Good summer river in PA if your look'n for ideas Paul. Good two day drive from LA. I don't much care for Wilderness tripping the South in summer.
Clarion River
Canoeing on the Clarion River
A good map (Allegheny National Forest Region Outdoor Recreation Map) of the Clarion River water accesses is available from local Tourist Promotion Agencies or any local Forest Service office.
In early spring, the Clarion River has four rapids. You'll find the first at mile 6 from Ridgway, near a railroad trestle. The second, third and fourth, at miles 15, 15-1/2 and 16, are known as rapids X, Y and Z. The "chicken route" (safest) for all except X is to the extreme right. In X rapid, head down the middle. Love's Canoe Rentals in Ridgway provides a good map brochure. Warning: An underwater pipe just below the trestle may dump unwary canoeists.
You'll find this river scenic and interesting. You can rent canoes at many local liveries. Contact the Northwest PA Great Outdoors Visitor Bureau at 814-849-5197 or 800-348-9393 for local business information.
The fast water runs between Ridgway and Hallton, a distance of about 19 miles. Below Hallton, the route flattens out and becomes less challenging. The section from Ridgway has an "intermediate" skill level rating until about mid-May. Later, it drops to "novice".
You can launch at Portland Mills (mile 9), Hallton (mile 19), Belltown (mile 27), Clear Creek State Park (mile 32), Cooks Forest State Park at route 36 bridge (mile 43), and Piney Dam at Clarion, route 322 bridge (mile 61).
Several good places to camp enroute, although unmarked and without facilities, should be obvious from the water.
Br'r Bear, Piece of history for ya. Shreveport, LA is named for Captain Henry Shreve. Fella was from down over the hill from here along the Monongahela River. He brought military supplies from here by steamboat to Andy Jackson when he was fight'n the Redcoats. First successful steamboat trip down the 'Miss' from these parts. Folks in LA was so grateful for his efforts, they named a town after him. Later in the century,
where Ol Henry sailed that steamboat from became the Snowden boat works. Many Union Ironclads were built there and sailed to the 'Miss' to fight in the South. Ain't much left to show of the boatworks today, I think there is a historical marker to show where Captain Shreve sailed from. More usless historical trivia........... :roll:
