y SE HARRISON ROSS CEDAR HESS MILLER D R the water. H Y FIFTH RE BL DE NO MA UMBERTO URT RUB THIR CHERRY ACKLAT D Y ERFI HI RA IV LL FO ESKY TOP IR BRUCE MI D B EU TH EL EEC DREXEL HILL PEAR TA RA CH D W FRONT Cold water: Sudden immersion in cold water can lead H S R I8 O DREXEL VARA 3 ROSS EW YLOR LL ROSE NO TA K VI JAMES NE PO SECOND RKVI WO MO YA PLAR LOWE PA NO RD NT to cardiac arrest or can cause a person to inhale water. EY ODLA B EEC MN EW RT I83 VI ND CHI HA H OWBROO EY SC Hazard LL MP ON VA SE EAD TO TT L VIEW M Hypothermia: Hypothermia is the lowering of the N TA XY YA AIRPORT LE RM

OU HI CAPI ARMS TH T COBB LL NGS SI 83 FRON ¨¦§ KI DE WA body’s core temperature. It begins with shivering. Judg-

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EDINBURG LL !(C2 CY Death can occur if hypothermia is not treated. QUIN BLACKSM Beacon Hill ALLE Emergency YORK WI BEACONHILL NDING NDA I- Take Out 83 IT Heat exhaustion/sunburn: When it is hot, wear sun- H LE HUTTON DE !(C1 OA OO SBERRY ENSI PO K WI D GL PL LE AR glasses, a hat, and lightweight, light-colored clothing. Apply

NT SH ER MO CO AT FA LA ON IR MMERCE VI EW sunblock with a high SPF rating and drink lots of fl uids. WINONA OL D IN OL D RT SP D YORK MA RINGER

S LN EKI ¨¦§76 Trip C LIM 0.1 EMERGENCY INFORMATION ATE CORPOR EV Miles A A E NI Fire, Police & Medical Assistance Paddling safety tips Emergency Dial 911 • Wear your life jacket. Non-Emergency Calls: Carlisle Area (717) 243-4121; • Even the best paddlers sometimes capsize or swamp their West Shore Area (717) 238-9676. boats. Bring extra clothing in a waterproof bag. Carlisle Regional Medical Center, 361 Alexander Spring • Be prepared to swim. If the water looks too hazardous to Road, Carlisle, PA (717) 249-1212. swim in, don’t go paddling. Seidle Hospital, 120 South Filbert Street, Mechanics- • If you capsize, hold on to your boat, unless it presents a burg, PA (717) 782-3131. life-threatening situation. If fl oating in current, position Holy Spirit Hospital, 503 North 21st Street, Camp Hill, yourself on the upstream side of the capsized boat. PA (717) 763-2100. • Scout ahead whenever possible. Avoid surprises. • Be prepared for the weather. Stream conditions • Wear wading shoes or tennis shoes with wool, polypro- The Yellow Breeches Creek is designated a Class I-II pylene, pile or neoprene socks. stream on the International Whitewater Rating System. • Never take your boat near, or go over, a low-head dam. To check water levels on the Yellow Breeches near Camp Dams are drowning machines and are dangerous to ap- Hill, visit the USGS online for real-time data at http:// proach from upstream and downstream. waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv?01571500. You can also • Portage (carry) your boat around any section of water contact the Central PA Forecast Offi ce in State College at about which you feel uncertain. (814) 234-3861 for stream conditions. Refer to station • Never boat alone. #01571500, Yellow Breeches Creek near Camp Hill. • Keep painter lines (ropes tied to the bow) and any other The USGS gauge height near Camp Hill should read ropes coiled and secured. at least 1.4 feet to navigate the stream successfully. Flood • Never tie a rope to yourself or to another paddler, espe- stage on the Yellow Breeches near Camp Hill is 7 feet. cially a child. • Kneel to increase your stability before entering rougher Acknowledgements water, like a rapid. This guide was a collaborative effort of the following • If you collide with an obstruction, lean toward it. This partners: Cumberland County, Yellow Breeches Water- will usually prevent your capsizing or fl ooding the boat. shed Association, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, • File a fl oat plan with a reliable person, indicating where Lower Allen Township, New Cumberland Borough, South you are going and when you will return. Middleton Township, Upper Allen Township, and the York County Planning Commission. Hazards on the water Dams: Water going over a dam creates a back current, or undertow, that can pull a boat and capsize it. Strainers: Trees are typical strainers that can trap and fl ood boats. Water fl ows through these obstructions, but solid objects do not. Strainers can pin victims underwater.

18 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • July/August 2008 www.fi sh.state.pa.us

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