FROM
FROM
Paddle Happy trips are large group river adventures for beginners, experts, and everyone in between. We canoe and kayak beautiful, curated sections of Pennsylvania rivers. We indulge in comfy basecamps and delicious meals. And we rock out to fantastic live music at every stop.
The true magic is in the Paddle Happy community. We’re a community that welcomes new paddlers. We’re a community obsessed with making our adventures as safe as possible. And we’re a community who love and support one another.
Christine A. from Philadelphia sums it up best: “Bad Adventures creates an ethos that transcends the typical group trip.”
I feel proud to be part of that ethos.
And I feel even prouder of the million ways my teammates—and this paddling community—consummately embody that ethos.
Come find out what the fuss is all about. Join us on a Paddle Happy river trip. I’ll see you on the water!
Bad Adventures founder
Schuylkill
May 30—June 2, 2024
Reading, PA
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Juniata
June 14—June 16, 2024
Millerstown, PA
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Cut loose! Join a river battle with water guns blazing or win the Pirate Pageant captain’s hat.
In our guided format, the rivers we paddle are appropriate for beginners, experts, and everyone in between. Whether you’re new to kayaking or you’re an experienced, swashbuckling river rat, you’ll fit right in.
We canoe and kayak from one live music performance to the next. The 2024 Music Lineup includes authentic blues, funk-rock, singer-songwriter classics, and can’t-help-but-sing-along covers.
A new musical artist performs for us at every stop along the river.
Get your glamp on! Our tents can remain pitched for the whole trip. We return to basecamp every night.
Indulge in tasty lunches, dinners, breakfasts, and snacks. Bring on the yum!
…They care tremendously about making everyone comfortable—both on water and land. Besides which, the leaders and staff are fun and engaging people who take the time to get to know everyone…
—
Gail M.
from Silver Spring, MD
after Paddle Happy: Schuylkill 2023
I cannot say enough positive things about this trip and Bad Adventures. The friendliness and welcoming nature of Matt and his staff was such a wonderful experience. From the moment we checked in until the morning we left, the staff was so approachable and helpful…
—
Marta B.
from Mays Landing, NJ
after Paddle Happy: Schuylkill 2023
Join us for our 19th year of big paddling trips on Southeast Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill River!
The Schuylkill’s a real gem. The section we paddle—Schuylkill Haven to Reading—threads among beautiful forested ridges, has fun and approachable moving water features, and dives in and out of picturesque Appalachian river towns.
In 2023, we paddled a low river level alternate itinerary further downstream. This means those of us returning in 2024 get to paddle almost entirely new sections of river!
This year is likely to be the last year we paddle the traditional Upper Schuylkill itinerary before projects related to Kernsville Dam removal require us to adjust the plan. Don’t miss out!
Paddle Happy: Schuylkill always begins the Thursday evening before the first Saturday of June.
After entering the park, proceed a half mile to the roundabout. Continue straight and drive a quarter mile to the boat launch area for check-in.
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We put together a list of suggestions: View the Recommended Packing List [PDF]
A don’t miss trip. Matt and his crew are great, and it seems they take that last attention to detail as serious as the first, which makes it a first class operation, through and through. And they like to have fun, be it music or a pirate show, you never know. Thumbs up all around!
—
Jim S.
from Kenhorst, PA
after Paddle Happy: Schuylkill 2023
emphasis added
The Juniata is an excellent paddle! It’s a scenic tributary of the Susquehanna River whose mouth is just north of Harrisburg.
There are twists and turns, picturesque farms, towns, and bridges, and practically an infestation of bald eagles. We have a fun set of rapids to paddle on Sunday afternoon, but—in our guided group paddle setting—the moving water is still beginner-appropriate.
This is the third Paddle Happy trip presented with Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy. Go NPC!
Our friends at Millerstown Recreational Committee are hosting us at an excellent new basecamp location for the weekend. Paddle Happy: Junata is the first trip in the series featuring an amphitheatre at camp. Look out, Red Rocks, here we come!
