We all know there are tons of GREAT places to paddle in the great, natural state of Pennsylvania. But we’ve gone ahead and put together a list of the ones we think are at the top of the list. These kayak and canoe places in PA made the list mostly due to the fact that they are open to the public and readily available to all paddlers of all skill levels.

These kayaking and canoeing locations include rivers, lakes and creeks for whitewater and flatwater (or flat water, if you like ).

***PLEASE NOTE*** Some of these areas require a fee or permit or both, so check before you paddle!

Here we go with a sampling of the top places to put in your kayak or canoe and start paddling in Penn:

Pennsylvania State Parks

According to the Parks website, canoes and 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.

Many parks offer canoe rentals or have lists of canoe rental companies.

***REMEMBER***  Water levels can change rapidly and paddlers should call the park office for current water conditions.

Clear Creek State Park, Jefferson County, PA – The Clarion River

Cook Forest State Park, Cooksburg, PA  - The Clarion River

Delaware Canal State Park – The Park follows the Delaware River from Easton to Bristol. Canoeing is popular in the canal, on the Delaware River and at the Giving Pond Recreation Area. Canoeists can launch from public access areas in PA and NJ to enjoy the water trail.

Ohiopyle State Park – This park is located primarily in Fayette County. Youghiogheny [yaw-ki-GAY-nee] River Gorge passes through the heart of the park. According to the website, the "Yough" [yawk] provides some of the best whitewater boating in the Eastern U. S. as well as spectacular scenery

Oil Creek State Park, Venango County, PA - This Scenic float is classified as a beginner’s creek under normal conditions.

Swatara State Park – This Park is in Lebanon and Schuylkill counties. There are several locations of easy access to the creek for put-in and take-out of boats.

Tyler State Park, Bucks County, PA - Neshaminy Creek offers calm, easy boating

Warriors Path State Park, Bedford County, PA -There is a boat ramp for canoes, rafts and small boats for floating the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. Boating or rafting is recommended during spring or late fall. The water level of the river is usually too shallow for summer.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Middle Delaware National Scenic River

Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting, and Tubing

Kayak Pittsburgh

Three kayaking locations: Downtown Pittsburgh, Lake Elizabeth and North Park.

• Downtown is walking distance of all Downtown locations and the North Side.
• North Park is located at North Park Boat House along North Park Lake, which is about 14 miles from Pittsburgh.
• Lake Elizabeth is located inside the Allegheny Commons.

Click here to go to our Places to Paddle, Kayak, Canoe in Pennsylvania page for links and more information on these great PA paddling venues.

Do you have a kayak, canoe and paddling event you’d like us to feature on BornToPaddle.com? If so, Click here to send us the info using our handy contact form.

Click here to visit our kayak, canoe races and events page to find the links to these websites and to find many other races and events that are going on all year all over the U.S.

Back in 1966, Pete Seeger decided to do something about the heavily polluted Hudson River. His idea was to build a boat – specifically a replica of an 18th century sloop – to attract more people to the shores of the Hudson, thereby increasing awareness of the river’s environmental issues.

The Clearwater has helped to reconnect Hudson River Valley residents with the river and is the centerpiece of the annual Great Hudson River Revival, that brings more people down to the river and increases awareness about this fragile ecosystem and the need to protect it.

This year’s Clearwater Festival – Great Hudson River Revival takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21 at Croton Point Park in Croton-on Hudson, NY. Contemporary blues star Susan Tedeschi, renowned Sixties era troubadour Arlo Guthrie and “newgrass” sensations Old Crow Medicine Show are among the headliners of the festival.

According to the festival web site,

The 2009 Clearwater Festival will be celebrating a number of auspicious occasions this year, including the 40th anniversary of the launch of the sloop Clearwater, the 90th birthday of the legendary folksinger, and Clearwater founder, Pete Seeger and the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage up the river on the Half Moon.

The Festival makes possible innovative educational initiatives, which have helped more than 430,000 young people and over 250,000 adults experience the wonders of the Hudson River from aboard the sloop Clearwater. The organization itself has gained worldwide recognition for its leadership in helping to pass landmark environmental laws, both state and federal, including the Clean Water Act. Recently, Clearwater played a key role in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) decision to compel one of the Hudson River’s biggest polluters to begin removing toxic PCBs from the water and restoring one of the most polluted portions of the river.

Go to the Clearwater’s web site to learn more about how you can get involved in awareness, education and conservation.

Go to the Great Hudson River Festival web site to get tickets and find out more about the annual festival.

Do you have a kayak, canoe and paddling event you’d like us to feature on BornToPaddle.com? If so, Click here to send us the info using our handy contact form.

Click here to visit our kayak, canoe races and events page to find the links to these websites and to find many other races and events that are going on all year all over the U.S.