`Rock Run is a super fun small watershed that offers a variety of rapids from shelves to slots and even some drops. As it fills in, most features remain recognizable, but become increasingly dynamic. After days of large rain dumps or during the snowmelt run-off, you're bound to run into some of the local boaters getting out after it while the getting is good. Like any great run, it does come with a few caveats.`
1\. Rock Run Valley is within stateland patrolled by DCNR officers, some whom are more than keen to dish out tickets or deny access if you don't have a valid PA launch permit. Same goes for pre/post boating activities. Consider yourself aware.
2\. The access road is a narrow dirt road with limited pull-offs. In the late spring thru early fall there is a conglomerate of others utilizing the space for fishing, hiking, hunting, swimming. Consider getting your shuttle set up at the large parking area on the left as you drive over Loyalsock Creek, just before entering Rock Run valley.
3\. Along the run are cabins. Consider the areas around the cabins and their shoreline as private property. There is a multiude of designated social trails for access/egress.
4\. Rock Run is considered a local gem, please be cognisant of your etiquette to ensure our continued access.
Generally, the put-in as just upstream of Yellow Dog Bridge. You can also shoulder your boat and follow a trail up to Yellow Dog run and beyond. Just across from the put-in gravel bar is a lone flat-topped rock. When the water is >4' below the flat-top, consider it medium high to getting real high. There are a mulitude of rapids from here down to A-Frame, some are gorged in making exiting difficult.
At medium-higher water levels, some rapids run into each other with little time for recovery. A-Frame (Upper Falls) into Corkscrew is one of these. A-Frame also has an in-play undercut just below the drop on the right, and corkscrew has a cave river right midway through. A-Frame is portageable on river left, but being gorged in, it's a bit sketchy launching back into Corkscrew. Both can be portaged on the right with long walk.
A-Frame -
https://www.instagram.com/p/B\_oWrpbF72Q/?img\_index=1&igsh=aHk3emE2dzAybmpk
The next major drop is 'Flukes Nook' (Middle Falls). It has been run, successfully and unsuccessfully, but common practice is to portage it on river-right. The creek falls off a diagonal shelf into the river-left wall over a 7' drop into a bottle-necked section. River-right is considerably undercut and riddled with potholes. Rescue, if needed, would be difficult. Immediately after the drop is a midly rententive hole. The rapid runs into a large pool that is historically backed by large log jams. It is good to check beyond the pool for wood before continuing into the next rapids.
Commonly, locals with take-out just before the lead of the next big rapid in on a grassy bank river right, shoulder their boats up the social trail, and hike the road back to Middle Falls parking area, about 2/10ths of a mile from Miner's Run. The last major rapid, Third Falls, is an exciting drop with a mildy tecnical lead-in and crux positiong at the lip.The drop dives into a large pothole that goes from deep to shallow fast, so being upright is recommended. Beyond here are still some quality rapids and well worth checking out..