Chapter V Canoeing

The Lackawanna River offers some exciting challenges and opportunities for both novice and experienced river runners. The River is navigable by canoe and kayak for most of its course from Forest City to Pittston when sufficient flows are present. High flows occur during early spring with snow melt and spring rain freshets. During summer occasional wet weather with thunderstorm events will raise the River to runable depth for several days after a one to two inch storm event.

Wet weather in late fall can also bring runable conditions with the changing colors of autumn.

The US Geological Service (USGS) maintains three stream flow gauging stations on the Lackawanna. They are located at Forest City, Archbald, and Old Forge. These automatic stations are wired into the US Weather Bureau Susquehanna Basin Forecast Center in Harrisburg.

The Forest City gauge should read 2.6 feet, the Archbald gauge, 2.9 feet to meet minimum canoeing requirements. Optimum readings of 3.5 feet at Archbald will guarantee a swift and exciting run. Readings above 3.8 feet indicate stronger velocities. Novices should not attempt passage when the River gauge exceeds 3.8 feet at Archbald. Experienced river runners and kayakers should use discretion at levels above Experienced river runners and kayakers should use discretion at levels above 4 feet.

The upper River from Stillwater to Route 171 bridge at Simpson is more appropriate for kayak runs. There are some outstanding ledges near Panthers Bluff in Simpson. At one location the River splits around a large sandstone and conglomerate outcrop with a four foot cascade on each channel. The upper Lackawanna has class two and three white water.

From Carbondale to Archbald the River picks up in width and depth. A flood control dam and levee at Mayfield and the remnants of Powder Mill Dam at the Woodlands in Jermyn are serious restrictions to canoe passage. The Jermyn mine tunnel is evident just above Powder Mill Dam.

The Lackawanna River Canoe-A-Thon, a fourteen mile timed canoe and kayak race has been run from Laurel Park in Archbald to Schmidt Field in Scranton since 1973. The LRCA has sponsored the run since 1987. Low water during 1992 and 1993 forced cancellation of the event. The Canoe-a-thon course presents challenges for both the novice and more experienced paddlers. The first five miles from Laurel Park through Winton, Peckville, Jessup and Olyphant have several outstanding class one and two riffles and sluices with a couple of ledges near Mellow Park in Peckville.

The gradient on the River levels out somewhat from Olyphant, Dickson City and North Scranton. There is an interceptor sewer pipeline crossing the river bed between Boulevard Avenue bridge and the LRBSA plant in Throop. The pipeline acts like a small dam but is runable.

The Greenridge - North Scranton area has several long pools which average 18 to 24 inches deep with a slow current during low flows; this reach like one in Dickson City was channelized after flooding in the 40's and 50's.

The River drops through the "Scranton Canyon" from the Mulberry Street bridge, down below central city to South Scranton. The levees and flood walls along South Washington Avenue channel the River where Roaring Brook, its largest tributary, joins from the southeast. The Schmidt Field river access ramp is on the west bank just before the Roaring Brook confluence. The run from Scranton to Moosic will take you through the wooded "lower Lackawanna Canyon" between Taylor and Old Forge. There are some class one riffle runs in this reach, as well as great wildlife habitat. After passing Springbrook Creek confluence on the east bank, the River turns sharply to the west. Lonesome Road is on the east bank, the former Lehigh Electric superfund site is on the west.

From Lonesome Road at the Old Forge\Moosic line to Union Street at the Old Forge\Duryea line the Moosic anticline rises into the river bed. A series of class four ledges and drops requires considerable skill to navigate, a gear portage is recommended. The experienced canoeist or kayaker will enjoy this run, the most exciting half mile on the lower Lackawanna!

Aside from the class four white water, the River takes another 90-degree turn to the south between Main and Union Streets. The west abutment of the Union Street bridge hosts the concrete culvert where the Old Forge Bore Hole dumps mine water into the River. From here through Duryea to the Susquehanna confluence at Coxton the Lackawanna runs orange.

Below Stevenson Street in Duryea the River splits into several channels. The west channel is the deepest, with class two riffles. From Coxton Road to the confluence the Lackawanna forms a deep estuarial pool spilling into the Susquehanna over a broad alluvial fan.

This brief description of the Lackawanna is intended to provide a minimum of information on the River's navigability. For additional information, seek out someone who has run the River recently. Keystone Canoeing by Edward Gertler is recommended reading for anyone who would paddle the streams of Pennsylvania. Gertler describes the Lackawanna in a straight forward manner and he includes several useful maps as well. (see Recommended Readings)

The Lackawanna River Corridor Association can on occasion provide updated information on river flows. In addition to comments on put in and take out points in Gertler' s book, the Lackawanna River Guide suggests these locations for launch and retrieval along the Lackawanna: Schoolside branch Pioneer American Bank, Route 6 Carbondale; Chestnut Street bridge Mayfield (to portage the Mayfield flood works put in behind the Martin Media billboard one block downstream of the Poplar Street Bridge where the flood wall transitions to a levee structure); Laurel Park in Archbald; Mellow Park, Blakely; Lackawanna Avenue bridge, Olyphant\Blakely Corners; Boulevard Avenue bridge, Dickson City\Throop; Albright Avenue bridge, Greenridge\North Scranton; William Schmidt recreation field, South Scranton; Lonesome Road, Old Forge; Susquehanna Avenue, West Pittston.

Lastly, remember to wear an approved personal floatation device at all times on the water. Protective head gear and clothing are recommended for white water areas. Respect the River and private property along the Lackawanna River corridor. Keep the bow of your canoe pointed downstream and have a great run.