The Creek Town program is a unique collaborative part-nership between local municipalities and the French Creek Val-ley Conservancy that seeks to create positive, sustainable eco-nomic growth based around the incredible value of French Creek. Along French Creek, these towns host many valuable community treasures that hold great history and importance to

the region.

Union City: Once known as Miles Mills, Union City was originally settled in 1789 by William Miles. Abundant with timber and raw nat-ural resources, it was also once known as the chair capital of the world. Union City is home to small bed and breakfasts, inns, and campsites. A golf course is available as well as many other recreational activities, including an an-nual “Gathering at French Creek” festival each July.

Cambridge Springs: The town of Cambridge springs was settled in 1822 and was named after the town of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Originally established as a health resort destination because of the various mineral springs discovered in the area, tourists came from near and far to experience the healing properties of the water. Today, Cam-bridge Springs offers full dining options, a historic inn, local bou-tiques, and many other recreational activities.

Venango: Situated on the banks of French Creek and the Route 6 corridor, Venango is a small residential borough of approximately 300 residents. It is home to two eighteen-hole golf courses with full dining options, two taverns, local produce stands, and a popular micro-brewery.

Saegertown: Originally settled by Patrick McGill in 1802, Saeger-town was established in 1824 and was originally known as McGill’s Settlement. The current population is 1,007 and the community hosts a local grocery store, hardware store, and a tavern with dining options. Saegertown is also in close proximity to the Woodcock Creek Dam recreational area.

Meadville: Founded on May 12, 1788 by David Mead, the location was ideal for a settlement due to its position at the confluence of Cussewago Creek and French Creek. Today, Meadville is the largest city in Crawford County with 13,685 residents and serves as the county seat. It is home to the historic Allegheny College,

the oldest college operating under the same name west of the Appa-lachian Mountains, and the Meadville Market House, built in 1870 and the oldest market structure in continuous use in the Common-wealth of Pennsylvania. Amenities include commercial hotels, res-taurants and taverns and recreational activities.

Water trails are recreational waterways on a lake, river, or ocean between specific points, containing access points and day-use and/or camping sites for the boating public. Water trails emphasize low-impact use and promote stewardship of the re-sources. Explore this unique Pennsylvania water trail.

For your safety and enjoyment:

Always wear a life jacket

Obtain proper instruction in boating skills

Know fishing and boating regulations

Be prepared for river hazards

Carry proper equipment

POPULAR ACCESS POINTS

Union City Dam: From Route 6/19 follow 97S for 5.2 miles, then turn left onto Middletown road. From Route 8 in Union City, fol-low 97N for 2.5 miles then turn right onto Middletown Road. Parking, restrooms, and picnic area available. Cambridge Springs Access: Follow US Routes 6E/19N 0.2 miles from the French Creek bridge in Cambridge Springs then turn right onto Miller Station Rd, follow for 0.3 miles and turn right to access area.

Saegertown Access: Directly off of Route 6/19 0.25 miles

south of Saegertown. Parking available

Bicentennial Park: From Route 322, turn onto Mead Ave,

then turn left just before bridge. Parking, restrooms, pavilion play ground, and picnic area Available FOR EMERGENCIES CALL 911 NEAREST HOSPITAL: MEADVILLE MEDICAL CENTER 751 Liberty Street, Meadville PA 16335 (814) 333– 5000

Outfitters, guides, accommodations and recreational opportu-nities are abundant in the towns along French Creek’s “Creek Towns” Communities. For more specific Information regarding attractions and information presented in this guide, we encour-age you to access one of the following resources.

