Go online to www.visitPAparks.com or call 888-PA-PARKS to schedule a launch time. Equipment rentals are available in the town of Ohiopyle. There is a fee to launch boats on weekends and holidays on the Lower Yough. During the week, boaters must sign-in at the launch area. Shuttle tokens, available at the launch area, must be purchased 7 days a week during the summer season.
Inexperienced boaters should not attempt the Youghiogheny River without qualified guides.
Make a reservation.
Guided trips are available from licensed commercial outfitters that provide rafts, guides, all necessary safety equipment and transportation to and from the river.
The following is a list of licensed, commercial outfitters currently operating on the Youghiogheny River.
Laurel Highlands River Tours
P. O. Box 107, Ohiopyle, PA 15470
800-4-RAFTIN (800-472-3846)
www.laurelhighlands.com
Ohiopyle Trading Post
P. O. Box 94, Ohiopyle, PA 15470
888-OHIOPYLE (888-644-6795)
www.ohiopyletradingpost.com
White Water Adventurers
P. O. Box 31, Ohiopyle, PA 15470
800-WWA-RAFT (800-992-7238)
www.wwaraft.com
Wilderness Voyageurs
P. O. Box 97, Ohiopyle, PA 15470
800-272-4141
www.wilderness-voyageurs.com
International Scale of River Difficulty
The classes below are the American version of the rating system used throughout the world. This system is not exact. Rivers do not always fit easily into one category and there may be regional interpretations. This information is from American Whitewater.
Class I: Easy - Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Self-rescue is easy.
Class II: Novice - Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers.
Class III: Intermediate - Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges is often required. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can occur.
Class IV: Advanced - Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. May be large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. Rapids require “must” moves above dangerous hazards. Self-rescue is difficult.
All whitewater boaters on the Youghiogheny must learn to recognize natural dangers and understand that injury and death are a possibility when boating the Lower Youghiogheny.
For useful safety information visit the Safety Code of American Whitewater. www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:start
For complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.
Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launching permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.
Ohiopyle Falls Access Pilot Program for Ohiopyle State Park
Private Boater Falls Access Guidelines
- Prior to launching for each falls run, all boaters must register at the Lower Youghiogheny Launch Booth on SR 381. A launch permit, governed by the private boater quota reservation system, is required during applicable periods.
- Water Level must be 1.8 feet or below on the USGS Gage at the Lower Youghiogheny Launch in Ohiopyle.
- Using the Lower Youghiogheny Launch to take-out is prohibited. The falls becomes the first rapid in the loop and boaters shall continue down river and take-out either at the Loop Take-Out on Ferncliff or Bruner Run Take-Out.
- The Falls will be open for runs when the Lower Yough Launch is staffed: April, May, September and October weekends only operations, closing the Sunday before the Columbus Day Holiday; and 7 days a week operations from third Saturday in May through the second Sunday in September; between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., with the last permit being sold at 2:15 p.m. No permits will be sold after 2:15 p.m.
- Access (put-in) will be from the river right shore only (Ferncliff side). Boaters access the river right put in via Ferncliff trail. The put in is mark with a sign and is located downstream of the buoy line anchor points. Access will be prohibited from the Falls Day-Use Area (river left) except during Falls Running Events governed by Special Activities Agreements.
- Boaters are prohibited from running Ohiopyle Falls alone (solo boater/party of one). Minimum group size is three. 2nd or 3rd boaters do not have to run the falls and is/are included for the minimum group size for providing safety from shore (above or below) or boat (below) the falls. Shore safeties shall wear a PFD, helmet and have a throw bag to effectively execute a rescue.
- Only single and double occupancy kayaks and canoes designed and fully outfitted for whitewater use are permissible. Unguided Liveries/Rental Craft are prohibited. Rafts are prohibited.
- Boaters may scout the falls from beyond the warning signs during open hours but must wear PFD and helmet at all times.
