We've hit the dog days of summer! There is no better way to escape the heat than to hit the RIVER! Rafting season is in full swing!

Head to Ohiopyle State Park to check some Class III-IV rafting on the Lower Yough. We offer Guide Escorted (guides aren't in your raft but will escort you down the river), Fully Guided (a guide will be in your raft) and Premium Guided Tours (the ULTIMATE Yough experience)! All you need is swim wear and sunscreen and we will provide the rest, including lunch!

Check out our Calendar for last minute savings on select tours on the Lower Yough. Don't miss out on this summer's best outdoor adventure. Book now ONLINE or give us a call 800-472-3846.

There are a few weeks remaining in May and we have some great specials left this month.

Raft on the Upper Yough Friday, May 21 or Friday, May 28 for just $105 plus tax! Wow - what a discount! Saturday, May 29 Upper trip is already sold out so call in sick from work and hit the river for a great deal!

Maybe you're not ready for the Class V rapids? How about the Beast of the East, the Cheat River? It's Class III-V rapids are sure to please. Also check out the Lower Yough's Class III whitewater or the Middle Yough's Class I and II family float trip. Raft a guided tour on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend for Sunday's discounted rates. Check out our Specials page for more great deals!

Terry Palmo, our general manager here at Laurel Highlands, took a trip down memory lane yesterday, in the form of a ride with Senior Guide, Tommy Steyer down the Upper Yough! And here's a photo to prove it:

Go Terry! Lookin' good!

Terry wanted to let everyone know that even when you're pushing 60... it's important to stay active and get outside and enjoy yourself!

Don't miss out on the goings-on in Ohiopyle! Become a FAN of Laurel Highlands River Tours on Facebook to stay in the know! We have been uploading lots of photos of our guide staff and some cool pictures of our past. And, there are many more photos to come!! Check back to view some pics of our 2009 Training Class and some funny rafting mishap pictures.

Click here for the link to our page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Laurel-Highlands-River-Tours-and-Outdoor-Center/95354874761?ref=ts

Picture this... The very first trip of the year: A warm Spring day, the rains have stopped and the sun is shining. You're in Albright, West Virginia, at the put in for the Cheat River. It's April! The river is at 5 feet! It's 70 degrees! To us, this sounds like a dream. It should be snowing! The wind should be blowing and the ice should be forming on our life jackets! It builds character after all...

But no! It's true! The river is running a perfect 5 feet! The sun really is shining! Those really are birds singing! The thermometer actually hits 70 degrees. Unbelieveable.

Last Sunday, April 5th, 2009, we ran our first trip of the year. We were on the Cheat at 5 feet in 70 degree sunshine with our friends from the Allegheny College Outing Club. And I truely hope they all had a firm understanding of how lucky they are. Here's a few pictures of their beautiful day. Give us a call to lock in your reservation for your own Cheat River adventure this year before time runs out!

It's that time of year again! Our PAY EARLY discounts are in full swing.

Pay by April 30th and receive 15% off! Book your reservation and pay for it in full by April 30th and receive a 15% discount off your reservation! Mention code CEA.

Pay by May 31st and receive 10% off! Book your reservation and pay for it in full by May 31st and receive a 10% discount off your reservation! Mention code CEM.

Pay by June 30th and receive 5% off! Book your reservation and pay for it in full by June 30th and receive a 5% discount off your reservation! Mention code CEJ.

Only 50% deposit is due within 10 days of your reservation. The remainder is due by the date of your special. Tours are starting to fill up, so call soon to the reserve the date you are interested in!!

We are in the midst of the dog-days of summer and, normally, this time of year we see water levels reflecting the warm dry months of July and August. BUT NOT THIS YEAR! A drenched Spring led to a very moist early Summer and now the Youghiogheny Dam is FULL! We have never seen such a high level of the Yough Lake this late in the summer!

What does all this mean? Is the water too high, are the rapids more dangerous? NOPE! This situation created the perfect recipe for a late summer of fun on the Youghiogheny River! Because of the excess water in the lake, the US Army Corp of Engineers will be able to provide us with a little extra water for the remainder of the summer and into the fall. Excellent water conditions for you and your family or friends to take advantage of the beautiful summer weather remaining in 2008.

There are only a few weeks left before the kids have to get back to school, so make some time to get out of the city heat and into the mountains! Rafting conditions couldn't be better right now if we ordered them from Mother Nature herself. Give us a call today to plan your last weekend getaway, spaces are booking up quickly!

Can't get away until September? No Problem! We have plenty of availablity and the weather is still great for rafting!

Our online photo store is open for business. If you forgot to buy your pictures the day you went rafting, don't fret! You can view and purchase your pictures on our new website!

You can either purchase a single image and download it or you can purchase a single image on a cd we will mail to you. You also have the option of purchasing all the pictures of your raft. Simply select the first image of your raft and we will compile all the images of your raft, burn them on a cd and mail it to you!

Check out the images available now and be sure to check back for updates often!

www.youghriverphoto.com

Finally...warm sunny weather breaks the rain clouds and heats up Ohiopyle!

Temperatures are far above average, breaking the 90 degree mark for the first time in 2008. 

Such warm temperatures have created perfect conditions for whitewater rafting. Tours on the Middle section of the Youghiogheny River are the perfect choice for families. The gentle Class I-II are great introductory level rapids and the scenery on river is breath-takingly beautiful.  

If water levels permit, upgrade to our single or double duckie for the ultimate river experience. Duckies are the perfect option for children too young for the Lower section of the Youghiogheny River but are feeling adventurous.

So get the family together, dust off those swim trunks and come enjoy the beautiful sunny weather!

HOLY HIGH WATER!

Over three inches of rain in the last ten days have nearly drowned Ohiopyle!

We are currently looking at levels of around seven feet on the Yough and it looks like the higher levels are going to hang around for the weekend!

If you've never seen what highwater looks like in Ohiopyle...check out this link on Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQqH5qsw830&feature=related 

If anyone out there loves the thrill of BIG water, come to Ohiopyle for an exhilarating ride down the Lower Yough in our famed "big boats!"

Don't wait too long though, the forecast looks to be drying out and our high water won't last long!

Upper Yough season has finally arrived! Friday was the first release of the 2008 season. We didn't have a trip but some of the guide staff
went up to enjoy the ride.

The Upper Yough release schedule has been posted!

May release dates are a little wacky! We can run all Fridays except the 30th. Mondays are limited to the 5th and the 12th. Saturdays are the 3rd and the 24th.

In June we are looking at releases every Monday and Friday and the last two Saturdays of the month.

July and August are full of releases, one every Monday, Friday, and Saturday.

September is like June with release every Monday and Friday and the first two Saturdays.

And finally, October releases will be the first two Mondays and Fridays and Saturday the 4th.

Keep in mind that Saturday releases are the first trips to sell out. We still have space available for both May Saturdays but the slots are going fast. July is filling up quickly. So if you are looking for the ulitmate challenge this summer, be sure to make your reservations soon!