See all 4 routes on Youghiogheny River
Pennsylvania | Laurel Highlands
Youghiogheny River
Lower Yough: Ohiopyle to Bruner Run
Check current paddling conditions for this Youghiogheny River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch below Ohiopyle Falls at the state-park Lower Yough launch and take out at Bruner Run for the classic Lower Yough whitewater run. Use the Ohiopyle USGS stage gauge and current park rules, and skip the route when the water, weather, access status, or group skill is not clearly right.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Ohiopyle State Park Lower Yough launchThis route starts below Ohiopyle Falls; running the falls has separate DCNR access rules and is not part of the normal route recommendation.
Take-out
Bruner Run Take-outLaunch tickets are required during the DCNR managed season. Weekend and holiday launch tickets carry a fee, and current shuttle/gate operations can affect how you retrieve boats and vehicles.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- This route starts below Ohiopyle Falls; running the falls has separate DCNR access rules and is not part of the normal route recommendation.
- Launch tickets are required during the DCNR managed season. Weekend and holiday launch tickets carry a fee, and current shuttle/gate operations can affect how you retrieve boats and vehicles.
- The put-in and take-out coordinates are American Whitewater feature coordinates cross-checked against DCNR route names, not a DCNR coordinate table. Use current state-park signs and staff instructions on arrival.
- Bruner Run access has had construction and closure history. Check current Ohiopyle State Park notices before assuming the take-out road, shuttle, or lower loading area is open.
- Only whitewater-suitable craft belong on this route. DCNR says inexperienced whitewater boaters should use qualified guides, and all boaters must follow DCNR whitewater rules.
Watch for
- Class III-IV rapids, including Entrance, Cucumber, Railroad, Dimple, Swimmers, Schoolhouse, River End, and Bruner Run.
- Dimple Rock and other undercut or entrapment hazards, ledges, hydraulics, pin rocks, swift current, and cold swims.
- Low water near the bottom of the AW range, where rocks and pins become more exposed, and high water above about 4 ft where hydraulics and pushier current increase.
- Water at or above about 7 ft on the Ohiopyle gauge, which AW classifies as high to extremely high Class IV-V and outside this general recommendation.
- Crowded commercial/private traffic, limited eddies, group separation, bridge and trail spectators near Ohiopyle, storms, release changes, and missing the Bruner Run take-out.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle, PA |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 1.70 ft to 4.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 1.10 ft |
| High threshold | 7.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Lower Yough Ohiopyle gauge bands |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 routeSeven miles to Bruner Run
DCNR says the Lower Yough begins after Ohiopyle Falls and flows seven miles downstream to the Bruner Run Take-out, with numerous Class III-IV rapids.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 03081500 at Ohiopyle
USGS operates Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle, PA, 900 ft downstream from the Route 381 bridge and upstream from Meadow Run; Water Services returned same-day 2026-06-11 stage and discharge values during implementation.
- AW stage bands1.1 / 1.7-4.0 / 7.0 ft
American Whitewater ties the Ohiopyle-to-Bruner-Run reach to USGS 03081500, lists 1.10-1.70 ft as barely to medium runnable, 1.70-4.00 ft as medium to a bit pushy runnable, 4.00-7.00 ft as pushy to high runnable, and 7.00 ft plus as high to extremely high Class IV-V.
- Access and permit contextLaunch ticket plus PA permit/registration context
DCNR says Lower Yough boaters must obtain a launch ticket during the managed season, and PFBC says unpowered boats need registration, a PFBC launch permit, or a DCNR State Parks launch permit to use PFBC or Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests access areas.
- Endpoint supportAW feature coordinates
American Whitewater places the Ohiopyle State Park put-in below the falls at 39.866528, -79.493395 and the Bruner Run take-out at 39.926672, -79.487236; DCNR independently names the same route endpoints.
- Core hazardsClass III-IV gorge whitewater
DCNR warns of undercut rocks, ledges, swift currents, injury and death potential, and required PFDs and helmets on the Lower Yough; AW highlights Dimple Rock entrapment risk and pushier hydraulics at higher stages.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Youghiogheny River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Youghiogheny River?
Paddle Today watches Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle, PA and treats 1.70 ft to 4.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Youghiogheny River route start and end?
This route starts at Ohiopyle State Park Lower Yough launch and ends at Bruner Run Take-out, about About 7 to 7.2 mi on the water.
Is this Youghiogheny River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.