Lancaster Water Week is an annual celebration of the 1,400 miles of waterways in Lancaster County, PA. Join us for over 60 events as we paddle, explore, volunteer, and take action for the streams and rivers of Lancaster County! Learn more: www.lancasterwaterweek.org

Sacred Space

There is a place on the Susquehanna where the land meets the water meets the sky. In that place you will find the imprint of the indigenous people of the Susquehanna Valley and you will discover why that place was held sacred. Lancaster Historian, Paul Nevin and the Conestoga River Club will lead a series of kayaking trips along the Susquehanna River to the Petroglyphs in Safe Harbor. So grab your kayak (or rent one of ours) and join us for an adventure you’ll never forget.

Tour location, date, meeting place and time:

This is a “out and back” paddle tour of the Lake Aldred Indian Rock Petroglyphs, launching from the public boat launch in Safe Harbor park on Powerhouse Rd. Navigation to the site begins at 8am with groups of 15 launching every hour with the last group leaving at 1pm. Safety boaters will be on the water to guide navigation.

* meet address based on Google Maps information. Contact Todd Roy at todd.roy@conestogariverclub.org or call 717-719-8214 for more information.

What to expect:

This is a semi-guided tour of the petroglyph rocks on Lake Aldred below the Safe Harbor Dam on the Susquehanna River. This is an American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 boater trip. Please take the self evaluation Essential Eligibility Criteria copied here to determine your personal eligibility. There will be several safety guides on the water during the event time as well as enhanced coverage from Conestoga Volunteer Fire Department. Read more about ACA boater classification here
The purpose of multiple smaller groups of paddlers this year as opposed to a large single group, is to provide ample exposure to Paul Nevin’s curated tour on the Big Indian Rock.
This is a bring your own boat (BYOB) event, however, there are limited rental reservations available that can be reserved during check out.

As a Conestoga River Club Event, all participants should expect the following policies and procedures:

To be prepared to sign two waivers; a standard waiver of liability that covers: release to treat, photo release, standard hold harmless, and an insurance waiver.
To be prepared to follow all Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission boating safety laws and regulations.
To be prepared to wear a US Coast Guard approved Personal Floatation Device (PFD) while actively engaged on the water or within 10’ of the launch facility.
To follow the instructions of the group leader/ trip guide.
To arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled launch time. Anyone arriving after the posted launch time may be excluded from that trip.
Trips will be held "rain or shine". In the case of unsafe river conditions the event will be rescheduled.

Participants should bring:

A refillable water bottle or canteen, single use plastics are discouraged.
A wide brimmed hat or sun shade
Sunscreen/ sunblock
A change of clothing and towel, to be kept in participants vehicle.
Suitable footwear in the form of closed toe, full foot water shoes or sneakers with good traction are recommended. Open sandals, flip flops and other "slip on" footwear are not permitted. Your feet will get wet, plan accordingly.

The Conestoga River Club will have a limited number of boats available for rental for $15. Rental package includes: kayak, paddle, PFD & whistle.

Meet your guide:

Paul Nevin

Paul is is acknowledged as the leading authority on the rock art of the lower Susquehanna River. He has been visiting, documenting, and researching the Safe Harbor Petroglyphs for more than 40 years. His interest in Indigenous Culture goes back even further. Read more about Paul here