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Juniata All The Way

Welcome

Gang,

Welcome to the Juniata River! This year we take on the entire paddleable Raystown Branch and the entire Mainstem Juniata from the mouth of the Raystown Branch.

(I beg your pardon for my unilateral decision to omit the 31 miles of Raystown Lake flatwater.)

The Juniata is a peaceful river. It carves through Appalachian ridges, limestone bluffs, and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside. Miles and miles of road-free paddling make us feel like we’re in a different century.

It’s also a special river to me, personally. The first multi-day trip I guided professionally was on the Juniata nearly 22 years ago.

Our trip couldn’t happen without local and state government partners and partner organizations including Blue Mountain Outfitters, the Borough of Everett, the Borough of Duncannon, the Borough of Lewistown, the Borough of Newport, the Borough of Mapleton, the Borough of Mifflin, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

And—of course—thank you for being part of the best group of paddlers I could hope to go on adventures with. I appreciate our time together.

See you at the put-in!

— Matt

Day 1

Saturday, May 16

13.6 mi

8:15–8:45 AM —

Please arrive at Dike Street in Everett with your gear packed for the day of paddling.

Everett Dike
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We unload our boats and carry them over the levee. Portage wheels may be helpful, but are not required.

Move your bags to the gear truck and pick up your name badge.

Don’t see your stylish dodo bird name badge among the others? Don’t despair. That’s the signal that Bad Adventures is missing paperwork from you. See a team member to sort out the missing documents and get your forlorn badge out of hostage lockup.

After dropping your gear, drive your vehicle to the beginning-of-trip parking location at In One Accord Ministries. It’s a 2 minute drive from the put-in.

Beginning-of-trip parking
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Park in the rear of the gravel lot, as far back from the building and road as possible.

Either walk back across the river to the put-in or ride in Bad Adventures’ van.

9:30 AM —

One van transfer will be available from the beginning-of-trip parking location back to the put-in for any of us who would like a ride.

9:45 AM —

We gather for an all-paddler safety meeting by the river.

Paddle 8.3 mi
→
Lunch
Paddle 5.3 mi
→
Camp
Showers

After dinner, an optional trip to Everett will be available for those of us who’d like to check out the Bloody Run Canoe Race’s food and craft vendors, as well as live music. There will be an opportunity to indulge in ice cream from The Igloo.

Day 2

Sunday, May 17

13.8 mi

You may leave your tent pitched because we return to the same campground at the end of the day. However, be aware that camp will not be attended while we paddle. You’re also welcome to load your gear on the gear truck during the day.

Paddle 7.2 mi
→
Lunch
Paddle 6.6 mi
→

Our day concludes with a 20 minute van transfer from the takeout, back to camp.

Camp
Showers

Day 3

Monday, May 18

17.2 mi

Our day begins with a 20 minute van transfer from camp to the put-in.

Paddle 17.2 mi
→

Lovers of “Bagel Lunch” rejoice. We won’t be able to intersect with the ground team today, so we indulge in lunch on the water. (“Bagel Lunch” is a scrumptious Bad Adventures signature backcountry meal comprised of marinated tuna with garden vegetable cream cheese served on an everything bagel.)

Camp
Showers

Camp is at our takeout, just as we hit the slackwater of Raystown Lake.

And wait, there are showers available on three consecutive nights? Somebody pinch me and pass the Herbal Essences shampoo.

Day 4

Tuesday, May 19

10.1 mi

The day starts with a 45-minute van transfer to our put-in in Bedford.

Paddle 5.8 mi
→
Lunch
Paddle 4.3 mi
→

Our paddle finishes back at the Everett Dike, where we load our boats on a trailer bound for the downstream side of the dam that impounds Raystown Lake.

It’s an 8-minute walk or 2-minute van transfer to retrieve our vehicles from the beginning-of-trip parking location.

We all drive our vehicles to the end-of-trip parking location at Riverfront Campground in Duncannon. It’s a 1 hour 50 minute drive.

Riverfront Campground, Duncannon
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From the end-of-trip parking location, we take a van transfer to the night’s camp downstream of Raystown Lake.

The vans will depart Duncannon 3 hours and 45 minutes after we arrive at the takeout in Everett. Don’t miss the vans.

Dinner is not included. You might consider eating at the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon before meeting the vans.

Camp

Day 5

Wednesday, May 20

19.5 mi

Our day starts with a 5-minute van transfer from camp to the put-in.

We paddle the final few miles on the Raystown Branch, before entering the Mainstem of the Juniata!

Paddle 10.4 mi
→
Lunch
Paddle 9.1 mi
→

Tonight and for the rest of the trip, we camp at each day’s takeout. There is no more trailering of boats.

Camp
Showers

Day 6

Thursday, May 21

16.8 mi

Paddle 9.0 mi
→
Lunch
Paddle 7.8 mi
→
Camp
Showers

Dinner is not included this evening. We take van transfers to downtown Lewistown and Shy Bear Brewing.

Day 7

Friday, May 22

24.5 mi

This is our big day of the trip, with a full 24.5 miles on the river. Eat up at breakfast!

Paddle 12.1 mi
→
Lunch
Paddle 12.4 mi
→
Camp

Per tradition—and my (Matt’s) continued inability to plan a trip with three nights out in towns—tonight’s dinner is a group pizza order that’s not officially included. Please budget $8 bucks if you’d like to be part of the group order.

