Rides We Like: Tinicum Creek Crossings
(2020) Many of us have been on the bank of a waterway confronted with a couple options. As the decision-maker, we are given a list of ways to attempt a water crossing. Usually one is marginally acceptable with minimal amount of risk. Should we caulk the wagons and attempt to float it across? Should we ford the waterway with the team? Or should we hire a guide to do the work? Whatever the option selected, chances are the team will lose at least 30 pounds of bacon, some extra wagon yolks, and maybe one of the people in the party will be swept away. Such is life on the Oregon Trail.
It is not a regular experience to see a sign like this on a ride. Municipal Road and Hollow Horn Road.
Road cycling has witnessed an evolution recently, that goes without saying. Gravel has become so big pro riders have entered events while road events have sprinkled gravel secteurs amongst their stages. The Spring Classic Gent-Wevelgem added the fabled Plugstreets, unpaved tractor roads into the Belgian World War I battlefields. The gravel credit even has World Tour organizers obtaining wondering eyes when planning routes.
That had us questioning what is the next badge of road cycling, and judging by the uptick in social media photos, we think we have found it. Cyclocross obviously features hazards involving water, and few obstacles in rally racing are as dramatic as the water crossing. We are lucky to have two water crossings at the minimum near the creakybottombracket.com office and we went to check them out recently. Mind you, we had just received fewer than ten inches of rain in the previous week. It was probably the perfect time to check out Municipal Road and Bunker Hill Road in Tinicum, Bucks County.
Municipal Road is a freakshow. Today we accessed Municipal’s southern half via Hollow Horn Road. To the right is the Tinicum municipal building (hence the name) and to the left - and easy to miss - is a steep climb into the trees. The steepness is brief but the road pitches downward in a hurry. It is barely the width of a single car. Gently squeezing the brakes to prevent speed, the road changed to recently tilled gravel. Steep and loose, this portion of Municipal had us questioning route choice. The water crossing was already in view but it would have to wait; a gravel descent on a road bike is exciting.
The gravel road that is Bunker Hill Road. It accesses a creek crossing just out of sight of this picture.
Reaching the water’s edge a couple facts became apparent. The recent heavy rains damaged the area extensively. It was probably the reason for the turned-over gravel. The eddy that formed in Tinicum Creek blocked our ability to cross, making a deep pool just before the other side of Municipal continuation. The forested lands to the left were part of the Bucks County Park Service. And finally whichever way we left the area, it was going to be a steep climb. A few years ago Mike (yes that Mike) and I had descended from the north via Headquarters Road and experienced a relentless steep climb after turning around. Here we turned back to Hollow Horn, struggling to clip in, and attempted to climb back to the intersection. The gravel section was steep enough that staying seated was the only option. The newly turned stones would provide no purchase if a standing climb happened.
Had we continued through the water on Municipal, we would have accessed the second Tinicum Creek crossing in around four miles. Hidden in a hollow along Clay Ridge Road is Bunker Hill Road and the northern portion of Tinicum Creek. A short descent from Ottsville via Geigel Hill Road, a gravel road darts off to the left and lends itself a race along Tinicum Creek. The roadway is relatively flat and secluded, a quiet place to consider the next creek crossing. In the tracks of a four-wheeler, we sat up and concluded again a crossing would not be safe. What the status of the road is beyond is not known. We have never descended from the other side. What should be considered is the prevalence of strong climbs nearby, suggesting the road goes upward in a hurry on its way to Beaver Run Road.
The crossing of Tinicum Creek at Bunker Hill Road. The gravel road continues upward in the photo.
For a brief moment the idea of crossing both portions of Tinicum Creek were entertained. There were fanciful delights of crashing into the water at top speed like rally cars but the uneven creek bed would have caused a needless spill. We also took notes on ways to attempt one or both of the crossings should a dry spell settle in the area. Social media has plenty of photos of road cyclists removing socks and shoes, shouldering the rig and stepping-stone across the way to the other side. Fortunately for us, we have two known crossings nearby we can access rather quickly.
Feel free to investigate the crossings for yourself. Be safe and use common sense when considering a crossing. In the hot late summer days, a plunge into the drink may be the way to save a ride. Like many things in cycling, these crossings are earned. Municipal Road is full of climbing heft from either direction. Perhaps dunking oneself is a way to help a heated climb. Just make sure the bacon isn’t lost when trying to cross the Creek.