French Creek Valley Conservancy 814-337-4321 frenchcreekconservancy.org Crawford County Visitors Bureau 814-333-1258 visitcrawford.org

VISITOR OPPORTUNITIES

FRENCH CREEK CREATURES

More types of fish and mollusks are found in French Creek than any other stream in Pennsylvania. The watershed is home to 27 species of mussels, 15 species of darters, and four im-portant bird areas (IBA). Many species that thrive in French Creek have been extirpated from their natural ranges due to habitat loss and degradation of water quality. Nevertheless French Creek remains relatively healthy, leading The Nature Conservancy to include the French Creek watershed in its listing of national “hot spots” with ten or more at-risk fish and mussel species, and citing it as a critical watershed to conserve these species. Mussels were once common throughout the eastern United States but have decreased in numbers due to their sensitivity to pollution and destruction of habitat. French Creek is home to four federally endangered mussel species. These species have lost 95% of their historic range but fortunately healthy popula-tions can still be found in French Creek. Colorful darters thrive in French Creek, which hosts 15 differ-ent species. Many of these species are rare or endangered. French Creek is also home to Pennsylvania’s largest sala-mander, the eastern hellbender. This salamander can reach up to 29 inches long and can weigh up to five pounds, making it one of the largest salamanders in North America. Bald eagles and osprey are commonly seen in the watershed.

Crawford County is one of the best places in Pennsylvania to

see bald eagles.

TOWNS AND TOURISM

The Union City Dam was completed in 1970 by the Army Corps of Engineers as a method of controlling the frequent flooding of French Creek. It is a rolled earth, dry-bed reservoir that stands 88 feet above the stream bed and has a 1,420 foot top length. The diverse habitat and ecosystems that can be found here provide hikers, bird watchers, and the novice naturalist with a diversity of flora and fauna to discover and enjoy.

The Riverside Inn was construct-ed during the rise of tourism to Cambridge Springs. The Inn is a Victorian-style building dating from 1885 and is listed in the Na-tional Register of Historic Places. The inn is three stories high, has 74 guest rooms, a restaurant, a dinner theater, and numerous other rooms for entertainment and social functions. It is open from April through mid-December.

The Patrick McGill House is one of the oldest standing houses in Crawford County. Built in 1802 by Patrick McGill, the log house is one of the few surviving homes in the French Creek Valley. McGill was a farmer, settler of Saeger-town, organized the first school, and served in the war of 1812.

Historic Bemustown was constructed in 1830, two miles above Meadville. Its founder, Dr. Daniel Bemus, erected an extensive saw and gristmill which was powered by a dam that used the waters of French Creek. Large quantities of lumber, mostly pine, were sawed and dried in Bemustown, then were floated down to Pittsburgh in boats that were also constructed here. When the feeder to the Bea-ver & Erie Canal was constructed it was fed from French Creek through the Bemus dam, which subsequently became public proper-ty. Bemustown was at one time quite a little settlement, containing a store and six to eight dwellings.

Baldwin-Reynolds House Mu-seum was constructed between 1842 and 1844 to be the home of Supreme Court Justice Henry Baldwin. Today, the Museum is owned and managed by the Crawford County Historical Socie-ty and is listed in the “National Register of Historical Places.” The Museum is open for tours mid-May through August.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Originating in Chautauqua County in western New York, the French Creek water trail flows southerly through Erie, Mercer, Crawford, and Venango counties, ultimately joining the Alleghe-ny River in Franklin, PA. The main branch of the Creek is over 117 miles long and the watershed encompasses 1,235 square miles of land. The Creek, along with its tributaries, is responsible for draining 72 municipalities in four Northwestern Pennsylvania counties. French Creek is outstanding for fishing and canoeing, and provides water for communities and agricultural activities. Thanks to its high water quality, rich biodiversity, and notable history, French Creek is considered to be one of the most im-portant streams of its size in the Northeast United States.

FRENCH CREEK WATER TRAIL

RESPECT THE PRIVACY & RIGHTS OF LANDOWNERS

HISTORY OF FRENCH CREEK

Please respect the privacy and rights of landowners along this trail by obtaining permission before entering any privately owned land. Unless you are otherwise certain, assume the land is private property. In any case, avoid loud noises and boister-ous behavior. Remember that sound carries across water much more clearly than on land. Use the same courtesy that you would want. A friendly wave or quiet greeting is always wel-come.

