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LANCASTER CANOE CLUB TRIPS

The LCC offers both flatwater and moving water paddling trips. We hope you'll take the opportunity to join us! Some of the streams we paddle are the Susquehanna River, Octararo Creek, Muddy Creek, Brandywine River, Lehigh River, and Conestoga Creek.

In order to participate in trips, you'll need to complete the LCC Trip Signup Form [PDF]. Please give trip leaders 48 hours notice that you're coming/not coming so that they can plan appropriately. Also note that the minimum number of boats for a trip is 3.

Trip coordinators: you may want to tell everyone how it went via the LCC Trip Report Form [PDF].

This is a preliminary trip schedule for 2023; more trips will likely be added to it. Each trip lists the trip coordinator.

January

  • none yet

February

  • none yet

March

  • none yet

April

  • April 8 (Saturday): Upper Conestoga River, Dick Swomley, Section 1 (Stone Quarry Road/Paper Mill Rd), class 1+, 7 miles Note: as of 4/6, trip shifted to the stretch between Stehman Rd. (Duke St.) to Safe Harbor; 5 1/2 miles in length.

  • April 27 (Thursday): Water Trail Rehabilitation Public Meeting, 6-9 PM. Conestoga River Water Trail and plans at Lancaster Rec, 525 Fountain Ave, Lancaster PA 17601.

  • April 29 (Saturday): Terry Wright's Annual Octoraro Creek Paddle at 10 AM. Class 1-2. Helmets required. Meet at McDonalds in Willow Street at 9 AM or at the Royal Farms gas station at Route 1 and Route 222 at 10 AM. Water levels will determine section. RSVP by Thursday April 27 to Christine.

  • April 30 (Sunday): Lower Susquehanna Archaeological Society, Chapter 28, Petroglyph Conservation Committee, meeting 1-3 PM at Blue Rock Heritage Center, 2251 River Road, Washington Boro, PA 17582. local paddle clubs invitational to form an understanding of and agreements for the petroglyph visitations in the Susquehanna River, led by Paul Nevin, chair of Susquehanna River Rock Art. Chris will paddle after this meeting, come dressed.

May

  • May 6 (Saturday): Indian Steps Museum Opening Day Activites, Chris Brubaker, family friendly, flat water paddle and/or drive, Rt 425 Otter Creek Rec Area or York Furnace boat launch put-in/return, Indian Steps Museum 205 Indian Steps Rd, Airville, PA, 717-862-3948, Bair Island exploration

  • May 7 (Sunday): Pequea Creek, Dick Swomley, Rt 324 to Martic Low Grade parking lot, class 1+

  • May 13 (Saturday): Little Conestoga Clean-Up, 8 AM-12 noon, Park City, see the Conestoga River Club web site.

  • May 20 (Saturday): Brandywine Creek, West Branch, Chris Brubaker, Brandywine Outfitters to Northbrook Canoe Club, shuttle, class 1+, Chester Co, dinner at Victory Brewery on Rt 741

  • May 21 (Sunday): Susquehanna River Islands, Jeff and Judy Petrasek, Lock 13 below Norman Wood Bridge, Class 1+,

  • May 26 (Friday) Friday evening plus May 27-28 (Saturday-Sunday): Upper Juniata, Huntingdon Co, PA, class 1+, Dick Swomley, self-pay music festival at Juniata College, 7 PM, Fri and Sat, paddling Sat and Sun. shared cost camping at Huntingdon Fair Grounds with shower and toilet facilities 3 nights, biking on the Lower Trail Friday AM or later if trip coordinator and paddlers agree

June

  • June 2-10 (Friday-Sunday): Lancaster Water Week Celebration: watch for published daily details

  • June flatwater trips (dates below): Help Kerry choose trips that you'll support. If you're looking for details, check (a) the web (b) Ed Gertler's "Keystone Canoeing" guidebook and/or (c) Chris's files. Possibilities include:

    • Pinchot/Conewago Lakes in York Co

    • Lake Redman and Lake Williams in York Co

    • LB Shephard Reservoir in York Co

    • Long Pine Run Reservoir in York Co

    • Marsh Creek Lake in Chester Co

    • Speedwell Forge in Chester Co

    • Hopewell and Scots Run in Berks Co

    • Green Lake Reservoir in Montgomery Co

    • Lake Nockamixon in Bucks Co

    • Speedwell Forge Lake in Lancaster Co

    • Octorora Reservoir in Lancaster Co

    • Muddy Run in Lancaster Co

    Dates:

