Shin Creek with a Paddle

[riveraddict]

I have been trying to paddle this tributary of the South Oromocto River for a while. Finally everything lined up and I was dropped off just below the forks of South Branch and a small tributary- past first steel 'bridge' to the second. Accessed it from the Peltoma Settlement Road- turn left after Otter Brook (coming from Tracy) and left again before a red cabin on the hill. Alder meadows until just past a cabin on the left, then down over numerous red sandstone ledges and through deep pools. Would be a riot in high water but at this level it was easy going. Camped just below MacDougall Brook at a series of pools and riffles. There was a large pine blocking the river just before Route 785 at the campsite. Found a sign indicating 'salmon habitat' that some idiot tore off the bridge which I picked up to return to Robin Hanson. They have done some electrofishing here and found Atlantic salmon parr. Some more rocky ledges and sand beaches until the lower section. This section could be dangerous in high water. There are multiple channels with lots of sweepers and strainers. I had to pull around a few and used an agressive back ferry many times. Shin Creek comes out in two places into the South Oromocto. I took the left channel at the powerlines but the right may be a bit easier- I'll find out next time I run this which hopefully will be soon! Maybe from further up the South Branch.... Take out was the Smyth covered bridge near Mill Settlement on the South Oromocto. Water level was about 1.1 on the North Oromocto and I would say if you can run the South Rusagonis, you should be considering this one too.

Attachments:

[Ken Corbett]

Thanks for the update. I ran this a "few" years back, but I only started from the route 785 bridge. Back then someone had chain-sawed all the sweepers. but I guess there's a new crop every year. Gotta go back. Stole your pics, btw.

[riveraddict]

You could do it in a long day if you wanted to- I was only on the water for about 10 hours including some fishing in the two days. No worries on the pics, I probably took about 200.