Allegheny River Wilderness Sojourn June 22-24, 2017
On behalf of Penn Soil RC&D Council and our many friends and partner organizations who worked diligently to get the word out about the beauty and importance of the Allegheny River to our region of Pennsylvania we are pleased to celebrate the Allegheny River as the 2017 PA River of the Year. The Allegheny River was the clear winner gathering 45% of the 16,700 total votes split between four finalist waterways highlighted in the annual contest sponsored by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resurces (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR). It is now our pleasure to invite you to join us on an educational and fun guided sojourn that will let you enjoy your time on this beautiful river while experiencing a variety of what this National Wild & Scenic River has to offer. Whether you can join us for a single day or the whole three day event, we are sure you will have fun, learn about its history, its flora and fauna, and the importance of the Allegheny to all of western Pennsylvania.
This event has many different options to participate thanks to the hard work of a committee of volunteers led by the Conewango Creek Watershed Association and the staff at Allegheny Outfitters, a Platinum Sponsor of the Sojourn Event working together with Penn Soil RC&D to develop all the plans and options.
Sojourn Overview: There will be three days of paddling: June 22-24. A two-day trip will run Thursday and Friday, June 22-23, and offer the option of a primitive camping experience on Thursday night. The third day is a stand-alone 1-day paddle on Saturday June 24. We are offering two different trips with different options to appeal to as many people as possible. Hotel options are also available if you prefer and your lodging can be arranged at a group discount beginning Wednesday night June 21st through Saturday June 24th if desired. Each day the program will include several educational presentations by experts in their fields spaced out deliberately to allow for a good mix of paddling and rest breaks.
The 2-day Allegheny Wilderness Island trip will run June 22-23. The base fee to participate is $30. This gives you registration, sojourn souvenir, water, snacks, educational presentations, a goodie bag, and a picnic supper on Sat. June 24 . This fee does not cover lodging, boat rentals, shuttles, meals (other than snacks and Sat. picnic). There are options to rent canoes or kayaks, buy the primitive camping equipment option, buy the catered camping meal package (for campers only) and shuttle service for your own boat if needed. You can customize the package to suit your needs. A motel option is also available for those who wish to stay in a motel Thursday night instead. Day 1 paddle will begin at Buckaloons Campgound boat launch and end at “no-name island” near the Tanbark Trail Head. Day two will begin at the island and end at the Tidioute boat launch. Total miles is approx. 20. Water is flat water or class one rapids.
The character of the day 1 and 2 paddle will be quieter, less rushed and more relaxing. The camping equipment package will supply you with everything you need for primitive camping except the sleeping bag and pillow. The nicest part is that the equipment will be transported, set-up and torn-down by the staff of Allegheny Outfitters. So it’s “luxury primitive camping,” if you will. Another option available only to campers is the meal plan. Allegheny Outfitters staff will provide lunch and supper on day 1 and breakfast and lunch on day 2. Meals will use locally available meats and veggies where possible.
The 1-day paddling trip on Saturday will probably be a little more exciting. Saturday is a busy day on the Allegheny River as far as paddlers go. The base fee to participate on Saturday is $25. This gives you registration, sojourn souvenir, water, snacks, educational presentations, a goodie bag, and a picnic supper on Sat. June 24 . Participants are asked to bring their own water, water bottle and lunch. This trip starts at 8:00 AM at the Big Bend Boat Launch Area just below Kinzua Dam, 9 miles east of Warren. It will end at Allegheny Outfitters Livery just east of Warren. Shuttles will then return everyone to the Big Bend Recreation Area for the supper picnic at the Big Bend Visitors Center and an optional "inside" tour of the Kinzua Dam.
On Saturday, June 24 from 4-6 pm, a picnic supper will be provided for participants of both sojourns at the Big Bend Visitors Center.
For more information about the Wilderness Camping Package go to www.alleghenyoutfitters.com/2017sojourn to get all the details about the meals and equipment provided. You can also call Penn Soil at 814-726-1441 with questions.
To get more information on the sojourn click the links below to download a PDF document for more details.
Three day Basic Sojourn schedule overview
Penn Soil Sojourn Important Information
To register for any of the three days of the sojourn, click the links below to download the forms you will need.
Wilderness Sojourn Emergency Contact Form
June 22 & 23 Wilderness Sojourn Registration Form
June 24 One Day Sojourn Registration Form
Penn Soil RC&D Participant Release form
Allegheny Outfitters Release form