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Pennsylvania | Western Pennsylvania

Two Lick CreekWaterworks Conservation Area to Saylor Park

A little-over-12-mile Two Lick Creek day paddle from the public Waterworks Conservation Area canoe/kayak launch to the take-out near Saylor Park. Indiana County Parks publishes the endpoint context, a 2.6–4.5 ft operating range at USGS 03042500, and a required portage/exclusion-zone warning near the Homer City feeder dam. The Saylor-area finish is adjacent to the existing Blacklick Creek route, but this is a different upstream corridor and gauge.

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Plan this route

DistanceA little over 12 river mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 6 to 9 on-water hours
ShuttleCar shuttle
A clear Pennsylvania stream runs through a wooded state-park corridor.
River contextPennsylvania stream corridor; regional context only, not the Two Lick Creek reach — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Good Free Photos

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceA little over 12 river miWaterworks Conservation Area to Saylor Park
DifficultymoderateMoving-water day paddle with shallow/wood hazards, one portage, a downstream no-boating exclusion zone, and a low-head feeder dam hazard.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the Saylor Park landing first, then use the named Waterworks Conservation Area launch. Verify current parking, park hours, access, and any closures before launching.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission registration and launch-permit rules, county park rules, and all posted exclusion-zone signs.
CampingOptions nearbyWaterworks is documented as a day-use conservation area with parking, restrooms, and a pavilion, not a campground. No on-route camping is verified; use separately verified managed lodging or a legal campground and never camp at Waterworks, Saylor Park, creek banks, or private property.
SeasonMar-NovCounty guidance describes the range but not a season-specific guarantee; check stage trend, rainfall, debris, and access immediately before launching.

Plan ahead

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A long moving-water day paddle with a public Waterworks launch, Saylor Park-area landing, one portage, and a mandatory no-boating exclusion zone before the Homer City feeder dam. The Saylor-area finish is adjacent to the separate Blacklick Creek PA 259-to-Saylor route, not the same runnable reach.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Waterworks Conservation Area canoe/kayak launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use the county-mapped Waterworks canoe/kayak launch; the coordinate is map-derived and should still be confirmed against posted launch signage on arrival.

Finish

Take-out

Saylor Park canoe/kayak landing area
Open mapDirections to take-out

The county describes the take-out as near Saylor Park; confirm the actual landing and carry on the day of travel. Do not assume the Blacklick route's Saylor take-out is interchangeable with this route.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use the county-mapped Waterworks canoe/kayak launch; the coordinate is map-derived and should still be confirmed against posted launch signage on arrival.
  • The county describes the take-out as near Saylor Park; confirm the actual landing and carry on the day of travel. Do not assume the Blacklick route's Saylor take-out is interchangeable with this route.
  • Do not continue into the old railroad bridge exclusion zone or toward the low-head feeder dam.
  • No legal on-route camping was verified; the Waterworks pavilion and facilities are day-use amenities, not campsite evidence.

Watch for

  • Low water below 2.6 ft
  • High or rising water above 4.5 ft
  • Shallow spots and strainers
  • One required portage
  • Low-head feeder dam and no-boating exclusion zone
  • Cold water
  • Limited cell service
  • Private banks and unverified Saylor-area landing

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Photos

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A clear Pennsylvania stream runs through a wooded state-park corridor.
Pennsylvania stream corridor; regional context only, not the Two Lick Creek reach — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Good Free Photos
CC0 / public domain; regional context only

Score & sources

Why this score

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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteTwo Lick Creek at Graceton, PA
Gauge heightChecking
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Preferred range2.60 ft to 4.50 ft
Low threshold2.60 ft
High threshold4.50 ft
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
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Main source behind this scoreIndiana County Parks Two Lick Creek operating range
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NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named trip and endpointsWaterworks Conservation Area to Saylor Park, a little over 12 river miles

    Indiana County Parks describes the public Waterworks canoe/kayak launch and take-out near Saylor Park.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinatesWaterworks 40.5974,-79.12345; Saylor Park 40.47632,-79.18866

    The Waterworks point is placed at the county-mapped canoe/kayak launch beside the county's current park pin and checked against the Two Lick Creek flowline. Saylor Park remains an access-area anchor rather than a surveyed landing; confirm the downstream carry on arrival.

    Source

  • Live direct gauge and rangeUSGS 03042500; 2.6–4.5 ft

    Indiana County Parks explicitly ties the operating range to the Graceton monitoring gauge; USGS provides continuous stage telemetry.

    Source

  • Access and hazardsPublic launch, one portage, downstream exclusion zone and feeder dam

    County guidance warns about the old railroad bridge exclusion zone and low-head feeder dam near the Homer City Power Plant.

    Source

  • CampingNo on-route camping verified

    Indiana County Parks lists Waterworks as a day-use conservation area with parking, restrooms, and a pavilion, but does not publish a campsite. Treat nearby lodging or a separately verified managed campground as the overnight plan; do not camp at Waterworks, Saylor Park, or on private creek banks.

    Source

  • Overlap reviewShared Saylor-area finish with Blacklick Creek; not a duplicate

    The existing Blacklick Creek card starts at PA 259 and ends at Saylor Park, while this card starts at Waterworks and follows the distinct Two Lick corridor. Keep both cards separate; a future selectable corridor model would need a verified on-water connection, separate gauges, and route-specific safety/logistics rather than merging the cards.

    Source

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Pennsylvania

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Nearby routes within 75 miles

Blacklick CreekPA 259 Heshbon to Saylor Park · about 9 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 6.8 river milesLoyalhanna CreekLoyalhanna Dam Tailwater to Saltsburg Rivers Edge · about 20 straight-line mi awayHard · About 4 miLoyalhanna CreekLigonier Nature Trail to Kingston · about 25 straight-line mi awayHard · About 7 river miRedbank CreekClimax to St. Charles Road · about 30 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 4.5 river mi

Quick answers

Two Lick Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Waterworks Conservation Area to Saylor Park route on the Two Lick Creek?

Paddle Today watches Two Lick Creek at Graceton, PA and treats 2.60 ft to 4.50 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Waterworks Conservation Area to Saylor Park route on the Two Lick Creek start and end?

This route starts at Waterworks Conservation Area canoe/kayak launch and ends at Saylor Park canoe/kayak landing area, A little over 12 river mi on the water.

Is the Waterworks Conservation Area to Saylor Park route on the Two Lick Creek suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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