The Youghiogheny River's dominant role in Western Pennsylvania history and its rebirth from a threatened past to a promising recreational future will be highlighted during a four-day sojourn in July offering events for rafters, bikers, anglers and other outdoors enthusiasts.

The registration deadline for the July 17 – 20 sojourn is June 27. All registrations must be made online at the Youghiogheny River Sojourn webpage. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is sponsoring the sojourn and is developing an official water trail along the Youghiogheny.

"The array of sojourn activities appropriately celebrates the Youghiogheny River's designation as Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2008," said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. "Scores of partners working to preserve, protect and enhance this great state resource have pumped new life into the river and the many surrounding communities.

"The Youghiogheny River Sojourn offers visitors a chance to see first-hand why the waterway is so deserving of statewide recognition. We invite residents from across the state to participate in many unique activities, including an interpreted whitewater raft outing, a 'Family Fishing Event,' and optional scenic bike ride along that section of the river paralleling the Great Allegheny Passage."

Popularly known as "the Yough" (pronounced: "Yock"), the river flowing north 132 miles from its origination in Maryland to its mouth at McKeesport, was picked for the annual honor by DCNR. A more than 70-mile section of the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania drains 1,250 square miles in Somerset, Fayette, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties before emptying into the Monongahela River.

Boasting a 150-foot-wide waterfall, the river is the focal point of the 19,000-acre Ohiopyle State Park, which attracts more than 1.5 million visitors a year. The river's whitewater attracts 100,000 boaters each year for the thrill of rapids that can be run all summer with releases from Youghiogheny River Lake.

Annual DCNR "River of the Year" honors recognize local residents, governments, non-profit and conservation organizations working to improve waterways and the quality of life in their watersheds across the state. Sojourns are hosted to provide water- and land-based journeys for canoeists, kayakers and others to raise awareness of the environmental, recreational, tourism and heritage values of rivers.

The Youghiogheny sojourn highlights include:

· July 17 — An 11-mile paddle down the Middle Yough to Ohiopyle on class I and II river sections; dinner at the Ohiopyle State Park campground; and a history presentation.

· July 18 — A seven-mile whitewater adventure down the Lower Yough (Class III and sometimes Class IV water) including three interpretive stops to explore geologic and other features; and an interpretive hike in the evening.

· July 19 — Brunch in Dawson at the Cochran House and a historical tour; a 10-mile canoe paddle to Cedar Creek; a "Family Fishing Event" at Cedar Creek Park campground.

· July 20 —A natural history hike; a 10-mile canoe paddle and an optional tour of the nearby Milestone Hydroponic Greenhouse.

The minimum age for participation in whitewater rafting is 12.

As an alternative to whitewater rafting July 18, sojourn participants may opt to bicycle the Yough River section of the Great Allegheny Passage from Ohiopyle to Confluence and back.

The Great Allegheny Passage is one of the world's premier rail-trails running 132 miles from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md., where it links to the C&O Canal Towpath to offer an off-road trail from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.

Costs for participation in all four days of the sojourn range from $140 to $235 per person, depending upon boat rental fees and whether or not registrants choose to go whitewater rafting.

Full details and registration information can be found at the Youghiogheny River Sojourn webpage.

6/20/2008