Indian Rock Petroglyph Tour, Water Week 2026

What is Lancaster Water Week?

Heading into its 10th year, Lancaster Water Week celebrates the 1,400 miles of streams and rivers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. These waterways are the source of our drinking water, drive economic and agricultural growth, and allow us to escape into nature to fish, paddle, and swim. Many of these beautiful streams are polluted, but there is an incredible effort underway to bring them back to health in our lifetime.

Join us during Water Week for dozens of events as we paddle, explore, volunteer, and take action as a community to protect our streams and rivers for the future!

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 9AM with groups of 10 launching every hour with the last group leaving at 12PM.  Safety boaters will be on the water to guide navigation. 

We will share an exact meeting location closer to our launch date.

Contact Emily at programs@conestogariverclub.org for more information.

What to expect:

1. This is a semi-guided tour of the petroglyph rocks on Lake Aldred below the Safe Harbor Dam on the Susquehanna River. 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.

2. 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.

3. This is a bring your own boat (BYOB) event, however, there are limited rental reservations available that can be reserved during check out.

4. In the event of unsafe river conditions, the event may be canceled or rescheduled depending on staff and volunteer availability. In the event of cancelation, tickets will be fully refunded.

5. All participants must be 18 years or older.

Guest Expectations & Packing List

To ensure everyone's safety and comfort, participants must sign the ACA Waiver and bring the following items:

• Sign the American Canoe Association (ACA) Waiver: You can sign the ACA Waiver online ahead of the event or on paper when you arrive at the event.

  Please review the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria here.

• Footwear: You must wear closed-toe, full-foot water shoes or sneakers with good traction. Open sandals, flip-flops, and "slip-on" footwear are strictly prohibited. Please plan for your feet to get wet.

• Clothing: Wear comfortable activewear, ideally made of quick-drying fabrics.

• Sun Protection: Please bring a wide-brimmed hat or sunshade and sunscreen/sunblock.

• Hydration: Bring a refillable water bottle or canteen. To support our clean water mission, single-use plastics are strongly discouraged.

• Lunch/Food: CRC does not provide lunch, so make sure to pack nourishment as we will be on the river for several hours.

• Personal Items: Bring a change of clothing and a towel to be kept in your vehicle. If you bring a phone or camera, dry storage (like a heavy-duty Ziploc bag) is highly recommended.

• Health: Bring any necessary prescription medications. You will be prompted during registration to list any emergent medical conditions.

What We Provide

The Conestoga River Club is pleased to provide the following for each reservation:

• Equipment: Kayak, paddle, and PFD (Personal Flotation Device).

• Support: Event guides and safety personnel to lead the trip.

• Refreshments: Water bottle refills and healthy snacks.

Waivers

Please be certain to sign the appropriate releases as part of check out and ACA Insurance Waiver here.

It is also recommended that you review the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria here.

Emergency Medical & Contact Information Statement

To ensure your safety during the trip, we require all participants to provide the following information during the registration process:

This information will only be used in an emergent situation with appropriate first responders.

• Medical Conditions: You will be prompted to list any known medical conditions at the time of registration.

• Prescription Medications: Participants are responsible for bringing any necessary prescription medications for the duration of the event.

• Emergency Contact: Please provide the name and phone number of a primary contact person who can be reached while you are on the river.

• On-Site Support: The Conestoga River Club will provide an event guide and safety personnel for the duration of the trip.
  

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.