Intro to Kayak Camping: A Practice Trip (31 miles on the Allegheny River)

Curious about kayak/canoe camping but not ready to dive right in? This practice trip is for you! It is also for any OKA member who just wants to paddle and car camp.

We will camp at Buckaloons Recreation Area on the Allegheny River, meeting there Sunday after the 2:00 pm check-in time. Each night around the campfire we will discuss the paddle/shuttle plan for the following day.

Those of us who will be practicing will have to hustle more in the morning and evening than the others. The basic plan will be to get up early Monday morning, have a quick breakfast, make a river lunch, break camp if you are practicing, run shuttle to Kinzua Tailwaters Boat Ramp at the Big Bend Visitor Center below Kinzua Dam, load all your gear into your boat (tent, sleeping bag, clothing, food, cooking utensils, water filter, etc), paddle 16 miles (5.5-6 hours) to Buckaloons, go pick up shuttle vehicles, set up camp again if you are practicing, make dinner, relax by the fire. Ideally, we "practicers" will only use what we carry in our boats, as if it were a real trip and our cars weren't right beside our tents. This includes all food, water, maybe a tiny camp chair to sit on, etc.

Tuesday morning, hopefully while we practicers are tearing down camp again, the others will shuttle cars to the takeout in Tidioute. After packing the boats with all our gear we will paddle 16 miles (6 hours) from Buckaloons to Tidioute, eating lunch on the river. After all the shuttling is done at the end of the day, some people may want to go home instead of staying one more night at Buckaloons. I plan to stay at Buckaloons again Tuesday night and enjoy a leisurely morning in the campground before heading home. Those who drive home on Tuesday are likely to get home about 9:00 pm, give or take.

Note: Although there are no portages on this trip, there is one set of rapids on Monday that will splash water into your boat and could capsize you if you happen to get turned sideways. This rapid can be avoided by putting in downstream of the rapid at the Betts Park Boat Launch in Warren, PA, instead of at Kinzua Dam. Unfortunately, this launch is only 5 miles/2 hours upstream of Buckaloons. Here is detailed information with videos of the rapids: https://www.alleghenyoutfitters.com/blog/2024/2/3/allegheny-river-caution-area-rapid-behind-united-refining-in-warren-pennsylvania
We will discuss this option Sunday night.

***

Take-Out Location Tuesday
Tidioute Boat Launch
Johnson St, Tidioute, PA
Launch Location Monday:
Kinzua Tailwaters Boat Ramp near the Big Bend Visitor's Center
Powerhouse Drive, Warren, PA
Possible Alternate Launch Location Monday:
Betts Park Boat Launch
Ludlow Street, Warren, PA

***

Requirements

• Solid kayaking skills: River experience and able to paddle 3 mph on moving water for 6 hours.
• Kayak or canoe with valid registration in OH or PA, at least 12 feet long for efficiency and stability
• Primitive camping experience preferred but not required
• Pre-trip practice loading your gear into your boat
• It is REQUIRED to wear a life vest at all times while in the boat (Always check for wear and tear at the beginning of the season and also test that the life preserver still has enough buoyancy to keep your head out of the water if you are unconscious.)
• Bring all camping gear, water, and meals—pack light, waterproof, and self-sufficient. (All of us practicers will coordinate this in advance in order to minimize having to purchase gear that you aren't sure you will use again.)

***

Important Notes

• This is a peer trip, not a guided service. By joining, you take full responsibility for your own safety.
• Paddlers should be comfortable with river currents, navigation, and self-rescue. Even if we decide to skip the "river caution rapids", there will be little Class 1 riffles, small waves and currents.
• Shuttle coordination will be required—please be ready to help with vehicles.
• Weather-dependent—trip may be postponed if river levels are too high or conditions unsafe.

***

Signup Info
Upon signing up, please indicate in the comments whether you intend to participate in the practice kayak camping experience or not. If you do want to participate, please send me a message indicating whether you have any kayak camping or backpacking or similar experience, and list all backpacking-type gear that you already own or plan to buy or borrow, such as a small tent, stove, water filter, etc. so that we can begin coordinating what we have and what we need.

Lastly, camping reservations will need to be made at Buckaloons very soon. If enough people sign up we can still get the group campsite; if there isn't enough interest we will each need to reserve individual campsites through https://www.recreation.gov/ starting Jan 12.