General                     Canoe & Kayak                   Backpacking

What is that second picture on your homapage that has the string of canoes? That's the Titanic Flotilla! Read the whole story here.

Do you have a liability form that is required for our paddling trip? Yes. Our liability form must be signed by each individual going on the trip (adult and child). Anyone under 18 is required to have a parent or guardian signature. Please download the form here.

What days are you open – and do I need a reservation? Allegheny Outfitters is open April 15th through October 30th. We open 7 days a week, weather depending, the first weekend in June through Labor Day weekend, all other dates are reservation only. Reservations are strongly recommended on weekends and around holidays. Anyone without a reservation should call before coming over to make sure we've got boats available and that we're open.

What is your cancellation policy? We believe in karma. We don’t generally require deposits for reservations or slap folks with penalties for cancellations. We just ask that you be considerate. If you must cancel a reservation – no matter what size your party – please call us as far in advance as possible so we have the opportunity to re-rent your boats. There is no penalty or hard feelings for cancellations due to weather or emergencies. If, on the other hand, we’re holding half our canoe inventory for your group and at the last second you decide to nix the trip for no apparent reason – well, we’re going to be pretty unhappy about that (and so will the karma gods!) We’ll require you to make a non-refundable deposit the next time around.

Paddling

How many people fit in a canoe? Two adults and up to two small-size children. You can also have three adults - but the third adult costs $5 extra.

Are there times when the livery cancels trips? Yes, if the water gets too high due to excessive rain, runoff or an increased outflow at Kinzua Dam we will not allow customers to go out in our boats. Other severe weather conditions may also cause cancellations. We make every attempt to notify customers of a cancellation prior to them driving to the livery.

How fast, rough and deep is the Allegheny? The upper Allegheny is considered ‘Class One,’ the calmest official river designation there is. In some spots you can wade from one side of the river to the other without getting your shorts wet; in others, the water is deep due to dredging. The river has a few wild spots – such as the rapids behind United Refining Company, near Mile 7 – but for the most part the water is calm and slow. Part of the Allegheny’s draw is that Kinzua Dam regulates it, making it more predictable than many other waterways, even in times of heavy rainfall or drought (see our “Links” page for the Army Corps of Engineers dam outflow reports). The river is popular among families, novices and large groups, such as the Boy Scouts, who are looking to take multiple-day trips. The Allegheny River is also a favorite among professional paddlers. It is home to the annual Pennsylvania State Canoeing and Kayaking Championships, for example, and the U.S. Canoe Association has started holding its national championship races on the Allegheny every other year.

Are there places to camp along the river? Yes, you can pay to stay at a developed campground (where you’ll have access to bathrooms, showers and other amenities), or you can opt to camp on public lands along the river. People in the latter group often chose to stay on one of the Allegheny’s many forested islands. Feel free to ask livery staff for camping suggestions when booking your trip. You can also check out our “Links” page for camping and hotel accommodations.

What wildlife are we likely to see along the Allegheny? Many wild critters inhabit the Allegheny and the lands surrounding it. These include white-tailed deer, Bald eagles, muskrats, Northern Snapping Turtles, Northern Water Snakes, Long-Tailed Weasels, Great Blue Herons, bats, mussels, clams and frogs. Paddlers typically see a combination of these animals. In 2007, one customer even reported seeing a black bear swimming across the river.

What supplies do you recommend we bring? Sunscreen, water and snacks are at the top of the list. Other items you might want to pack include a cell phone, rain poncho, first aid kit, waterproof bags, matches, towels, a bag for trash, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, knife, tie down ropes, flashlight, lightweight shoes and camping gear.

Do you do guided trips? Yes, please check out our "Guided Trips" tab. You can also purchase a copy of the Allegheny River Paddling Guide, a water resistant river map book that uses text, photos and illustrations to explain the many sites paddlers come across on the first 45 miles of the Allegheny. The book is available for purchase at our two liveries or our online store (just click the "store" button above".)

How far will I be from civilization? The upper Allegheny has many quiet, out-of-the way spots that are great for viewing wildlife and enjoying nature, but mankind is never far off. The river winds along the 500,000-acre Allegheny National Forest, but it also passes quaint small towns. Modest summer camps dot the riverbanks in many areas. We like to think of it as the best of both worlds: a chance to get away, but with the comfort of knowing that if an emergency comes up or you run out of supplies, help isn’t far off.

