RIVER DESCRIPTION
This is the beautiful lesser known and run section of the Muddy but is still a quality run and maybe more suitable for beginners. The creek is overall continuous class I with a class II-II+ section in the middle. A blown out dam approaches class III, there is a shoot in the middle that can be run; scout. Be wary of a protective landowner in this area and don't venture too far off the creek and don't hang out for long. A few more class II-II+ rapids after the dam and then the action dies down below where the old Ma & PA line crosses the river. Note the train wreck debris on river left. The river meanders a few more miles until you go under Rt 74. An abandoned road comes close to the creek by an abandoned road bridge. This is private property, if you take out here, do so with permission. Otherwise, continue to Paper Mill Road a mile and a half downstream or run the lower Muddy.
RAPIDS
Once you put on, you hit pretty continous class I-II ledges. Orson Run comes in from the left beneath an old trestle. From here, the creek is more class II with large boulders. There are 3 class II+ rapids but they are read and run. When the creek levels out and homes on the right are seen, watch for the 4' low head dam. Scout on the right side using the boulders next to the creek. It is blown out in the middle and creates a runnable shoot. After the dam, there are 2 more class II-II+ rapids and then the creek levels out to class I for the remainder of the run. The dam is the biggest hazard but it is runnable. It can be walked on the right side. There is a landowner there will come down if you hang out or go too far off the creek, so I recommend staying as close to the creek as possible and not to hang out. I think 600-800 is probably the optimum level. I would guess above 1200, it turns into a pretty big continuous wave train.