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See all 10 routes on Yellow Breeches Creek

Pennsylvania | South Central Pennsylvania

Yellow Breeches CreekSimpson Park to McCormick Park

Shortest current Yellow Breeches public segment between Simpson Park and McCormick Park. Cumberland County still publishes both named launches, the exact 1.1-mile spacing, and the same Camp Hill gauge guidance used for the rest of the trail, which is enough for a cautious low-water add.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 1.1 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 35 min to 1 hr 30 min 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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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 1.1 miSimpson Park to McCormick Park
DifficultyeasyThis is an easy short creek run at ordinary levels, but a low proxy reading can turn even 1.1 miles into repeated scraping and awkward eddy-hopping.
ShuttleCar shuttleThe shuttle is short, but stage the McCormick Park take-out first so you can inspect both township launches before committing. Low water, mud, and fresh wood matter more than the 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 another day, those accesses may require registration or a PFBC/state-park launch permit.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a short day float. Cumberland County verifies the launch access but does not document public overnight support for this exact Simpson-to-McCormick segment.
SeasonApr-OctWarm-season windows are the easiest fit, but the route is still sensitive to summer scrape levels and quick thunderstorm rises.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at Simpson Park and take out at McCormick Park for the shortest current Yellow Breeches public segment. Use the Camp Hill gauge as the county-endorsed same-creek proxy and expect scrape-prone shallow water when it sits below the 1.4-foot recommendation.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Simpson Park launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

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

Finish

Take-out

McCormick Park launch
Open mapDirections to take-out

Use the Camp Hill proxy against Cumberland County's 1.4–2.0 ft boating range. Below 1.4 ft, scraping is likely despite the short mileage; check the live stage and trend before launch.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
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, scraping is likely despite the short mileage; check the live stage and trend before launch.
  • 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.
  • Private banks and limited legal bailout choices away from the named public launches.

Plan this paddle

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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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

An angler stands in the clear, shaded water of Yellow Breeches Creek at Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.
Yellow Breeches Creek at Boiling Springs river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Staecker
Public domain

Sources

Data and sources

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

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.

  • Official route shapeSimpson Park to McCormick Park, about 1.1 mi

    The county story map lists Simpson Park to McCormick Park as a 1.1-mile public segment.

    Source

  • Public endpoint coordinates40.164151, -76.976192 to 40.165436, -76.955080

    Cumberland County still publishes Simpson Park and McCormick 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

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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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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More on Yellow Breeches Creek

All 10
Liberty Forge to Yellow Breeches ParkSouth Central PennsylvaniaEasy · About 1.9 miLower Allen Community Park to Liberty ForgeSouth Central PennsylvaniaEasy · About 0.5–0.8 miLower Allen Community Park to Yellow Breeches ParkSouth Central PennsylvaniaEasy · About 2.4–2.7 miMcCormick Park to Liberty ForgeSouth Central PennsylvaniaEasy · About 4.1–4.4 mi

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Conodoguinet CreekGood Hope Access to Acri Meadow Park · about 7 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 7.8 miConodoguinet CreekVincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve to Good Hope Access · about 7 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 5.2 miConodoguinet CreekVincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve to Acri Meadow Park · about 7 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 13 miConodoguinet CreekWillow Mill Park to Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve · about 7 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 4.4 mi

Quick answers

Yellow Breeches Creek paddling FAQ

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

This route starts at Simpson Park launch and ends at McCormick Park launch, about 1.1 mi on the water.

Is the Simpson Park to McCormick 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.

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