Family Canoe Trip Question - Allegheny River, Allegheny Reservoir, or Clarion River

I'm comparing three overnight canoe trip options with family of kids as young as 5 in the PA Wilds general area and curious for input. I have experience with multiple overnight canoe trips including in Canadian Wilderness and elsewhere, but it will be new to family. Family has, however, camped extensively.

Any idea which of this would be the best start?

1-2 night trip on the Allegheny from Kinzua/Warren to Tidoute. Would camp on islands on the way. This had been my first choice by my concerns is the 5 year can't swim yet, and would be camping close to water, etc. She's old enought to listen to instruction (and will obviously wear a lifevest), but my concern is current is she walked into water
1-2 night trip on the Allegheny Reservoir to overnight boat access campground. I had looked at Wolf Run Marina to Pine Grove as the trip seemed small but still cool backcountry site. Any other opinion on trips to take the would be good for us here? Would this be safer than the river trip given still water?
Trip on the Clarion River -- haven't looked into this much, but curious if its better

in PAWildsby MarchMadnessNov

100%

17d

stevenfaircrest

17d

I’ve done all three trips you describe multiple times. All are simply done and would be fine with small children. If you have a concern with a kid on an island, I see no difference in concern on the river bank. It will require the same level of diligence and care regardless.

There are trip descriptions posted here for the trips you described complete with photos: https://www.canoetripping.net/

For my money, the clarion is the best paddling and the best scenery. Allegheny River is second, but has more traffic. I only paddle the reservoir during shoulder seasons as those campgrounds become madhouses with motorized boats coming in for parties.

MarchMadnessNov

16d

Thanks for the input here - If we paddled Warren to Tidioute:

(1) would you do that as 2 or 3 night trip?

(2) Do the islands sites ever fill up? Thinking of going over Memorial Day weekend

stevenfaircrest

14d

I would do it as a 2 nighter.

The islands and river get lots of traffic in warmer seasons. It’s one of the reasons I prefer paddling those areas in the shoulder seasons.

If I could suggest an itinerary for you, I would suggest paddling Franklin to emlenton. Less busy in my experience and excellent camping. Camp at any of the free spots river left below Franklin, one of which even includes a couple of lean tos. Spend a night at danners rest. It’s river right and is excellent, free camping with fire rinds, picnic tables, piled spring and pit toilet. There are three islands downstream that have excellent camping on them as well. I would also suggest two nights for this trip. Or go later in the afternoon on day 1, spend a night at the sites just below Franklin, spend night two at danners rest and night three on an island further downstream.

Special_Cook2463

16d

I've done all three of those locations.

Clarion is beautiful, It gets shallow later in the season, so check out the water level for it first. I'd probably avoid the X, Y, and Z rapids on clarion with it being the kids 1st time. But lots of good river camping on the river.

Reservoir is a great, beautiful lake, and you'd get a pit toilet at the campground. I did from Elijah to Morrison campground last year and really enjoyed it.

I've done numerous trips on Allegheny. Warren to Tidoute is a good stretch with plenty of island camping options. Next to plant in Warren is a good rapid, not over class 2, but still worth noting. You can also stop at Buckaloons campground around the halfway point if you need flush toilets, showers, or ice. I made a YouTube video of campsites between Buckaloons and West Hickory if that's any help. island camping

AmericanIndian9in

17d

Walked the clairion the other night seen 26 copperheads

Megraptor

17d

You sure they were copperheads and not Northern Watersnakes? Cause Copperheads are rare on the Clarion.

xSpeed

17d

Warm winter… gonna be lots of deer in the roads too

treo777

16d

Exactly what area of the river were you in?

Travelingman0

16d

River is going to be way more fun than reservoir. I’ve done both rivers, I prefer the clarion.

Flick3rFade

16d

Maybe stupid question but would doing a Clarion river trip require shuttling or is paddling upstream doable?

MarchMadnessNov

16d

I'm guessing their are outfitters would could shuttle?

yer_muther

16d

With kids I wouldn't try to push Kinzua to Tidoute. I do this every year and if you run into any wind it's a grind to get there in 2 days.

For a family new to floats I'd do the reservoir. Day 1 to get there and set camp. Day 2 to piss around. Day 3 to break camp and pull out.

MarchMadnessNov

16d

Thanks for the helpd!

Would Warren to Tidioute be doable in a day? Or is that a stretch too?

Are island sites ever filled up fully? Thinking of Memorial Day weekend

I had the same idea for the reservoir -- my concern is would we find spots in Pine Grove campground over Memorial Day weekend? And is it a good scene for kids?

yer_muther

16d

I'd still say no. It's a fair bit closer but it's still a paddle. From the dam to Tidioute is 30 miles. Starting at Warren shave about 9.5 miles off that. That's still 20 miles and I find 10 miles is all I really care to do in a day. You can figure at best 3 MPH drifting on the river.

You could do it but I imagine kids would get fussy after 3 hours on the water.

I have seen some islands full up with people but normally they are not. Memorial day weekend will be pretty busy but you might run into me out there if you are on the water. I've never done Pine Grove so I have no clue. I do know that since it's in the ANF you can camp nearly anywhere though. There are rules for how far off the shore you have to be.