Things to Do on the Yellow Breeches

Yellow Breeches Creek system has a variety of recreational opportunities including:

• Several lakes and ponds are used for boating, fishing, swimming and ice-skating
• The famous Appalachian Trail traverses part of the watershed
• Creek is great for bird-watching, fishing, paddling, tubing and sightseeing
• Nearby state, county, and municipal parks and nature preserves also provide ample recreation

Birding

Be on the lookout for a variety of ducks and wading birds, warblers, wrens, woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwings, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers.

Fly fishing

If fly fishing is your forte, Yellow Breeches Creek is an angler’s delight. The most popular catch and release section is a mile long and runs through Allenberry in Boiling Springs. Designated as a “Pennsylvania Scenic River”, Yellow Breeches never has a shortage of trout (mix of stocked and wild trout). Check the Yellow Breeches Creek fly-fishing report for current fishing conditions.

View the Interactive Yellow Breeches Water Trail Map

Trips on the Yellow Breeches:

View details about Trip A & B and access points in the Yellow Breeches Creek Water Trail Map & Guide (pdf.) or by clicking on a park name.      

Friendly reminders:

• Please only use public access points. Respect private property and do not trespass to reach the creek.
• Park only in designated locations.
• For your safety, please do not use any rope swings you see along the creek. They are especially dangerous during low water levels.  
• Embrace No Trace principals and pack out your garbage.                              

Trip A - Suggested Tube Float for Beginners; approximately 2 miles

• A1 - South Middleton Township Park            
• Wittlinger Nature Preserve
• A2 - Boiling Springs: TAKE-OUT ONLY

Trip B

• B1 - Messiah University (5/1/20: The campus is currently closed to the public. Access to the creek at this location is not available.)
• B2 - Simpson Park
• B3 - McCormick Park
• B4 - Lower Allen Community Park
• B5 - Liberty Forge
• B6 - Yellow Breeches Park
• B7 - United Water Pennsylvania, Inc (UWPA)
• B8 - Spangler's Mill
• B9 - Creekwood Park
• C3 - New Cumberland Borough Park & Dam: TAKE OUT ONLY

Hazards

The hazards located along the Yellow Breeches are dams and dam remnants. Use extreme caution. Taking out and navigating around the dam is the safest option. Watch for sharp angular rocks and iron around the dams. For information about other hazards such as fallen trees please check the Planning Department's Facebook page for updates. 

Check water levels before hitting the creek. View Yellow Breeches Creek near Camp Hill, for real-time water levels. The suggested Gage Level for boating and tubing is 1.4-2.0. At 1.4, expect to have to walk around some shallow spots or have a boat scrape on rocks. Tubing should not be attempted at Gage Levels above 2.0, and boating should not be attempted at Gage Levels about 3.0.

Also, keep track of the CFS (volume of stream discharge). Levels above 200 CFS could contain dangerous strainers that can’t be avoided by paddling or easy portage.  Higher CFS combined with higher water level makes it harder to maintain footing if standing on the creek bed and harder to escape entrapment in a strainer.

Float Times

Float times vary based upon the CFS rate of the creek. Low flow, lazy day trips average about 1 mile-per-hour. The moderate flow rate is closer to 2 miles-per-hour. The float rate for paddling a boat is 1 to 2 miles-per-hour but will vary depending upon paddling skill and level of paddling effort versus drifting and resting.