My Annual Summer Canoe Trip

Every year since I was eighteen, I have gone on a canoe trip with a friend's family down the Allegheny River. I first started going on two-day trips from Indian Waters Canoe and Kayak Rentals to Tionesta, Pennsylvania, and after a couple years started going on three-day trips from Buckaloons Recreational Center to Tionesta with the same family. I quickly learned that the three-day trips, while more tiring than the two-day trip, are definitely worth the money.

My trip started out at Buckaloons Recreational Center located by route 62, just off route 6 in Warren County, Pennsylvania. My friends and I went and dropped our cars off at Indian Waters Canoe and Kayak Rentals, and then rode in the canoe transport van back to Buckaloons. We pushed off the boat launch at Buckaloons at about 12:30 p.m., and reached the first island that we camp on around 6:00 p.m. Along the way, we were able to take pictures of the forests and mountains in the Allegheny National Forest, and fish for those that did. Once we reached the island, we unpacked our canoes and set up our tents in preparation for the night. For food, everyone brought hotdogs, ham cheese and bread, and one couple brought a sandwich maker that you put over the fire or hot coals to make warm sandwiches. We ate, and sat around the fire talking and telling stories of what we did when we were younger.

When we woke up, we all did the usual stuff related to camping: sat around and ate breakfast, took down tents, packed everything up, picked up our trash, and put out the fire. We were back on the water about noon for the second part of our trip. About half way through the day, we stopped in Tidioute, Pennsylvania, to go to the store and buy ice, and stock up on other things we needed, as well as to stretch our legs after sitting down for so long. So we hung around the store for a few minutes, and then headed back to our canoes. We were back in the water around 3:30 p.m. After navigating around the shallow water, rocks and tree stumps, we came to a place we call "Jump Rock." It's a large boulder that is usually about seven feet out of the water, if the river is at its normal level. This year it was a few inches lower than normal, so we decided against jumping off the rock. But we did stop and take a look around for a little bit, and throw sticks for the dog to chase. Then we left and went down river a ways to our next camp. And so a continuation of the first night ensued, with putting up tents, emptying the canoes so they could be drained of the water that had collected from people or dogs getting in and out, and starting a fire to cook dinner.

After waking up and eating breakfast and packing everything up, we continued on the last leg of our trip. We left camp at about 11:30 a.m., and rowed lazily along in an attempt to make the trip last a little longer. After about two hours, we came to a little town called West Hickory, Pennsylvania. We stopped and rested in the shade for an hour, and some lunch, let the dog and the puppies play a bit, the started on our way again. After leaving West Hickory, we stopped at another island to stretch a bit and let the dog and puppies play some more. We got back in the canoes and pushed off land and just floated down river a while, looking at trees, and watching butterflies fly around. I eventually got tired of feeling the sun beating down on my sunburn, so as soon as we came to a deep enough spot in the river, I jumped in. The cold river water felt so good on my sunburn! My friend Angela jumped in with me and we floated along side the canoes until it was shallow enough to get back in. Shortly after we were back in the canoes, we came to what us canoe experts call the "rapids." Given the fact that the water was lower this year, the rapids really weren't all that bad. All they really are is faster moving water over large rocks, so they're not white water rapids. That would be the sign that we are nearing the end of our trip.

A lady from Indian Waters Canoe and Kayak Rentals was already waiting for us when we got there. We unloaded the canoes, packed everything in the trailer, and the waited while the guys loaded the canoes. Then we loaded in the van to ride back to Indian Waters Canoe and Kayak Rentals to go get the cars and go home.

Indian Waters Canoe and Kayak Rentals is located on route 62 in Warren County, Pennsylvania. In order to get there, you need to take rout 6 and get off at the Tidioute exit. They are approximately a 10 to 15 minute drive from the exit. The rates for rentals vary depending on how long you plan to be on the water. The three-day trip I go on every year costs $75, which includes the canoe, two life jackets, and two paddles.