Pennsylvania | South Central Pennsylvania

Yellow Breeches CreekMcCormick Park to Lower Allen Community Park

Middle Yellow Breeches public segment from McCormick Park to Lower Allen Community Park. Cumberland County still publishes both launches, the exact 3.6-mile route shape, and the campground-supported take-out, while the same Camp Hill gauge story keeps low-water caution explicit.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

DistanceAbout 3.6 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 1 hr 30 min to 3 hr depending on depth
ShuttleCar shuttle
An angler stands in the clear, shaded water of Yellow Breeches Creek at Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.
River contextYellow Breeches Creek at Boiling Springs river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Staecker

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
View Primary Source
Embed this route

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
DifficultyeasyThis is easy moving water at ordinary levels, but low water, fresh wood, and a muddy campground-backed finish can make it feel less trivial than the short mileage suggests.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known for these township-park launches. Follow current township, boating, and PFD rules. If you extend to separate PFBC launches on a different plan, those accesses may require registration or a PFBC/state-park launch permit.
CampingOptions nearbyLower Allen Community Park offers camping by reservation at the take-out. Treat that as endpoint campground support only and not as permission to camp elsewhere on the creek corridor.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through early fall is the clearest fit, but the creek is quick to rise after thunderstorms and quick to get bony when the proxy gauge falls under the county floor.

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan your trip

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

Access and shuttle

Launch at McCormick Park and take out at Lower Allen Community Park for a short-to-medium Yellow Breeches day. Use the Camp Hill gauge as the county-endorsed same-creek proxy and expect scraping or slower lines when it sits below the recommended 1.4-foot floor.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

McCormick Park launch

Cumberland County still publishes both endpoints as official Yellow Breeches access points with exact coordinates on the county story map.

Finish

Take-out

Lower Allen Community Park launch

Use the Camp Hill proxy against Cumberland County's 1.4–2.0 ft boating range. Below 1.4 ft, low-water dragging is possible; check the live stage and trend before launch.

Road shuttle

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Cumberland County still publishes both endpoints as official Yellow Breeches access points with exact coordinates on the county story map.
  • Use the Camp Hill proxy against Cumberland County's 1.4–2.0 ft boating range. Below 1.4 ft, low-water dragging is possible; check the live stage and trend before launch.
  • The current county advisory flags a full blockage above B7 farther downstream, so treat this route as a self-contained middle segment rather than a casual continuation.
  • Trail use is limited to daylight hours and the county asks paddlers to respect private property not designated for public use.

Watch for

  • Scraping, shallow riffles, and slow progress when the Camp Hill gauge is near or below 1.4 ft.
  • Fresh wood, strainers, overhanging limbs, and muddy banks after thunderstorms.
  • Quicker current and more debris once the creek rises toward the 6 ft action stage, even if the short route still looks mellow from shore.
  • Private banks and limited legal bailout choices away from the named public launches.

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.

Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.

Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

What to know before you go

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

  • Official route shapeMcCormick Park to Lower Allen Community Park, about 3.6 mi

    The county story map lists McCormick Park to Lower Allen Community Park as a 3.6-mile public segment.

    Source

  • Public endpoint coordinates40.165436, -76.955080 to 40.172373, -76.913787

    Cumberland County still publishes McCormick Park and Lower Allen Community Park as official Yellow Breeches access points with those coordinates.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-11USGS 01571500 at Camp Hill

    This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.

    Source

  • Official level guidanceRecommended 1.4 to 2.0 ft; action stage 6 ft; flood stage 7 ft

    Cumberland County says the Camp Hill gauge should read between 1.4 and 2.0 feet for boating, with action stage at 6 feet and flood stage at 7 feet.

    Source

  • Endpoint camping supportLower Allen Community Park camping by reservation

    Cumberland County still identifies Lower Allen Community Park as a public Yellow Breeches access with camping available by reservation at the park.

    Source

Check the source links

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

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

Yellow Breeches Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the McCormick Park to Lower Allen Community Park route on the Yellow Breeches Creek?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the McCormick Park to Lower Allen Community Park route on the Yellow Breeches Creek start and end?

This route starts at McCormick Park launch and ends at Lower Allen Community Park launch, about 3.6 mi on the water.

Is the McCormick Park to Lower Allen Community Park route on the Yellow Breeches Creek suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a easy route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.