I guided my first large group PA paddling trip back in June, 2004. It was on the Juniata. Now, 20 years later, the team and I can’t wait to share the river with you! —Matt
Our basecamp is at the south end (downstream end) of Millerstown Area Community
Park.
Basecamp is at the confluence of Cocalamus Creek and the Juniata River.
We put together a list of suggestions: View the Recommended Packing List [PDF]
Wow. The whole thing was awesome! It really was. I was impressed with every single aspect. Not overstating it or exaggerating what I experienced. I thought the organization of everything was fantastic. Obvious that there were lots of moving parts to this, and that it all seemed to work flawlessly, just kudos to everyone involved. I was very impressed with the attention to detail. Everything—our meals, the facilities, the music, the people on the trip. It was really a great adventure. Super well done to everyone there! Lot of fun!
—
Jerry M.
from Rochester, NY
after Paddle Happy: Schuylkill 2023
emphasis added
$219
Camp
Paddle Schuylkill Haven Port Clinton
$449
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Paddle Port Clinton Leesport
2nd Annual Pirate Pageant & Camp
Paddle Maiden Creek Reading
$399
Camp
Paddle Mifflin Millerstown
Camp
Paddle Millerstown Duncannon
$1067
$799
Save 25%
All of Paddle Happy: Schuylkill and Paddle Happy: Juniata
Don Shappelle & Don Sennett
Sunday, June 16
The Busker Incognito Trio
Saturday, June 1
Jay Smar
Friday, May 31
The Whiskeyhickon Boys
Friday, June 14
Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner
Saturday, June 1
Phyllis Sands
Thursday, May 30
Hannah Bingman Duo
Saturday, June 15
Shine Delphi
Saturday, June 15
Smokehouse 4
Friday, May 31
Payton Renee
Sunday, June 2
From The Whiskeyhickon Boys’ funky rock, to Busker Incognito’s rock-a-billy beats, to the stunning talent of Shine Delphi, to the N’awlins soul of Smokehouse 4, to the can’t-help-but-sing-along magic of Phyllis Sands, and rounded out with Paddle Happy classics like Kj Reimensnyder-Wagner and Don Shappelle & Don Sennett, 2024 is the best Paddle Happy music lineup ever.
Jolly rogers are hoisted over basecamp when we return from the river on Saturday of Paddle Happy: Schuylkill.
We swap our life jackets and river garb for ruffled shirts and bright striped britches. ’Tis time for the Pirate Pageant!
Sponsored by toothsmith of the high seas, Dr. James Van Horn, and the fine privateers of Trace Pheasantry, this hullabaloo is sure to have ye laughin’ harder than a parrot caught in a ticklin’ bout!
Dress in yer finest pirate attire or borrow from our treasure trove if ye come up short.
Test yer wits with the saltiest of pirate trivia and share a seafarer’s joke or two! The winner, the pirate who outshines ’em all, will be crowned captain of our sinkin’ ship.
Crowned Captains
For Paddle Happy: Schuylkill, check-in, parking for the entire trip, and camping is at our basecamp:
Jim Dietrich Park
4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Rd
Reading, PA 19605
After entering the park, proceed a half mile to the roundabout. Continue straight and drive a quarter mile to the boat launch area for check-in.
For Paddle Happy: Juniata, check-in and camping is at our basecamp:
Millerstown Area Community Park
110 W Juniata Pkwy
Millerstown, PA 17062
Kids must be at least 8 years old to participate. Everyone under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Experienced paddlers may make special arrangements to bring a child under age 8 by emailing howdy@badadventures.com.
You bet. Please select the vegetarian meal preference option when you register. We’ll arrange yummy vegetarian (no meat or fish) meals for you.
We paddle 12 to 18 miles downstream per day with a midday lunch stop. Each day is a moderate, full-day paddle.
You don't need to be a professional athlete to take part! We paddle 5–6 hours per day at a relaxed touring pace.
