Canoe Camping on Islands Down the Allegheny River

[@maxstone3650]

That was awesome,i live in the northern Kentucky area,i was born and raised in the burg,i love the rivers, especially the Allegheny,alot of history there, always wanted to explore it,and i love canoeing, extremely jealous of those two guys,i bet id be a blast

[@winterking2004]

My wife and I rented from OARS last year on our anniversary trip. Did bikes one day from Franklin to the end of the Sandy Creek trail, and canoed the next day from our Airbnb in Kennerdell to Emlenton. Really great experience and two beautiful days. We got to explore Whann Run about midway between Kennerdell and Emlenton, some interesting history there as well as a nice waterfall. Where was the island you camped on on night 2? Would definitely like to do a more extended canoe trip in the future sometime on the Allegheny.

[@christiandenniston7177]

Unfortunately I can’t recall where that island was and I don’t have gps files for that trip to refer back to. Im sorry! I really would like to get back to that area again!

[@winterking2004]

@@christiandenniston7177 I noticed after I commented the video was a few years old so no worries haha. It’s a great area!

[@johnm.karian5295]

Great video - the Allegheny River in Venango County is truly magical

[@TheNorthwestWind]

Nice. we camped upstream, and here this past summer. Our documentary of the upstream site is live, if you want to check it out. I still have to edit the trip of us staying at the island site

[@christiandenniston7177]

I will check out your video! Thanks!

[@petesacco3255]

Historically that confluence was very important in the evolution of our nation the French had a fort there George Washington and Christopher Gist percent there to try to expel the French out of the fort the history is very very important

[@aidanbrennan4456]

My friends and I are leaving in a week to do a 10 day canoe trip starting at the Kinzua dam, this video only made me more excited.

[@christiandenniston7177]

I am jealous! I can't wait to get back out there and do a longer trip.

[@patrickleemiller]

This has inspired me and my buddy to start planning the same trip. I have a canoe. Would you recommend I use my own or use OARS? And the island campgrounds: do you have to reserve those? If so, where.

[@christiandenniston7177]

I am glad this video has inspired you. To date this was one of my favorite trips, a beautiful place. I would take your personal canoe if you have transportation worked out (ie 2 vehicles). The benefit of a rental service is that they will typically offer to transport your vehicle to the other end of your journey and you do not have to transport a canoe on your vehicle. No reservations required for the islands (at least at the time that I went). I would imagine during the summer season they do fill up but in the off season or midweek you shouldn't have any issues getting a good spot. I used the google earth app to measure distances between the islands and get a rough idea of where we wanted to camp each night. Let me know how your trip goes, or better yet post a video! Thanks.

[@41magfan]

Went from the buckaloons to oil city more than a dozen times. When you tell people you had to get out and drag your canoe on the Allegheny river they look at you like you have two heads.

[@chicken24ish]

Do you remember the name of the campsite on the french creek you stayed your first night? Was it a nice site? We are planning on a similar trip once it warms up. Thanks

[@christiandenniston7177]

The name of the campsite was French Creek Farm. I highly recommend it! The owners were amazing people.

[@JeffBishop_KB3QMT]

My wife and I ran the Allegheny from Buckaloons Recreational Area south of Warren, PA down to Emlenton a few times in a Jon Boat with a motor. My buddy and I ran that same trip with a pair of canoes paddling. If you run that section, and I suggest you do, watch out for the bridge in Oil City, you have to bear to the right passing under it as the "good looking" channel to the left may tear a massive hole in the boats and is likely to swamp them. A really good time to run it is around Memorial Day as the river will be running higher as they try to control the water in Kinzua. Getting into the water late is perfectly fine as there is exceptional camping on the first two islands (Cruels & Thompson, I believe). You can stop at the small towns along the way to pick up fresh supplies, etc. A most memorable trips, your video reminded me of them. Usually take about 5 days and 4 nights to make the trip, I'd stretch it out and spend some time enjoying the islands and maybe take a down day.Currently living off-grid in the mountains of Western Maine (life is good), but we both spent the majority of our lives in Pennsylvania in the New Castle area. Boats allow you to carry a lot of weight with ease. I always packed a chainsaw for quick firewood, in 5 or 10 minutes we would have enough wood for ourselves and leave enough for the next two or three visitors to the site. I'm sure people appreciated that. Usually see about 25-30 eagles each trip.

[@myhikingadventures6777]

This was really nice to watch. I have been wanting to do a 5-7 day kayaking trip for a couple years now starting at Kinzua Dam. I am hoping to do it this year in the summer time hopefully.

[@christiandenniston7177]

It is an incredible trip with the benefit of being logistically simple and requiring only beginner level watercraft skills.

[@venselfishing3597]

Did u catch anything other than smallies

[@RussianKutthroat]

wen yall goin again?

[@christiandenniston7177]

We were hoping to visit again this fall in early November but currently it is looking like it may have to wait until April 2018. Early November is our original goal and we are still trying to make it happen! Our plan is to start just below the Kinzua Dam and canoe down to Franklin as our first trip here was from Franklin to Emlenton (On the Allegheny).

[@JeffBishop_KB3QMT]

Go all the way down to Emlenton. Check out Indian God Rock just south of Franklin if you get a chance. If you aren't familiar with it, look it up on Google.

[@lotsoffish]

French Creek in Pa. is one of my favorite areas in the USA. What wonderful memories I have of this area. Did you see any Hellbenders along your journey?

[@christiandenniston7177]

I can't wait to go back and fish the area more seriously! I'd also like to canoe the entire length beginning just south of the damn and continuing on down river. I did not see any Hellbenders although I wasn't particularly looking for them. I personally could not believe all the turtles. I've never seen so many in one place at one time in all my life.

[@ericpainter2620]

Seeing you trying to take off the little smallmouth was like watching Tinkerbell in Peter Pan 🙄

[@christiandenniston7177]

Nice, show me the video of you catching fish on a multi-day camp canoe trip so that I may see how its done!

[@TheNorthwestWind]

@@christiandenniston7177 ^