    • June 4 (Sunday): Flat Water, Kerry Stauffer

    • June 17 (Saturday): Flat Water, Kerry Stauffer

  • June 24 (Saturday): Susquehanna National Heritage Area Outdoor Adventure Expo, Chris Brubaker, Columbia Crossings, 1:00 PM shuttle, 1:30 PM paddle to Blue Rock Heritage, social in Columbia LCC reserved PR table, 9:00 AM-12 Noon : helpers needed! Sign-up with Chris

JULY

  • Saturday/Sunday: 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30 

  • Saturday July 1: If you are paddling that night on the Susquehanna River to see the Marietta fireworks display, please follow the Fish and Boat Commission rules for lights at night 

  • Tuesday July 4th: Enjoy friends and family and have fun! 

  • Saturday July 8th: Paddler's Toolkit workshop, 8:30 AM -4:00 PM, call Columbia Crossings to register, 570-478-0178

  •  Friday, July 14 at 5:30 PM: Meet Jack and Chris Brubaker at Shank's Mare and enjoy a shared picnic and music event by the JC Fisher Band from 6-9 PM, ◦ Option to paddle prior to this invitation, Chris will schedule if asked ◦ Find the blue posted Lancaster Canoe Club sign on the lawn, bring your chair, eating equipment and food to share or use the food trucks on site ◦ Shop at Shank's Mare prior ◦ Chris will bring LCC membership brochures for the Shank's Mare to post

 

AUGUST 

  • Saturday/Sunday 5-6, 12-14, 19-20, 26- 27

  • August 1 and 30 are full moon paddle nights, if interested contact Chris

  •  August 10-13 USCA Canoe and Kayak Marathon National Championships, sponsored by the Clinton County Recreation Advisory, Lockport Boat Launch, Woodward Township, Clinton Co, PA, camping nearby

  •  August 19: Chris can to reschedule her paddle to the Indian Steps Museum, York Co, if asked

 

LCC members can always advertise other trips they like and are willing to lead especially mid-week pick-up trips!

September and October Calendar TBA and the last trip offering

​

SEPTMEMBER

• Sept 16--The Dam Bridge Challenge, Wrightsville
◦ See LCC Newsletter for details
• Sept 29--Moonlight Paddle and Float
◦ Need a leader: suggested put-ins at Blue Rock or John Wright Restaurant, if you want food
service

 

OCTOBER
• Oct 8-- reschedule paddle to Pow Wow at the Indian Steps Museum, York Co,
◦ New leader needed! Chris is returning from a hiking trip in Wales, late on Oct 7
▪ Meet 10 AM: at York Furnace boat launch, paddle to Indian Steps
▪ Pow Wow begins at noon, 425 Furnace Rd
▪ call 717-515-7907, Judy Englert or judithenglert@earthlink.net
▪ or the museum 717-862-3948
• Oct 14-15The 4th Annual Plastic Purge of the Lower Susquehanna, Volunteer Crew
◦ See LCC Newsletter for details
• Oct 23-28: Chris offers a trip to the NJ Pine Barrens, 2 hour drive, slow paddling on the
Mullica River (4, 5 or 8 hours or overnight camping) or Batsto River (4 hours), Wharton State
Forest, camping at the Atsion Family Camp, shuttle own boats or pay the Pinelands Adventures
◦ See: www.pinelandsadventures.org/self-guided-trip-schedule and regulations
• Oct 29—Moonlight Paddle and Float
◦ Need a leader: suggested put-ins (see Sept 29)

​

November

  • TBD

December

  • TBD

2023 Lehigh River release schedule as of 11/4/2022

  • May: 13, 20, 27, 28

  • June: 10, 11, 24, 25

  • July: 8, 9, 22, 23, 29, 30

  • August: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26*, 27*

  • September: 2*, 3*

  • * indicates a tentative release

2023 North Branch of the Potomac release schedule as of 4/2/2023

  • April 15-16, 29-30

  • May 13-14, 27-28

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