There are dam portages on Friday and Saturday of Paddle Happy: Schuylkill that each require walking a few hundred yards on uneven terrain while we help each other carry boats.
Paddle Happy canoe and kayak trips are designed for beginners, experts, and everyone in between!
At most June water levels, in our guided, group-paddle setting, our itineraries are appropriate for beginner paddlers. Our guides love to teach paddling. We look forward to helping you grow your skills!
Our itineraries do include moving water features. However, in our guided, group-paddle setting, the sections we’re paddling are appropriate for even beginner recreational paddlers.
During Paddle Happy: Schuylkill, the two most significant whitewater features are “The Chutes” on Friday and Kelly’s Rapid on Sunday. “The Chutes” includes a 2–foot drop over a man-made ledge. Kelly’s Rapid presents as a Class II to II+ rapid in most June water levels. There are options to portage around both “The Chutes” and Kelly’s Rapid if you prefer to skip them.
During Paddle Happy: Juniata, the most significant river feature is a set of splashy ledge drops we paddle on Sunday afternoon.
Are you kidding? Absolutely!!
You certainly can. Rental kayaks are available for $41 per day. Each rental includes a single-person kayak, paddle, and life jacket. Be sure to select the rental kayak option when you register. Arranging a rental once you arrive to the trip is not possible.
If you rent a kayak and weigh more than 250-pounds or less than 110-pounds, please email us at howdy@badadventures.com after you register. We’ll make sure an appropriately-sized boat is reserved for you.
Tent camping at a basecamp we return to each night is included in each Paddle Happy trip. A delicious hot dinner and breakfast is provided.
You’re responsible for bringing your own camping gear.
You may leave your tent set up while we paddle during the day. However, do not leave valuables unattended.
On Sunday morning, tents must be removed and the camping area must be clean by 8:45 AM during Paddle Happy: Schuylkill and by 9:15 AM during Paddle Happy: Juniata.
You bet. A limited number of Big Agnes tents and Big Agnes sleeping pads are available to rent. Email howdy@badadventures.com to request rental camping equipment.
For Paddle Happy: Schuylkill, it’s possible! You’ll need to contact Quinta Las Cabanas Grove directly at 610-926-4995 to reserve and pay for an RV site.
Paddle Happy: Juniata’s (fantastic!) basecamp is not conducive to RV camping. Please pack a tent.
There are numerous hotels in the area.
For Paddle Happy: Schuylkill, we suggest either Hampton Inn & Suites Kutztown or Holiday Inn Express & Suites Reading Airport. Both hotels are about 15 minutes from basecamp.
For Paddle Happy: Juniata, we suggest either SpringHill Suites Harrisburg Hershey or Home2 Suites by Hilton Harrisburg North. Both hotels are about 30 minutes from basecamp.
Absolutely. Please drop an email to howdy@badadventures.com and we’ll take care of changing your registration. We’ll send you a link to pay the difference in price.
No problem. Please email howdy@badadventures.com. We’ll add the rental kayak to your registration and send you a link to pay.
Rental boat supply is limited. Request a boat early to ensure availability.
It’s easy. Just email howdy@badadventures.com and we’ll get you squared away.
If you cancel by May 1, there is no cancellation fee and you’ll receive a full refund, including your deposit. If you cancel between May 1 and May 20, the cancellation fee is equal to 20% of your registration price. After May 20, the cancellation fee is equal to 100% of your registration price and there will be no refunds.
Donations to Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy are not refundable.
Bad Adventures is an equal opportunity service provider and employer that operates under commercial use authorizations from Amistad National Recreation Area, Arches National Park, Big Bend National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Everglades National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and Zion National Park, special use permit from USDA Forest Service, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, and special recreation permit from Bureau of Land Management.
Sonny, the Paddle Happy mascot, was illustrated by Brian Swisher, living legend.
The ‘Amazing guides’ photo is by Michilea Patterson, Schuylkill River Greenways.
© 2022–2024 Bad Adventures. All rights reserved.
