Pine Creek Water Trail by Jim Hyland (from May/June 2007 PA Angler & Boater magazine) Pine Creek is one of Pennsylvania’s most Planning your trip from Ansonia to Waterville. In fact, the scenic and historic water trails. Although Pine Creek can be paddled Commission stocks trout starting at the When not able to navigate the swift safely from Galeton, the Pine Creek Genesee Fork of Pine Creek and ending waters by canoe, native peoples walked Water Trail begins at the Big Meadows at Waterville, an amazing 56.7 miles of an ancient footpath along the shore. Access Area near Ansonia, Tioga County. stocked stream. Pine Creek has more Described as a “howling wilderness” by Located closer to where Pine Creek miles stocked with trout than any other early pioneers, the Pine Creek Gorge and plunges south into the Grand Canyon of stream in Pennsylvania. lower valley still offer an amazing natural Pennsylvania, and having adequate public Pine Creek also has two Delayed- experience to paddlers. parking, it’s an appropriate place to Harvest sections where special While navigating Pine Creek, one begin. regulations apply. The first section is can’t help but imagine what it must have Most paddlers start their journey at from Ansonia (near Darling Run) to one been like some 200 years ago, given how Ansonia, navigate the canyon, and then mile downstream and ending near the spectacular it remains today. Historical take out 17 spectacular miles later in confluence with Owassee Slide Hollow. accounts of the area describe huge pines Blackwell. This section takes about six A second Delayed-Harvest stretch is in and hemlocks, maybe 8 or 10 feet in hours to complete, but it can be done Lycoming County from the mouth of diameter, and massive American much faster or slower depending on the Slate Run to Naval Run, a reach of about chestnuts. The commercial value of those water level, boat types, paddling speed, 1.2 miles. trees would bring signifi cant and stopping to fish, etc. There are state Pine Creek’s large size will challenge sometimes devastating change to Pine forest and private camping facilities in an angler’s skills. Light- to medium- Creek’s shores. the area where paddlers can spend the action spinning and baitcasting outfits Water-powered sawmills began to night along the creek and then paddle on are strongly suggested. Fly-fishing appear as early as the 1790s, and scores to points downstream for one, two, three outfits of 5-weight or more and 8 feet or more steam-powered mills came and went or more days, depending on the distance longer are safe bets when fishing what with the various floods of the 1800s. you want to travel and the amount of the “locals” call “Big Pine.” Massive logs were muscled into the creek exploring, fishing or sightseeing you’d Although it holds large brown trout, and individually floated to distant like to do. Contact the Tioga or Pine Creek provides more of a markets, while others were lashed into Tiadaghton State forests for camping warmwater fishery below Waterville to huge rafts that even had their own living information. the mouth near Jersey Shore. However, quarters! In the past few years, “recreational” feisty smallmouth bass and walleyes can Wildlife abounded, too. Herds of elk kayaks have become popular among river be caught from the canyon to the mouth. grazed on the shores, and panthers trippers. Still, plenty of traditionalists Pine Creek offers some excellent prowled among the high rock outcrops. prefer an open canoe (or raft) for smallmouth bass fishing in the lower The pools were full of native brook trout, journeying with spouses, gear, etc. section. Other species in addition to and American shad seasonally migrated Sturdy paddles are a must (plus a spare), trout and bass that are targeted less from the Atlantic. Like the shad, each and secured waterproof gear bags prevent frequently by anglers are rock bass, year hundreds of people return to the soaked or lost clothing and equipment. suckers and carp, especially in the lower creek to capture the profound experience Coast Guard-approved life vests are reaches. of fl owing with cold, clean mountain mandatory for all occupants, and wetsuits Consult the current Pennsylvania water downstream to the ocean. should be worn in springtime and fall Fishing Summary regarding Pine Creek. when the water is cold. Use extreme caution when wading. Pine If there is anything negative to be said Creek is very swift, slick and Pennsylvania about the experience of floating Pine unexpectedly deep in many places. Official Water Trails Creek, surely it’s the slight hassle of Note: Fishing information was The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat shuttling vehicles. Several boat and compiled by members of the Jersey Commission is the sole agency that equipment rental businesses operate in Shore Area High School Boating and designates official Pennsylvania the region that offer shuttle services for Fly Fishing Club. water trails. However, individual those renting equipment or without the Flow conditions trails and trail corridors are created means of planting a shuttle vehicle Depending on the type of craft you and maintained by a network of volunteers, property owners, civic downstream. A fun option is to put a are paddling (rafts are slow, kayaks are groups and associations. If you or bicycle in your canoe and then ride it fast) as well as the strength and pace of your organization would like to back upstream on the adjacent Pine Creek the paddler, the mood of the creek, etc., create a water trail, or if you’d like to Rail Trail to reach your automobile. people are able to move downstream at nominate an existing water trail for Fishing between 2 and more than 5 miles per recognition as an official Pine Creek supports a diverse fishery hour. To rush the trip is to waste it, Pennsylvania water trail, contact the that includes excellent trout fishing in the because the scenery will beg you to sit Commission by calling 717-705-7800 upper stretches. The lower part of the back and go with the flow. or on the web at creek (Waterville and downstream) Save the lounging for lazier water, http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fis affords an opportunity to target however, because a few sections in the h_Boat/inform. htm. Visit the water warmwater species. The Fish & Boat gorge approach Class III, which means trail pages on the Commission’s Commission manages Pine Creek as that novice boaters need to stop, assess website, www.fi sh.state.pa.us. approved trout water along the water trail the situation and portage, if necessary. Pine Creek’s water levels usually Emergencies begin to drop in June, but Mother Nature In an emergency, dial 911. Cell phone has the final say. Normally by mid- service is limited, or nonexistent, in the August, the tens of millions of trees in the Pine Creek Gorge. forests of northcentral Pennsylvania are in Public telephones are located at stiff competition for a late-summer drink. Ansonia, Blackwell, Slate Run, Cammal, Raindrops falling from hit-or-miss Waterville and Jersey Shore. thunderstorms have little chance of Contacts passing through the gauntlet of thirsty • Tiadaghton State Forest, 423 E. Central roots and puckered soil. Consequently, Avenue, South Williamsport, PA 17702; the watersheds of the Susquehanna are (570) 327-3450; able to contribute very little to the www.dcnr.state.pa.us; passions of paddlers. Heavy [email protected]. thunderstorms or tropical systems • Tioga State Forest, One Nessmuck occasionally swell the creek enough to Lane, Wellsboro, PA 16901; (570) 724- offer a few days of good late-summer or 2868; www.dcnr.state.pa.us; fall paddling. [email protected]. By checking the USGS water level • Lycoming County Visitor’s Bureau, data for the gauge at Cedar Run 210 William Street, Williamsport, PA (http//pa.waterdata.usgs.gov), boaters 17701; (570) 327-7700; 1-800-358-9900; can view the creek’s current water level. www.vacationpa.com; Readings between 2.5 and 3.5 feet are [email protected]. considered good, and below 2 means that • Tioga County Visitor’s Bureau, Historic you may scrape the bottom in some of the Jail Annex, 114 Main Street, Wellsboro, riffles. As you head south, the Pine takes PA 16901; 1-888-TIOGA28; (570) 724- water from Babb Creek, Cedar Run, Slate 0635; www.visittiogapa.com; Run, Little Pine and many smaller [email protected]. streams, so scraping is less likely the farther downstream you venture. Read the water carefully. .