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!

Here in Ohiopyle, the end of July, August, and September are our busy times! There is so much to see and do that I thought a Calender of Event was in order. So check out what I've put together, and I've included links to more information when it's available. Check back, I'll update as needed. I hope you're having a great summer!

Here's the Ohiopyle State Park's upcoming events:

Start Date	Time	Event	Location
8/01/09 SAT	10:00am-12:00pm	Moonshine and Tom Faucet	Ohiopyle State Park
8/01/09 SAT	8:30pm-10:30pm	Furtrading	Ohiopyle State Park
8/02/09 SUN	1:30pm-3:30pm	Ask the Naturalist Hike	Ohiopyle State Park
8/02/09 SUN	7:00pm-9:00pm	Cemetery Hike	Ohiopyle State Park
8/03/09 MON	9:00pm-11:00pm	Owl Prowl	Ohiopyle State Park
8/07/09 FRI	8:30pm-10:30pm	Snakes and Reptiles	Ohiopyle State Park
8/08/09 SAT	9:00am-11:00am	Volunteer Clean Up	Ohiopyle State Park
8/08/09 SAT	9:00am-4:00pm	Kayaking 101	Ohiopyle State Park
8/08/09 SAT	1:00pm-3:00pm	Spinning Through Time	Ohiopyle State Park
8/09/09 SUN	8:30pm-10:30pm	Black Bear	Ohiopyle State Park

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009- Don't forget about the Over the Falls Race and Festival! This is one of our biggest events all year in Ohiopyle and there is lots to see and do. Go here for more info: http://www.fallsrace.com/

September 5th and 6th, 2009- The next big event you should check out is the 21st Annual Music in the Mountains in the Ohiopyle State Park. With Bluegrass Music, food, vendors, a spaghetti dinner, a 5k, and fireworks! What more could you ask for?

Friday & Saturday, October 9th and 10th, 2009- The best thing about October is the Fall Buckwheat Supper here in Ohiopyle. Hosted by the Community Center and the Ohiopyle Volunteer Fire Department, it's a weekend-long event with the best buckwheat pancakes and all the fixin's ! Local food and craft vendors, too!

MacKenzie and Team USA in Buochs, Switzerland

MacKenzie Hatcher (Laurel Highlands River Guide) and Sierra O'Brien raced in Wildwater Kayaks in the Junior Wildwater World Cup in Buochs, Switzerland last week. We couldn't be prouder of them!

Good job girls!

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

With the Fourth of July holiday creeping up on us, I thought a guide on where to go for fireworks, music, and more would be helpful to anyone who may be visiting our area from out of town. So, here's the F.o.J. 411!

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Thursday - July 2, 2009
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm - "Lobby Palooza" - Chateau Lobby.  Complimentary
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm - Movie - Lecture Hall.  Complimentary

Friday - July 3, 2009
9:00 am - 10:00 pm - Miniature Golf Tournament - Fallingbrook Mini Golf Course
                                  $8 Adult / $6 Child
10:00 am - 5:00 pm - Retail Trunk Show - Heritage Court.  Complimentary
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Disc Golf Tournament - Adventure Center.
                                   $15 Per Person or buy the Adventure Pass for $15!
  3:00 pm - 6:00 pm - "Lobby Palooza" - Chateau Lobby.  Complimentary
  8:30 pm - 9:30 pm - "Wild Animals" Show - The WildSide.  Complimentary

Saturday - July 4, 2009
11:30 am - 12:15 pm - Retail Fashion Show - Paradise Pool.  Complimentary
  1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - "Tour of Nemacolin / Bacardi Crawl" A la carte
  2:00 pm - Registration for Classic Car and Bike Show - The WildSide. Complimentary
  4:00 pm - 9:00 pm - "Carnival" at The WildSide. $5 Per Person
  4:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Judging of The WildSide Classic Car and Bike Show
  5:00 pm & 8:00 pm - Family Activities - The WildSide

• Three-Legged Relay Race
• Potato Sack Race
• Pie Eating Contest     
• Water Balloon Toss

  7:00 pm - Awards for The WildSide Classic Car and Bike Show 
  7:30 pm - 8:30 pm - "Wild Animals" Show - The WildSide.  Complimentary
  8:30 pm - 1:00 am - Live Band - The WildSide
  9:30 pm - Fireworks*
  *Best viewed from Lafayette Gardens, The WildSide and Links Pro Shop Parking Lot.