French Creek is arguably one of the most ecologically signifi-cant waterways in Pennsylvania and has been called one of Pennsylvania’s foremost aquatic treasures. French Creek origi-nates in Chautauqua County, New York, and flows 117 miles through Erie, Crawford, Mercer, and Venango counties before joining the Allegheny River. The French Creek watershed covers approximately 1,270 square miles, providing a habitat for many types of wildlife and birds, as well as over 80 species of fish and 27 species of fresh-water mussels. Scientists attribute French Creek’s outstanding biodiversity to the fact that it is part of the rich Ohio River water-shed and has maintained its high quality habitat, including sand and gravel substrates, riffles, runs, and pools. The French Creek drainage also has a good supply of alkaline groundwater resources that provides a buffer against the affects of acid deposition. French Creek was given its name in the early 1750s by George Washington who visited the Creek in an effort to dislodge the French from the area. During this period of colonization and westward expansion, the Creek served as an important waterway for the French Army and the early American settlers.

STEWARDSHIP

Protecting French Creek from environmental degradation is a shared mission. Help care for the land, water and cultural re-sources along the French Creek water trail by respecting wildlife, nature and other recreationists. It is important to wash footwear, boats and vehicles to minimize the spread of invasive species from one place to another. “Leave No Trace,” a national outdoor ethics program, provides some guidelines to minimize your im-pact. For more information about “Leave No Trace,” visit www.Lnt.org. Leave no trace for camping and day use: 1. Plan and prepare campfires to limit forest fires. 2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces 3. Dispose of waste properly 4. Leave what you find 5. Minimize campfire impacts 6. Respect wildlife 7. Be considerate of other visitors

Map & Guide

Upper French Creek Water Trail

A Community Treasure

PENNSYLVANIA BOATING REGULATIONS

A U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable

personal flotation device (PFD or life jacket) is required for each person on board. In addition, one throwable device (seat cush-ion or ring buoy) is required on boats 16 feet in length or longer. Canoes and kay-aks, regardless of length, are not required to carry a throwable device.

From November 1 through April 30, boaters

must wear a life jacket on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak during these cold weather months.

Life jackets must be the appropriate size for the person intend-

ed and must be in good, serviceable condition.

Life jackets must be worn by all children 12 years old and

younger on all boats 20 feet or less in length while under way, and on all canoes and kayaks. Others are strongly encouraged to wear a PFD at all times on the water.

All boats must display an anchor light (a

white light visible 360 degrees) when at anchor between sunset and sunrise. Boats can use a lantern or clip-on battery-powered unit to meet this requirement.

Unpowered boats must carry a white light,

either hand-held or installed, to be dis-played in time to avoid a collision between sunset and sunrise and during restricted visibility.

All powered boats must show running lights

between sunset and sunrise. All boats are required to carry a sound-producing de-vice. Motorboats less than 40 feet in length must carry some mechanical means of making a sound signal. This device may be hand-, mouth- or power-operated. An athletic coach’s whis-tle is an acceptable device. Operators of unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards) are required to car-ry a device capable of sounding a prolonged blast for 4-6 sec-onds that can be heard by another boat operator in time to avoid a collision. An athletic coach’s whistle is acceptable.

All motorboats must be registered, regardless of where they

launch.

Unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, rowboats) using Pennsyl-

vania Fish & Boat Commission or State Park or Forest access areas must either be registered OR display a valid launch per-mit. Launch permits can be purchased through the Commis-sion’s website at www.fishandboat.com (Click the “Outdoor Shop” icon.) or at many state park offices

Operating watercraft, including canoes and kayaks, under the

influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal. This law is strongly en-forced for user safety. For further information on boating regu-lations, contact the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission at www.fishandboat.com

PADDLING SAFETY TIPS

Wear your life jacket. Some 80 per-

cent of all recreational boating fatali-ties happen to people who are not wearing a life jacket.

