Rockton to Curwensville

There is a painted gauge located at the take-out bridge where route 879 crosses Anderson just outside of Curwensville.  The first line being the minimum and the third being the maximum.  If traveling check the USGS gauge for Clearfield Creek at Dimeling and Sinnemahoning at Sinnemahoning.  If they are at 1200 CFS/3500 CFS and rising Anderson is probably runnable. There are two places to put-in on this run.  The first is where route 322 crosses the creek just before the town of Rockton.  There is parking available on the left hand side just after the bridge.  As of 9/04, there were numerous strainers in the first (2) miles.  Several of these were on braided sections and were unavoidable.  The more common put-in, is to take route 879 west to Curwensville.  About a mile past Curwenville you cross Anderson Creek.  Just after the bridge make a right.  Follow this approx. (6) miles and make a right on township road 484 (Maclin Rd.)  Do not attempt to drive down this road, unless you have a four wheel drive vehicle.  You will go down a very steep rocky road, you will reach a clearing.  Park here, and carry the rest of the way down the road.  You will reach an old railroad bed, at the railroad bed carry you boat down the bank to the creek. There will be about a 1/2 mile of fast water to warm up on.  There is a downed tree on this section, it is runnable at the minimum level.  At higher water you will have to carry it.  After the warm-up, the creek starts to tilt downward.  There are several class 2(+) rapids, usually where the creek makes one of its many sharp bends.  After about 2.5 to 3 miles, there is a runnable 4ft. dam on the creek, scout this if you are not familar with the creek.  You can paddle right up to the dam without being pulled over.  There is a rock on the left-hand side and one near the center.  You can line up with the center boulder and boof off the side of it, to prevent being pulled into the backflow.  You can portage the dam on the right-hand side.  The best of the whitewater peaks after this dam, consisting of several class 2-3(+) rapids.  There are two strainers below the dam.  Both were runnable at low flow, but will be portages at higher water.  The first is right after a small swimming hole, easily recognized by a stone dam.  The second one is about 3/4 of a mile from the end.