Sunday - July 5, 2009
10:00 am - 1:00 pm - Lautrec Sunday Brunch

Reservations will be available at a later date.  For more information, contact a Resort Sales Specialist at 866.344.6957.

The Uniontown Mall, Uniontown, Pennsylvania

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...

Laurel Highland's Annual Fall Sale

And you know what that means, SALES, SALES and more SALES

As with every fall, we have moved our Outfitter's Store over to the Outdoor Center. If you are interested in purchasing any paddling equipment, kayaks, bikes, or outdoor clothing come visit us in the Outdoor Center on Sherman street.

Sales right now run from 10% - 50% off selected items. There are some great deals to be had.

Don't forget about our Used Equipment Sale. Bikes and rafts and kayaks...Oh My! So many toys, so little space! Be sure to stop by soon before all the fun stuff is gone.

This summer was a fantastic summer in Ohiopyle! Thanks to all our visitors and guests for a GREAT season!

First up... FALLS RACE!!!    

Saturday, August 23 will see some of the craziest adrenaline junkies I know plummetting over Ohiopyle's 23-ft waterfall. The day promises much enjoyment. After watching the show, hang out with us at Laurel Highlands Outdoor Center for live music by 706 Union and an exciting Film Festival featuring crazy kayaking videos that will make Falls Racers look like sissies! Falls Race weekend will also the kick off of our End of Season 20% off Sale in the Outfitter's Store. Have you ever seen the Ohiopyle waterfall all lit up at night? NO? - it's a can't-miss sight! The Falls will be under lights from dusk until 10pm on Saturday. Check out www.fallsrace.com for more info.

What's next? Labor Day Weekend and Music in the Mountains.

Our last big weekend (August 30 - Spetember 1) before the season ends promises tons of fun. This weekend will also feature Ohiopyle State Park's Music in the Mountains Festival. What started out as a few musicians playing acoustic music by the Falls has now evolved into a two-day event featuring arts and craft vendors and much more musical entertianment! There will be a climbing wall, helicopter rides and an Ice Cream Eating Contest. Some of the areas best acoustic musicans will be playing Saturday and Sunday nights. The Falls will be under lights again both nights and the 3rd Annual Fireworks over the Yough are scheduled for Saturday night! For more information visit: www.friendsofohioypyle.info.

Last but not least, the Buckwheat Supper.

Ohiopyle-Stewart Buckwheat Supper is back again! This two-day event starts on Friday, October 10. This year's meal will include all you can eat buckwheat and pancakes and tons of extra fixin's. Meals will be served in both the Ohioyple Fire Hall and the Ohiopyle-Stewart Community Center. Arts and crafts booths will be set up in the Community Center and in the streets and green areas by the Fire Hall. A great weekend for fun with family and friends. Rent some bikes at our Outdoor Center and experience the beauty of Fall in Ohioyple with the abundant changing leaves.

All around our expansive Ohiopyle State Park, there are many iconic indicators of the changing of the seasons amid the flora and fauna. Most readily recognizable and easliy spotted would be the turning of the leaves in the Fall.

A less commonly known sign is the blooming of the Mountain Laurel heralding the arrival of summer to our wooded region. The Laurel Highlands, so named because of the prolific and abundant Mountain Laurel, should be enjoyed during all four seasons, but especially during these summer months when the colorful sights and floral aromas are augmented by the many plants in bloom.

Don't miss this beautiful and fleeting display.

Finally...warm weather has graced Ohiopyle with its prescence.

Flowers are blooming, trees are budding and the sun shone brightly in Ohiopyle today reminding us all that river season is here.

River levels are staying at around 3' on the Yough and Cheat Rivers and, with April showers on the way, the forecast for higher Spring levels is looking good. If you like the thrill of big water, be sure to make your reservations soon!

Warm weather is supposed to hold and there is still space available for the weekend, so get the gang together, dust off that cabin fever, and come visit Ohiopyle!