Expect to get wet. Even the best

paddlers sometimes capsize or swamp their boats. Bring extra cloth-ing in a waterproof bag.

Be prepared to swim. If the water

looks too hazardous to swim in, don’t go paddling.

If you capsize, hold on to your boat, unless it presents a life-

threatening situation. If floating in current, position yourself on the upstream side of the capsized boat.

Scout ahead whenever possible. Know the river. Avoid sur-

prises.

Be prepared for the weather. Get a forecast before you go.

Sudden winds and rain are common and can turn a pleasant trip into a risky, unpleasant venture.

Wear wading shoes or tennis shoes with wool, polypropylene,

pile, or neoprene socks.

Never take your boat over a low-head dam.

Portage (carry) your boat around any section of water about

which you feel uncertain.

Never boat alone. Boating safety increases with numbers.

Keep painter lines (ropes tied to the bow) and any other ropes

coiled and secured.

Never tie a rope to yourself or to another paddler, especially

a child.

Kneel to increase your stability before entering rougher wa-

ter, like a rapid.

If you collide with an obstruction, lean toward it. This will

usually prevent your capsizing or flooding the boat.

File a float plan with a reliable person indicating where you

are going and when you will return. Remember to contact the person when you have returned safely.

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46

42

32

34

36

38

44

40

68

64

60

5652

72

76

48

5054

58

62

6670

74

78

# [50

#

¬ 74

Union City DamNot Passable

#

¬ 64

# ¬ 47

#

#

¬ 31

Wattsburg-W

aterford Rd

UnionCity

MillVillage

SGL162

SGL190

Waterford

SGL85

Cambridge

Springs

Edinboro

Venango

Saegertown

Woodcock

Meadville

#

¬

SGL109

Blooming

Valley

SGL277

Erie NationalW

ildlife Refuge

Erie National

Wildlife Refuge

(/ 1997

97

8

Sharp Rd

(/ 619

(/ 6N(/ 6N

(/6

(/6

97

Elgin Rd

Lyons Rd

8

.-, 79 .-, 79

(/ 6N

99

Kinter Hill Rd

408

408

77

77

198

27

198

102

98

98

198

.-, 79

(/ 619

(/ 619

(/ 19

N

01Kilometer

01Mile

Local ParkState Gam

e Land

City or Borough

County BoundaryCreek Island

USGS Stream Flow Gauge Station (Internet Accessible)

Carry-In Canoe Access Site (ID Number is the Approxim

ateRiver Mile - See Chart for More Inform

ation)

[37River Access Site with Ram

p and Parking (ID Number is the

Approximate River Mile - See Chart for More Inform

ation)

Area Point of InterestÆV

RestaurantsÆW

Motels, Inns and Bed & Breakfasts

Primitive Cam

psite - Accessable by Creek OnlyÆQ

Mileage from Mouth of French Creek (Two-Mile Intervals)

VCaution

Welcom

e and Information Center

ÆX

Riffles / Small W

aves

SGL 52

¬ 47

Important Bird Area (IBA)

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Trail

Campground with Restroom

sÆQ

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

­

#

A

[37

French

Union CityLake

Creek

FrenchCreek

SouthBranch

LeboeufLake

Leboeuf

Creek

Creek

Creek

French

Conneauttee

EdinboroLake

CreekMuddy

CreekW

oodcockCreekLake

Cussewago Creek

ÆVÆc

ÆVÆc

ÆV

Æc

Æc

ÆVÆc

ÆV

ÆV

Avg. High(F)Avg. Low(F)

Jan

5:15Sunrise(AM) Sunset(PM)

2.9Avg. Precip.(in)

Sunrise and Sunset are the 15th of each month - including daylight savings time.A general min. USGS gauge at Meadville is 2 ', though some stretches are passableyear round. Call the French Creek Valley Conservancy at 814-337-4321 for more info.

