Looking for river trips in OH/PA vicinity

[Tsuga8]

My friend and I are trying to plan a 2 night river trip for Memorial Day weekend. He's in St Louis, me in NY, so we're looking at places halfway-ish to meet in the middle - eastern OH or western PA, or maybe northern WV. We're looking for backcountry or gravel bar style camping, and want to avoid noisy party scenes, campgrounds with generators, and heavily-liveried float trips if possible. Up to Class II is good but moving flatwater is fine. If the river is suitable I might attempt some poling lessons with him.

Searches have surfaced the Clarion and Allegheny in PA ( thanks to @MichaelMerry for helpful Clarion and Allegheny trip reports on this forum), and Little Beaver Creek in OH. At this point we're liking the Clarion. But I'm wondering if there are other options we've overlooked?

 

[Penns Woods]

I'd go with the Clarion. Allegheny seems too busy for me. Just my two cents.

 

[MichaelMerry]

Depends when you paddle the Allegheny. If you’re willing to deal with a little weather, you will find sections of the Allegheny to be very quiet. We stay off the Allegheny completely between Memorial Day and Labor Day and actually prefer April and October- November.

The clarion is difficult to paddle in the summer due to low water levels. For the clarion, watch the river gauge at cooksburg. I like it above 3.5 on that gauge.

Clarion River at Cooksburg, PA

Discover water data collected at monitoring location USGS-03029500, located in Clarion County, Pennsylvania and find additional nearby monitoring locations.

waterdata.usgs.gov

 

[Tsuga8]

Thanks, Penn and Michael. We're looking at Memorial Day Weekend. Any guesses as to whether the Clarion will have enough water then? Will the Allegheny be a zoo that holiday weekend?

 

[MichaelMerry]

Both rivers will be busy. Water levels on the clarion will be totally dependent on rainfall in the week leading up. That time of year, as a result of all the foliage added to the surrounds forest, less water gets to the river and it arrives more slowly. That time of year, people start tubing the clarion. It can raucous and busy.

Believe it or not, I think your better bet over the holiday weekend would be the Allegheny river. However, I’d encourage you to stay downstream of the most heavily used sections. My advice would be to paddle from Franklin to Emlenton. In my experience, this section of river sees far less pressure. There is plenty of camping available as well. My trip log details some of it. If you need advice on put in, take out and camping, just let me know. Happy to help.

 

[Tsuga8]

Thanks so much, that's super helpful! I'll check in with my friend and may indeed reach out.

 

[canube]

Thanks so much, that's super helpful! I'll check in with my friend and may indeed reach out.

Just know that you might need a Pa. permit. Some put-ins require more regulations than others....Most states have reciprocal rules but Pa. waters can vary....I've paddled that stretch a couple of times and have had state officials check for tags.....I should say launch permits

 

[Tsuga8]

Good to know, thanks!

 

[MichaelMerry]

Pennsylvania participates in reciprocal boat registration. If your boats are registered in your home state, be sure to display or have proof.

 

[Gamma1214]

General rule of thumb in PA is to simply avoid launches that are maintained by the state. Registration / permits are only required in state parks and launches maintained by Fish & Boat. Launch from any town park, bridge abutment or roadside pull-off and you need nothing. (OK, you're still supposed to have the pfd, whistle, etc but you don't need to junk up your boat with stickers)

One trip that remains on my bucket list is the Little Muskingham river in Ohio. Much of it is within the Wayne National Forest so dispersed, minimum impact camping is allowed and there are some established (and one retired) campgrounds available. Navigability is completely dependent upon rainfall so watch the Bloomfield gauge (I'm told 4-6 feet is ideal) and you may want to have a backup plan ready.

I can't find much info online for it (which is one reason it appeals to me so much) but, if you're interested, I'll share what I've been able to find.

 

[MichaelMerry]

I am certainly interested in what you learn of the little Muskie.

I thought I’d exhausted my overnight Ohio paddling possibilities. I’ve mostly stealth camped on Ohio trips; my taste for stealth camping is waning as I age.

 

[NoelCanoeDad]

Hello,

I paddle the Allegheny and the Clarion regularly. Portland Mills to Irwin on the Clarion is one of my favorite day trips. There is a rope swing that is out of this world! I have done the Clarion as low as 1.7 on the Cooksburg gauge but there is lots of walking. I am comfortable at 2.5 or higher. This is the best website for water levels, section descriptions, and shuttle routes.

https://canoedraft.shaw-weil.com/gauge/

My favorite campsite on the Allegheny is Hemlock Island, there are 3 campsites on it but probably will be busy that weekend. These guide books are pricey but awesome.

https://www.kayakmapspa.com/clarion-river

I have them for the Allegheny, Clarion and French Creek. I would be happy to talk on the phone sometime and read off detail from the guide books. Dustin 724-301-4751. The Allegheny Canoe club has a trip on the West Branch of the susquehanna River that weekend if you want help with shuttle. Details below. They have seen Elk and black bear on that section. They say they seldom see many other people. My neighbor, Burt Martin (724-372-8895) has led that trip for 49 years as the Vice President of the Club. He is 80 and plans to go this year to make it an even 50 but is letting Rich take the lead this year.


May 24-26 (Memorial Day Weekend (Sat-Mon) (West Branch Susquehanna River Camp-
Out” Paddle distance around 42 miles (Frenchville station to Keating) Primitive
camping. Call first Rich Banjak 717-385-8896

 

[Gamma1214]

Frenchville to Keating is a cool paddle and about as remote as you'll find paddling a PA river. It's also (probably) the most paddled section of the West Branch which is pretty awesome considering that (especially now that McCracken's Canoe Rental closed) it doesn't see much traffic.

 

[Penns Woods]

Wow, you got some great info there Tsuga8. Noelcanoedad and Gamma1214 has about all you need to know to get started. There was stuff in there even I didn't know. Great job.

 

[Tsuga8]

Wow wow wow! Thanks so much for all this generous info. I'll review it all a little more carefully in the next few days and will reach out individually as needed. But regardless, I really appreciate all the offered help - such great community! Thanks again, all!

 

[Tsuga8]

Ps I did find a brochure on canoeing in the Wayne NF on this page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/wayne/recreation/opportunities/water-activities

 

[Gamma1214]

I did find a brochure on canoeing in the Wayne NF on this page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/wayne/recreation/opportunities/water-activities

Over the years, I've gathered quite a bit of info on that trip. The river is very much dependent upon rainfall and the trick, it seems, is to catch it at the right water level.

Under 4 feet and you'll be dragging the riffles and over 6 ft it starts to clear the banks in places. I'm still trying to get the stars aligned properly myself so it's probably best to have a backup destination in mind if the rainfall doesn't cooperate that week.

These folks have done the Little Musk in 2004 and 2011 (with very different water levels) and you can get an idea from their TRs.

I'm trying to get all the info that I've gathered put into one, concise, email and I can send it to whomever is interested (@MichaelMerry, you're already on that list).

Good luck and let us know where you land.