I did a search for books on kayaking in PA and couldn’t find any. I have several for OH and MI, but live about 3 hours from Allegheny National Forest. I am looking for info on multiday trips in this area. If anyone has paddled here, or knows where can find some info, please LMK. Thanks in advance.
PS. I searched the archives in the places to paddle here, but all of the PA stuff was Eastern.
2 books, one is out of print…
– Last Updated: Oct-20-05 10:30 AM EST –
Keystone Canoeing:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0960590862/qid=1129818364/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-8256118-9260828?v=glance&s=books
This is an eastern PA paddling guide but has a section titled "Best of the West" very good guide.
Rivers of Pa:
http://www.alibris.com/search/detail.cfm?chunk=25&mtype=&qwork=5774745&S=R&bid=8318924762&pbest=14%2E15&pqtynew=0&page=1&matches=2&qsort=p
An even better guide, but it is out of print. You have to buy it used.
a few reports in Places to Paddle
I second what Meat said about the two books. Despite a fairly dilligent effort, I’ve never been able to get a used copy of “Canoeable Streams.”
Check “Places to Paddle” again. There are a few write ups. http://www.paddling.net/places/PA/
Any specific questions, speak right up. I’ve done a few sections and others here have done more. The Allegheny is nice because it is a pretty reliable run due to it being dam controlled to support barge traffic all the way down through confluence with the Monongahela river in Pittsburgh.
thanks
I’ll check out the book and the link
Some Rivers
Depending on what type of kayak you are using there are a couple rivers that may fit the bill. The Clarion River from Ridgeway to Cooksburg or even Piney Dam is a nice run depending on Water level. Depending on waterlevel, rapids only Class 1 or maybe 2. Polyboat would work, need some rocker. We use royalex canoes. Be careful not to camp on Game Commission land, you will be tagged, including Hemlock Island below Cooksburg.
We like the West Branch of the Susquehanna from Shawville to Karthaus, or Karthaus to Keating. Not many people at all. Decent camping. Water must be high enough, only 1 Class 2 rapids just before Karthaus near where Red Moshannon enters West Branch. So much depends on waterlevel. Guages available from USGS and Army Corp of Engineers. We often go in April to ensure enough water.
Of course the Allegheny and further downstream on the Susquehanna are possiblities as well. Our favorite is Grand Canyon of PA (Pine Creek), Ansonia to Waterville, camping is available. Permits needed and can be picked up in Ansonia. Couple of potentially pushy rapids, Owasee and Split Rock Ledge, portage possible. Check them out in the books.
Check here…
http://www.learningdesign.com/cgi-local/rivergage
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/county.htm
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/watertrails/trailindex.htm
Hope these are of some help.
As a fellow NE Ohioan,…
Iv’e gotten together with a bunch of people from Paddling.net to paddle Allegheny Reservoir for the last 4 yrs. Last year, we did a weekend trip on the Allegheny River too. A bunch of p-netters get together at a few other western Pa. locations also…Raystown, Summersville(?) You might want to check the Places to Paddle board come spring time. A current thread by Wesd is asking what people think about scheduling some of those campouts. These guys are serious boaters/camper chefs. I try to hang with 'em whenever possible. Excellent people, myself excluded. All kinds of boats… stuff you wouldn’t see around here. Makes it very interesting…
Allegheny
is always canoeable. Depending on water levels the Tionesta creek is a very nice paddle. Best in spring. Several boat commission ramps and a few campgrounds along the way between Sheffield and Nebraska Bridge. Laura