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
Camp
Paddle Port Clinton Leesport
2nd Annual Pirate Pageant & Camp
Paddle Maiden Creek Reading
$399
Camp
Paddle Mifflin Millerstown
Camp
Paddle Millerstown Duncannon
$1067
$799
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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
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.
