Pennsylvania | South Central Pennsylvania

Yellow Breeches CreekSimpson Park to Liberty Forge

Longer upper-middle Yellow Breeches day from Simpson Park to the public Liberty Forge bridge access. Cumberland County still documents the full access chain, the bridge-side public-use terms at Liberty Forge, and the Camp Hill gauge guidance used for the whole trail.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 5.2–5.5 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2 hr 15 min to 4 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.
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Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
DifficultyeasyThis is easy moving water in ordinary conditions, but the longer distance, shallow low-water bends, bridge-side finish, and limited legal bailout options make it more serious than the shortest township segments.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known for this township-to-bridge route. Follow current township, boating, and PFD rules, and obey any posted public-access instructions at Liberty Forge.
CampingOptions nearbyLower Allen Community Park sits on the official corridor and offers camping by reservation, but it is an on-route support option rather than part of the normal route finish.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through early fall is the clearest fit, but summer thunderstorms can raise this small creek quickly and low summer water can turn even a moderate day into a scrape-and-drag outing.

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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Plan your trip

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

Access and shuttle

Launch at Simpson Park and take out at the public Liberty Forge bridge access for a longer upper-middle Yellow Breeches day. Use the Camp Hill gauge as the county-endorsed same-creek proxy and keep the day conservative when it sits below the recommended 1.4-foot floor.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Simpson 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

Liberty Forge bridge access

The county story map says the public may access the creek for boating at the Old Forge Road bridge at Liberty Forge and should follow posted access rules; it also asks paddlers to limit parking to individuals and small groups only.

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.
  • The county story map says the public may access the creek for boating at the Old Forge Road bridge at Liberty Forge and should follow posted access rules; it also asks paddlers to limit parking to individuals and small groups only.
  • Use the Camp Hill proxy against Cumberland County's 1.4–2.0 ft boating range. Below 1.4 ft, expect repeated scraping and slower travel; check the live stage and trend before launch.
  • The current county advisory flags a full blockage above B7 farther downstream, so do not assume a safe continuation beyond the intended take-out.

Watch for

  • Scraping, shallow bends, and slow progress when the Camp Hill gauge is near or below 1.4 ft.
  • Fresh wood, small strainers, slippery banks, and bridge-area current at the Liberty Forge finish.
  • Fast rises and more debris after thunderstorms on a creek that can change quickly despite its mellow appearance.
  • Private banks and drifting past the intended bridge-side public finish into less clear access context.

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

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Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

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Short-route forecast

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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 shapeSimpson Park to Liberty Forge, about 5.2–5.5 mi

    Cumberland County's total for the adjacent legs is 5.2 miles using 0.5 miles for B4-B5. The mapped B4-B5 creek segment is about 0.8 miles, making the mapped total about 5.5 miles.

    Source

  • Public endpoint coordinates40.164151, -76.976192 to 40.177495, -76.924172

    Cumberland County still publishes Simpson Park and Liberty Forge as official Yellow Breeches access points with those coordinates.

    Source

  • Public-use access termsBridge-side boating access at Liberty Forge

    The county story map says the public may access the creek for boating at the bridge at Old Forge Road, with parking at the miniature-golf area and posted access rules controlling use.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-10USGS 01571500 at 149 cfs / 1.26 ft

    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

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Yellow Breeches Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Simpson Park to Liberty Forge 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 Simpson Park to Liberty Forge route on the Yellow Breeches Creek start and end?

This route starts at Simpson Park launch and ends at Liberty Forge bridge access, about 5.2–5.5 mi on the water.

Is the Simpson Park to Liberty Forge 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.