Gauge(CFS)2,460

2,2902,770

2,5201,500

816700

562846

1,1301,820

2,400

Monthly Average Information for Meadville, PA

2.6

FebMar

AprMay

JunJul

AugSep Oct

Nov Dec 32°16°

35°17°

45°25°

57°34°

68°44°

77°54°

81°58°

79°57°

72°51°

61°40°

48°32°

37°23°

3.23.4

3.74.5

4.24.3

4.33.5

4.03.7

7:457:165:54

7:277:33

6:418:01

6:018:33

5:468:57

8:545:59

6:298:21

7:017:31

7:326:40

7:095:01

7:404:51

VBreached DamScout Ahead

Possible to Runor PortageRiver Left

French Creek headwaters are fairly narrow and are susceptible to downed trees(strainers) that are a potentially serious threat and can change year to year.Several riffles are identified on the map that can be navigated with minimalpaddling experience. Avoid the upstream side of bridge abutments. Scoutahead at the breached low-head dam near Saegertown which can be runor portaged on river left. Caution Inform

ationV

V

ÆPÆP ÆV

80 10'S

S80 05'

80 00'S

79 55'S

79 50'S

4155' SS4150'

4145' S

4140' S

80 10'S

S80 05'

80 00'S

79 55'S

79 50'S

4155' SS4150'

4145' S

4140' S

Meadville

Cora Clark ParkHudekoper

Park

ElizabethPark

HP W

ayPark

# ¬ 31

ÆPÆV

Æc

BicentennialPark

Mead Ave

French St

102

(/ 619

(/619322(/ 322

8627

Park Ave

Market St

Water St Pine St

Pine St

Arch St

Arch St

ÆP

Randolph St

Willow St

Poplar St

ÆV

S Main StLiberty St

Clark Rd

Mercer St

Chestnut StChestnut St

Walnut St

Walnut St

Williamson

Rd

Poplar St

ÆV

ÆVÆVÆV

ÆVÆVÆV

ÆV

ÆW

ÆVÆV

AlleghenyCollege

86

North St

Highland Ave

Allegheny StLim

ber Rd

Baldwin St

Spring St

Terrace St

Jefferson St

Grove St

Wadsworth Ave

Rogers Ferry Rd

Race St

Columbia AveLincoln AveÆV

00.2

Miles

N

80 09' 30"#S #

#80 09' 00"

#S#

80 08' 30"#S

4138'00" #S

4138'30" #S

4139'00" #S

4137'30" #S

#4138'00" #S#

4138'30" #S#

4139'00" #S#

4137'30" #S#

# ##

80 09' 30"#S#

#80 09' 00"

#S#

80 08' 30"#S

FrenchCreek

<

32

30

ÆW

ÆW

ÆW

ÆV

Park Ave

ÆVÆVÆVÆVÆVÆV

Liberty StÆW

ÆVÆV

ÆV

ÆV

#

­

#

E

Lord St

Glenwood Ave

Reynolds Ave

ÆQ

Holly Tr

TrolleyLine Tr

#

­

#

B

#

ÆQ

ERIE CO

CRAWFORD CO

CRAWFORD CO

ERIE COERIE CO

CRAWFORD CO

86

86

Middleton Rd

KimballHillRd

Cross Rd

State RdOld

MillerStation Rd

#ÆV

StMcClellan

ÆW

ÆW

99

Plank Rd

Plank Rd

Skeltontown Rd

BlystoneRd

Skeltontown Rd

Gospel Hill Rd

ÆV

Path - River RightFrom PA Rt. 8 in Union City, follow PA Rt. 97 N 2.5 miles. Turn right onto Middleton Road. Turn left at the dam. Go 0.7miles to launch (drive across the dam to the parking lot on the far side). Carry canoe at gate down gravel rd hill to water.

