Description
While this spot is actually a DEC fishing access location it can be used as a starting point to go downstream to eventually meet up with the Allegheny river at Olean, NY. From the gravel loop it is to the water's edge to the right to a lower spot to launch. The trip to meet up with the Allegheny is about 9 miles. There are some splits around islands and a few log jams that have been there for what looks like a pretty long time. Some sections of rougher shallow water or with logs may present a problem to craft with a deeper draft. Overall a nice paddle twisting through wooded area and past some secluded backyards, fields and what appears to be a camper graveyard. There are several bridges over this creek and you is never that secluded even though many times from the water it isn't that apparent.
I recently did this trip in an open canoe and had little difficulty until reaching the mouth of the creek. Water levels were sufficient to make it over three pipelines that cross the creek as it passes through Olean, however where the creek terminates near Bradner's Stadium in Olean it passes under East State Street. Here the river widens out and flows through a rock strewn shallow section that in warmer weather one might opt to rope a craft through. Prepare to scrape bottom and get stuck if you want to stay in your boat. There is no easy way to portage this section.
There are a few places one could pull out of the water before reaching this spot though. There is a DEC fishing spot where River Street (Olean, NY) passes under the I86 just before entering the city of Olean on the right and also on the right Boardman park (on North Union street in Olean, NY) a little further up, lastly the is War Veterans park (East State street Olean, NY) on the left hand side.
The whole trip including stopping to scout rougher sections took me about 4 hours (i don't try to make a race of my paddling trips).
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