Contact
Matt PriceHuntingdon County Visitors Bureau
888-729-7869
mprice@raystown.org
Want to Volunteer?
Volunteers are needed to help make this event a success. Volunteers get a free patch and waterproof map commemorating the event!
Jack's Narrows River Access Grand Opening
Join us to celebrate the grand opening of two community river access projects that open convenient public launch areas to a historic portion of the Juniata River in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The weekend-long festivities include free camping at Mapleton's Riverside Park, live music, free shuttle service to and from Mapleton Riverside Park and Mount Union Riverside Park throughout the weekend so you can paddle or float the narrows as many times as you want, as well as the opportunity to test new gear from a Paddle Sports Expo area at Mount Union Riverside Park, history and skills clinics and more!
Event volunteers and the first 200 attendees will receive a commemorative patch and a waterproof map for the event.
ABOUT JACK'S NARROWS RIVER ACCESS
The two launches bookend the deepest gorge in Pennsylvania, known locally as Jack's Narrows, where the Juniata River cuts a gap in Jacks Mountain. The peaks of Jacks Mountain on the south side of the gorge is just over 2,120 feet in elevation, and 2.9 miles away on the north of the gorge is just over 2,320 feet. The river surface of the Juniata River drops from 566 feet above sea level at Mapleton to 545 Feet above sea level 3.3 miles downstream at Mount Union. That makes the gorge nearly 1/3 mile deep! The community-owned launches open up Jacks Narrows to access for paddle sports, fishing and leisurely inner-tube floating. The facilities and distance between them make this the first and best recommendation for inner-tube floating in Huntingdon County, and perhaps the entire Juniata River watershed, as state-owned launch facilities prohibit inner-tube access. This stretch of the Juniata River is gentle and easily navigated by paddlers at all experience levels.
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Time | Event Name | Location |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 11 AM- 4 PM | Mount Union Farmers Market open | 135 E Shirley St, Mt Union |
|
Friday, June 8, 2018 Friday, June 8, 2018 |
Noon-10 PM 2:30 PM |
Camp-In Registration Open Aquatic Life Clinic & River Cleanup promotion by Huntingdon Co. Conservation District |
Mapleton Riverside Park Information Tent Mapleton Riverside Park Pavilion |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 3:00 PM | Mapleton Access Ribbon Cutting | Mapleton River Access |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 3:30 PM | Jack’s Narrows Fun Float | Mapleton River Access |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 5:00 PM |
Mount Union Access Ribbon Cutting
|
Mount Union River Access |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 6:00 PM |
Celebration Grab & Go Dinner Sponsored by Seven Points Marina (served while supplies last)
|
Mount Union Riverside Park West Pavilion |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 6:30 PM | Standing Stone Trail Club guided easy hike: Thousand Steps to Riverside Park, Mapleton | Mapleton Riverside Park Information Tent, shuttle to start |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 6:30 PM | Canoe Themed Paint Night $25 | Inspire Art Studio, 28 W. Shirley St., Mt. Union |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 6:00-7:30 PM | Live Music by Steve Todora | Mapleton Riverside Park Pavilion |
| Friday, June 8, 2018 | 10 PM- 7 AM |
Quiet Hours |
|
|
Saturday, June 9, 2018 |
NATIONAL GET OUTDOORS DAY |
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| Saturday, June 9, 2018 | 8 AM- 5 PM | Camp-In Registration Open | Mapleton Riverside Park Information Tent |
| Saturday, June 9, 2018 | 9 AM- 5 PM | Paddle Sports Expo Open | Mount Union Riverside Park |
|
Saturday, June 9, 2018 Saturday, June 9, 2018 Saturday, June 9, 2018
Saturday, June 9, 2018 |
9 AM- 4 PM 9 AM - Noon 9:30 AM
11a - ? while supplies last
|
Rothrock Outfitters Free Shuttles operating Mount Union Historical Society Talks and Walking Tours Standing Stone Trail Club guided strenuous hike: Rt. 655 to Thousand Steps
Chicken BBQ by the Mapleton Fire Company |
Mount Union Riverside Park Riverside Park Expo Tent Meet 9:30a Thousand Steps parking lot, shuttle to start
Mapleton Riverside Park Pavilion |
|
Saturday, June 9, 2018 Saturday, June 9, 2018 Saturday, June 9, 2018 Saturday, June 9, 2018 |
Noon 1 PM - 7 PM 1:30 PM 2 PM |
Live Music with Derek Heidel Mapleton Community Pool Open September 11th National Memorial Trail Educational Clinic Mainline Canal Greenway Trail Feasibility Study Educational Clinic |
Mapleton Riverside Park Pavilion Mapleton Mount Union Riverside Park Pavilion Mount Union Riverside Park |
|
Saturday, June 9, 2018 Saturday, June 9, 2018 Saturday, June 9, 2018 Saturday, June 9, 2018 |
3 PM 3 PM - 5 PM 6 PM 6:30 PM |
Live Music with Dylan Miller Mapleton Historical Society Open Live Music with Paul Zook Kayak Themed Mandala Art Class $15 |
Mapleton Riverside Park Pavilion Mapleton Historical Society Building Mapleton Riverside Park Pavilion Inspire Art Studio, 28 W. Shirley Street., Mount Union |
|
Saturday, June 9, 2018 Sunday, June 10, 2018 Sunday, June 10, 2018
Sunday, June 10, 2018 |
10 PM- 7 AM 9 AM - 1:30 PM 10 AM
10 AM 11 AM |
Quiet Hours Rothrock Outfitters Free Shuttles operating Standing Stone Trail Club guided moderate hike: Thousand Steps loop Paddlecraft Laws and Regs w/Q&A by US Coast Guard Auxiliary Beginners Paddling Demo w/US Coast Guard Auxiliary |
Mount Union Riverside Park
Park at Thousand Steps trailhead. Meet short distance up the Steps at the kiosk Mount Union Riverside Pavilion Mapleton Pool |
|
Sunday, June 10, 2018 Sunday, June 10, 2018 Sunday, June 10, 2018
|
9 AM- 3 PM 1 PM - 7 PM 1:30 PM |
Paddle Sports Expo Open Mapleton Community Pool Open Invasive Species and Effect on our Ecology Educational Clinic & Walking Tour
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Mount Union Riverside Park Mapleton Mount Union Riverside Park Pavilion |
Media sponsorship:
All attendees and volunteers for the Jack's Narrows River Access 2018 event will receive a free digital subscription to Paddling Magazine