Raft Rentals

What to Expect

• Lower Yough:

  Ohiopyle State Park regulates river traffic on the Lower Yough. You must have a launch permit on weekends and holidays. You call the state for the permit, tell them the number of people you have in your group. They will then tell you the time slots they have available for that day. This launch permit will give you a specific time to launch your boats at the State Park Put-In. Call 1-888-PA-PARKS (1-888-727-2757) or click the link below to reserve your launch time.

  Once you have your launch permit you can call us to reserve the equipment you want to rent. We hold a credit card for the reservation, but you will pay for the rental the day of your trip.

  The day of the trip, arrive at least one hour early to set up your shuttle to the take-out (Old Mitchell Parking Lot) to bring themselves and all of our equipment back to town at the end of their day. To do this, rental customers must drop a car off at Old Mitchell Parking Lot prior to launching on the river. Customers can either bring two cars (one to leave at Old Mitchell Parking Lot and one to bring the drivers back to town) or try to hitch a ride back with someone else who is dropping a car off. You will need $4 cash per person to purchase a shuttle token at the launch area to get you from the end of the river back up to Old Mitchell Parking Lot.

  After your shuttle is set, we can set you up with your equipment, give you a talk up as to how to use that equipment, and send you to the launch area to purchase your shuttle tokens. At the launch area, you check in with the state park and claim your launch time. They will have you watch a short safety video and you can then launch when they give you the go ahead.

  On weekends and holidays a launch permit is required for the class III-IV Lower Yough section.

  At the end of your day, at Bruner Run Take Out, you will carry your boats and equipment to the second tier of parking and deflate the boats. Roll the boats up and load them and all of your gear onto the shuttle bus. The shuttle will take you up the hill to Old Mitchell Parking Lot. You will then load everything into your own vehicle and bring it back to us.

  Groups of unaccompanied minors must take a Fully Guided tour. We suggest first time rafters take a Fully Guided tour. A 6% sales tax applies.

  Lower Yough Launch Permit

• Middle Yough:

  The Middle Youghiogheny is not considered a whitewater trip. It is an excellent way to spend a day on the river, but is not deemed true whitewater.

  We have check in’s available at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Reservations are highly recommended so we have the equipment and space available. The shuttle leaves no later than twenty past the hour. You should be launching on the river an hour after check-in time.

  We will drive you to the Ramcat launch area where you will be given a safety briefing on how to use the equipment, plus little hints about the river, and most importantly, where the exit point of the river is. After the safety briefing, you are free to launch.

  The Middle Yough is a 9 mile float trip. Expect to spend 3-5 hours on the water. Time will be determined by how quickly you move downstream.

  At the end of the day, we ask that you bring your boat to the top of the small hill, then walk our PFDs back to our outfitter store, 2 blocks across town from the exit point of the river.

  There is a $15 per boat shuttle fee for boats holding 2 or more people, $7.50 shuttle fee for single duckies and a $2 park fee per person for Middle Yough rentals, not included in the price of the boat rental. A 6% sales tax applies.

• Pedal - Paddle:

  A full day of biking and boating for all ages. Bicycle 9 miles upstream to the Ramcat Launch area, then exchange your bikes for boats to float and paddle your way back to Ohiopyle on the Middle Yough.

  We have check-ins available at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We will meet you to exchange your bikes for boats at 11:00 AM or 1:00 PM. Pack a lunch and our staff will bring your cooler to the Ramcat Launch area.

  We typically allow for a 90 minute bike ride and plan on spending 3-5 hours on the water, depending on how quickly you paddle downstream.

  This is a great way to experience both the Great Allegheny Passage and the Youghiogheny River in one day.

• What should I bring?

  Clothes for the river (swimsuit or nylon shorts and synthetic t-shirt, avoid cotton). For colder days, we have wetsuits available for rent.
  Make sure you have shoes that are somehow attached to your foot. Sport sandals with a heel strap, old tennis shoes or generic water shoes will work. No flip-flops or Crocs.
  There is no lunch provided for any rental but our boats will hold a small to medium sized cooler. Most people pack a picnic-lunch to take with them down the river. Make sure there are plenty of beverages for all participants and absolutely NO ALCOHOL is permitted on the Yough.
  Dry clothes and towel for after the river (Leave these in your car).
  Sunglasses, sunscreen, glasses strap.
  All drivers know where to meet the rest of the group and where to check in? All rentals check in at our outfitter store at 4 Negley St. Ohiopyle, PA 15470
  Parental permission slips are signed by parent or legal guardian for those under 18 not accompanied by parents. Bring forms along-DO NOT EMAIL.
  The trip time is clear to everyone. Be dressed and ready. We cannot hold the trip for latecomers. If you get lost, call our number and we will do our best to help. No refunds for missed trips!
  River running has inherent dangers. Everyone must sign a liability release form, (minors MUST have release signed by parent or legal guardian).
  Ready to have fun?

• Downloads:

  Download Middle/Lower Yough Waiver (pdf)
  Download Upper Yough Waiver (pdf)
  Download Lower Yough River Map (pdf)
  Download Middle Yough River Map (pdf)