Day 8

Saturday, May 23

17.5 mi

Paddle 11.4 mi
→
Lunch
Paddle 6.1 mi
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Camp

We celebrate the trip and enjoy our final night together with a taco fiesta. Certificates are awarded to honor completion of the Raystown Branch and Mainstem Juniata.

Day 9

Sunday, May 24

16.6 mi

This is it, gang. We put-in for our last day together.

Paddle 4.0 mi
→

Lunch is a 5-minute walk from the river.

Lunch
Paddle 12.6 mi
→

Our final afternoon is punctuated with some of the most fun paddling of the trip. We splash through a sequence of ledges. They’re fun, class II features at most river levels.

The trip concludes with our bows in the Susquehanna River at the mouth of the Juniata. We shall feel accomplished!

Our takeout is at the end-of-trip parking location.

We’re likely to reach the takeout in mid to late afternoon, depending on river level.

Packing List

Bags & Packing

  • (1-2x) Duffel bag(s)

    Pack medium or large-size duffle(s) with all your clothing, camping gear, and paddling gear. Water-resistant bags are recommended. Make sure your bags can tolerate other bags being stacked on top of them.

  • Small stuff sacks or packing cubes Optional

    These help keep your clothing and gear organized.

On-Water Gear

  • Kayak or canoe

    Bring a boat that’s 12-feet or longer.

  • Valid PA Launching Permit

    From either PA State Parks or the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Available online (with temporary permit you can print at home) or from most State Park offices.

  • Paddle

  • Type III life jacket (PFD)

    No inflatable life jackets.

  • Waterproof dry bag

  • Compact camp chair

    Enjoy a place to sit at lunch! Bring a Helinox-style chair that fits in your boat.

  • (2x) Water bottles

    Minimum of 40oz of total volume. We have some long afternoons. One bottle isn’t enough capacity. Pick bottles with screw-top lids that cover the areas your mouth contacts.

  • Sunblock and lip balm with SPF

  • Medications you require during the day

  • Portage Wheels Optional

    These may be useful to move your boat to the put-in on day 1. However, portage wheels are not required.

  • Bailer and sponge Optional

  • Seat pad Optional

  • Small waterproof dry box Optional

  • Spare paddle Optional

  • Short bow line (painter line) Optional

    5 to 10 feet in length. Lines must be coiled short and secured when not in use. A line is not necessary.

Other Items

  • Money for our group pizza order and 2 dinners out in towns

    The pizza order on night 7 will be $8 per person.

  • Guide gratuity

    Please consider rewarding hard work and excellent service with a guide gratuity at the end of the adventure.

On-Water Wear

Pack for hot, cold, sunny, wet, and windy weather. Prepare for 40° to 85° daytime temperatures, brilliant sun, downpours, and strong winds.

  • Athletic apparel, outdoor clothing, and swimming apparel

    Pack clothes designed to wick moisture and dry quickly. Avoid cotton garments except on the hottest days. Consider clothing that provides UV protection.

  • Sport sandals with ankle straps, water shoes, or sneakers

    Shoes are required for the trip. Avoid flip flops and shoes that can’t get wet.

  • Neoprene socks or neoprene booties

    Our trip starts early enough in the season that it’s wise to pack warm-when-wet socks or booties as an option for any cold mornings.

  • Hat with a brim

  • Sunglasses and glasses strap

  • Rain jacket or paddling jacket

    No ponchos.

  • Additional warm on-water layer

    Polyester fleece jacket, neoprene top, synthetic “puffy” jacket, etc.

  • Paddling gloves Optional

  • Rain pants or paddling pants Optional

  • Rain hat Optional

Off-Water

  • Camping gear

    Consider packing a tent, ground cloth, tent stakes, sleeping bag sleeping pad/camping mattress, and pillow.

  • Clothing for cold nights

    Extra layers, a warm jacket, a fleece or wool hat, warm socks, and gloves are recommended.

  • Shoes and socks

    Switching shoes when you get off the water will help minimize blisters.

  • Headlamp or flashlight, plus extra batteries

  • Toiletries and a towel

  • Any medications you take

  • Insect repellent Optional

  • Spare glasses Optional

  • Blister treatment supplies Optional

  • Earplugs Optional

Reminders

  • A Pennsylvania launching permit—issued by either the PA Fish and Boat Commission or a Pennsylvania State Park office—is required for this year’s trip.
  • Please put your name on… well… everything! Find some luggage tags and break out a permanent marker.
  • Vehicles and boats will be unattended during the trip. Leave valuables at home.
  • Want to rent a boat, tent, or camping mattress? Email howdy@badadventures.com.

Resources

Breezewood hotels

Approximately 12 minutes from our day 1 put-in.

Bedford hotels

Approximately 17 minutes from our day 1 put-in.

Campground

Approximately 15 minutes from our day 1 put-in.

Water Trail Maps

Juniata River Water Trail: Raystown Branch
Covers day 1 through day 4.

Juniata River Water Trail: Upper Section
Covers day 5 through the morning of day 7.

Juniata River Water Trail: Lower Section
Covers the afternoon of day 7 through day 9.

Trip Rules

  • Your boat must be at least 12 feet long. We have a lot of miles to paddle! We no longer make exceptions to the boat length rule.
  • You must wear a Type III life jacket with a whistle, as well as footwear while on the river. No inflatable life jackets or life jackets that don’t have a back.
  • Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the river, as well as in some of our camp locations, including all municipally owned parks.
  • No glass containers.
  • Bad Adventures Trip and Course Policies apply.