What is the age limit for canoes? No one under the age of 2 is allowed in our boats. Minors are allowed to operate our boats solo with the permission and guidance of a parent or guardian – and as long as we’re confident it’s a good idea. To us, it’s more a question of experience than age. If your 11-year-old has never been in a boat before, we’re going to want them paired up with someone more experienced. All customers – adults and children – must have a liability waiver on file with us prior to renting our equipment. Anyone 17 or younger must have a parent or guardian sign for them.

What does my rental include? Trip prices include boat rental, paddles, lifejackets, tax and transportation to and from the start and end points. What are the state laws and livery rules regarding lifejackets? Children 12 and under and non-swimmers of any age must wear a lifejacket at all times, no exceptions. People 13 and older at least have to have a lifejacket with them in their boat, and it cannot be lashed to anything.

Do you have kid-size lifejackets? Yes. While adult lifejackets come in just two basic sizes – regular and extra large – we have many different sizes for small children. All children must be fitted for lifejackets prior to entering our boats.

Is there cell phone reception along the river? Cell phones work along some parts of the river but not others. Livery staff can give you a better sense about cell phone reception once they know which trip you are taking. Verizon currently has the best coverage.

What do I do in the event of an emergency? Dial 911. In places where cell phones don’t work, paddlers should go to the nearest house for help. The livery’s phone number is also written on the boats, paddles and lifejackets in the event of a pressing but non-emergency situation.

What do I do in the event of a thunderstorm? If you hear or see lightening or thunder, get off the water immediately. Many homeowners along the river are kind enough to let paddlers take refuge from a storm on their porch. If you are in a more remote location, it is better to take cover under a group of trees rather than a single tree.

Can we drink the river water? Even though the Allegheny has been rated one of the nation’s cleanest and most scenic rivers, wildlife officials still strongly advise against drinking the river water.

Can we bring alcohol on our trip? It is illegal in Pennsylvania to drink alcohol or be under the influence while operating a boat, even a non-motorized one. Responsible adults of legal drinking age who wish to enjoy a beer or a glass of while picnicking or camping along the Allegheny are welcome to transport these items in our boats – but we cannot allow anyone to operate our equipment while under the influence of alcohol. Thanks for understanding.

Do you offer group discounts? Yes. Groups of six or more canoes on a weekday get a 10 percent discount. Tax-exempt groups should take 6 percent off the listed trip prices.

Do you take credit cards or personal checks? Yes. We accept Visa, Mastercard, organization checks or cash. Organizations that have been coming back to us for two or more years can also arrange to be billed.

Do you shuttle personal vehicles or canoes? Yes, but our first priority is always to customers who are renting equipment from us. If your group is renting five canoes and one person wants to bring their own, we can usually accommodate that pretty easily (fees apply, see the “trips” page). If you aren’t renting anything, and just want to pay us to shuttle your vehicle from your starting point to your ending point – that’s a little trickier, because we have to line up extra drivers to do it. The latter type of shuttle is especially hard during June, July and August, our peak season. Your best bet is to call us as far in advance as possible to see if we can work something out.

Do you sell supplies or rent camping and other equipment? Our downtown outdoors store has everything you may need for canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, camping and more. It's located at 430 Pennsylvania Avenue West, Warren, PA. We do sell some supplies at our livery.

Backpacking

What kind of backpacking gear do you rent? We rent high quality, clean gear that is inspected after every use.

Backpacks: Go Lite Pinnacle (2 lbs. 1 oz. | 935 g), and Go Lite Jam (1 lb 15 oz. | 879 g) in both mens and womens sizes.

Tents: Ultralight MSR Carbon Reflex 2 person (2 lbs 13 oz) & 3 person (4 lbs 7 oz) tents.

Cooking stove: Ultralight MSR Reactor (1 lb, 2.2 oz) with 8 oz fuel cannister.

Sleeping pad: ThermaRest NeoAir (13 oz).

Water filtration: Platypus Clean Stream Gravity filtration system (13.7 oz).

Meal kit: Light My Fire Outdoor Mealkit (12.6 oz).

What do you not provide on backpacking trips? Sleeping bags. Trail food rations are available with advance notice.

Do you have a backpacking checklist? Yes. We have one for day trips and one for overnight backpacking trips.