The 42-mile stretch of the Wild and Scenic Allegheny River from Tionesta to Kennerdell will be the site of this year’s annual River Sojourn in northwestern Pennsylvania, from July 6 through July 8.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council's French Creek Project is hosting this year’s Sojourn to highlight the unique nature of this portion of the designated National Wild and Scenic River.

Designated on April 20, 1992, the Allegheny River is an official "Wild and Scenic River" for 86.6 miles in Pennsylvania from the Kinzua Dam downstream to the southern end of Alcorn Island at Oil City, and then from Franklin to Emlenton.

Named “Ohi:YO” by the Native Americans and “la Belle Riviere” by French explorers, this stretch of the Allegheny flows through areas of narrow forest valleys, wilderness islands, and broad, rural landscapes rich with the early history and culture of the region.

Good public access and few hazards make this an ideal river for novice and family canoeing. Fishing for muskie, walleye, rainbow trout, and smallmouth bass is popular in this stretch of the River.

Other partners helping to host the 2006 Sojourn include the U.S. Forest Service, which helps to manage the Wild and Scenic portion of the River, The Nature Conservancy, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, French Creek Valley Conservancy, Allegheny Valley Conservancy, Allegheny Valley Trails Association, American Canoe Association, and Venture Outdoors.

Partial funding for the Sojourn is made available by a grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, provided through the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

The Sojourn is open to the public. Participants can float for one, two, or all three days. Packages and discounts available, starting at $80 per day for a single boater and $200 per day for families of three or four ($30 extra for each additional child). Each package includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack each day, camping, presentations, entertainment and a canoe and shuttle service. Campsites are part of the Sojourn package, but participants will need to bring their own camping gear.

Advanced reservations are required no later than June 30. Reservations can be made by calling the French Creek Project at 1-888-920-8699 or 814-332-2946 or visiting their website at: http://frenchcreek.allegheny.edu.

6/9/2006