Lat 41 55 11Lon 79 54 06

Union City Dam

Routes 6N&19 Int.Lat 41 52 55Lon 79 59 60

Int. of US Rts 6, 19 & 6N just west of Mill Village. Drop boats behind Yesterday's Best Antiques then park ~200 feet northof the int. at south end of Creekside Bar and Grille lot. Unattended vehicles at Yesterday's Best Antiques will be towed.

Path - River Right

French Creek Water Trail Upper Section Public Access Sites

River Miles are used to identify locations of various sites along the creek. River Mile 0 is at the confluence of French Creek and the Allegheny River. "River Left"and "River Right" are used to indicate which side of the stream a site is on. Orient yourself looking downstream to determine right and left. PFBC (PA Fish &Boat Commission) launches require boat registration (other states accepted) or a launch permit from a state park office or PFBC.

Cambridge Springs

Lat 41 48 26Lon 80 02 37

PFBC. Follow US Routes 6E/19N 0.2 miles from the French Creek bridge in Cambridge Springs then turn right ontoMiller Station Rd, follow for 0.3 miles and turn right to access area.

[50Paved Ramp-River RightConneautee

Lat 41 48 40Lon 80 04 44

From intersection with US Routes 6/19 in Cambridge Springs, follow McClellan St (SR 1006) 1.3 miles west. Accesspoint is located at the confluence of Conneautee Creek and French Creek.

Path - River Right¬ 47

PFBC. From the intersection of US Routes 6/19 and PA Rt 198 at H&H Market in the center of Saegertown, takeUS Routes 6W

/19S approximately 0.4 miles heading south. Access directly off US Routes 6/19.Lat 41 42 31Lon 80 08 45

SaegertownGravel Ramp - River Left

[37

Bicentennial ParkLat 41 38 14Lon 80 09 44

From US Routes 6/19 in Meadville, turn West onto Mead Ave (a.k.a. "Bessemer Park"), then left onto French

St (just before Mead Avenue Bridge - look for historic log cabin), then right into the park. French Creek accessis straight ahead and slightly downstream of Mead Ave. Bridge.

Path - River Left¬ 31 ¬ 74¬ 64

Cussewago CreekLat 41 38 58Lon 80 11 01

PFBC. From the Mead Ave Bridge at Bicentennial Park in Meadville, take PA Rt 102 (Cussewago Rd)approximately 1.4 miles north, then turn right at the PA Fish and Boating Commission sign.

Path - River Right¬

SeeInsetMap

198

SGL202

Woodcock

ÆW

ÆV

ÆV ÆV

ÆV

ÆW

ÆV ÆV

ÆV

ÆV

ÆV

ÆV ÆV

ÆV

ÆW

Near mile 67

Near mile 73

#

River Left side of breached dam at Saegertown (m

ile 38 - lookingupstream

). Avoid middle and river right. Scout before attem

pting.VV

Dickson RdLeslie Rd

Shutz Rd

Erie St

S Mosiertown Rd

Rogers Ferry Rd

Grange Center Rd

GravelRunRd

JohnstownRd

N Main St Flats Rd

Wheelertown Rd

Concord Rd

Irish Rd

¬ 64Parking for:

No Parking.Drop off only.Unattended vehicles will

be towed.

ÆQÆQ

ÆQ

Continued onFrench CreekW

ater Trail -Lower Section

Mill

Run

­

#

B

ÆW

­

#

A

RdMt.

Pleasant

­

#Riverside InnA

Points of Interest

BCall 814-337-4321 ifyou know what this isPatrick McGill House

CDHistoric Bem

ustownDam

Remnants

Baldwin-ReynoldsHouse Museum

E

#

­

#

C

­

#

D

­

#

D

Park Ave Ext

Photo: Clark Fisher

Photo: Clark Fisher

Photo: Clark Fisher

Photo: Clark Fisher

Photo: Clark Fisher

Photo: Clark Fisher

Mapping by FisherWorks

Consulting April 2013

Cussewago DamNot Passable]

In-Stream River-W

ide Dam. Danger. Avoid.