Paddle trips spotlight Mon River鈥檚 recreation potential
Readers seeking something different outdoors before summer fades can consider two excursions offered by the Monongahela River Towns Program. On Saturday, Aug. 25, participants can join 鈥淣ew Beginnings Paddle,鈥� a seven-mile canoe or kayak trip on the Mon from California to Belle Vernon. On the following Saturday, Sept. 1, 鈥淧ark-to-Park Paddle鈥� will launch at the Point Marion Community Park in Point Marion and float the Mon for six miles to Greensboro鈥檚 municipal park. Any interested paddlers are welcomed at both, although Monongahela River Towns is encouraging those with at least some paddling experience, as beginners may find these trips a bit long.
The Monongahela River Towns Program is a collaborative effort of communities along the river, the National Road Heritage Corridor and McCollom Development Strategies, formed to call public attention to the natural assets afforded to Monongahela Valley communities by their location on the river. As more people appreciate the Mon鈥檚 attractiveness and accessibility, opportunities for river-based economic development and incentive to protect the river corridor will grow.
The paddle trips are modeled after the popular River Sojourn concept developed by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, French Creek Valley Conservancy and other conservation groups. On these trips, paddlers 鈥� sometimes 50 boats or more 鈥� travel a river between identified points, accompanied by staff of the sponsoring group or its affiliates. At various points along the route the flotilla pulls ashore where experts present some natural or historic feature to the group. For example, on a French Creek sojourn a couple of years ago, biologists with the French Creek Valley Conservancy had placed seines in the river ahead of the group鈥檚 approach. When they arrived at the seining location the biologists pulled the nets and revealed the tremendous diversity of native fishes that live in French Creek, one of the most biologically diverse streams remaining in the eastern United States. A Clarion River sojourn featured how Native Americans used the river and its resources before European settlement.
For the 鈥淣ew Beginnings鈥� and 鈥淧ark-to-Park鈥� paddles the theme will be how the river towns of California, Belle Vernon, Point Marion and Greensboro are embracing pride in the Mon River and developing their river assets. Officials in each town will interpret improvements to river access and public shoreline amenities. At California, paddlers will have a chance to enjoy RiverFest which will be ongoing at the time of the trip. The float will pause approaching Belle Vernon at the site of frequent bald eagle sightings. Belle Vernon officials will offer a brief tour at the takeout, including Kuhn Park.
At Point Marion, borough officials and a local canoe/kayak outfitter will discuss the riverside community park, the nearby Sheepskin Trail and other public amenities that demonstrate Point Marion鈥檚 commitment to outdoor recreation as both a source of community pride and economic development.
Along the paddle to Greensboro the group will stop at Friendship Hill National Historic Site, where Albert Gallatin鈥檚 mansion looms from the bluff high above. Though participants will not make the one-mile steep climb to the mansion, they will hear an interpretation of the site鈥檚 historic significance, including Albert Gallatin鈥檚 prominent role in the young United States.
Paddlers will also hear a presentation by Mary Wimmer, organizer of MAP (Morgantown Area Paddlers). Wimmer will talk about how her group鈥檚 200 members take advantage of the abundant paddling possibilities throughout West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.
As the paddle closes in Greensboro, paddlers will be welcomed by community representatives and members of the Nathanael Greene Historical Association and invited to visit the historic Nathanael Greene log cabin. The borough is also expected to be hosting its annual Arts Blast festival along the riverfront on this date.
All paddlers will participate in a safety briefing before launch. The 鈥淣ew Beginnings鈥� paddle begins with 9 a.m. check-in at the California Public Library, 100 Wood St. on August 25. 鈥淧ark-to-Park Paddle鈥� check-in is at 9 a.m., Sept. 1 at Point Marion Community Park.
Paddlers with canoes or kayaks are encouraged to bring them but will need to make their own arrangements for shuttling from the take-out back to parked vehicles. Paddlers are gregarious and friendly sorts, and often those with a pickup truck or roof-racks will help shuttle multiple boats as needed. Those without their own craft can rent a limited number of kayaks available by calling Mon River Recreation at 724-320-2182.
These are flatwater paddle trips, with no rapids along the route. Interestingly, though, both trips entail a crossing of the Monongahela as well as downriver travel. The August 25 trip will cross from California on the Washington County shore to Belle Vernon on the Westmoreland County side. On Sept. 1, the float leaving Point Marion in Fayette County will need to cross the river to reach Greensboro on the Greene County riverbank.
Pre-registration is required for both floats, with a fee of $15, which does not include boat rental. Snacks and water will be provided. Online registration for the California launch is available at https://www.eventbrite.com/prwview?eid=47859526131
Registration for the Point Marion departure is at https://www.eventbrite.com/edit?eid=47856123955
More information is available by calling the National Road Heritage Corridor at 724-437-9877, though some details are still in the planning stage.
The Monongahela River has been an under-appreciated outdoor recreation resource. These paddling trips, and those in the future, will help to reverse that unfortunate trend.
Ben Moyer is a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and the Outdoor Writers Association of America