Lance Martin pioneered rafting on the east coast by leading boy scout trips down the Youghiogheny in the late 50's. By 1964 that had transpired into Wilderness Voyageurs and that entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive.





 

Pioneered by Wilderness Voyageurs:
1959 Whitewater Rafting & Scout Programs- The first whitewater rafting company on the Youghiogheny and on the east coast, started by leading Scouts down the river.
1969 Climbing School.
1970 Safety Standards - When Ohiopyle State Park developed the guidelines for commercial rafting, it was our internal policies & procedures that became the standard for all outfitters.
1975 River Trip Photos.
1976 Kayak School.
1986 Rental Bikes on the Yough River Trail.
1988 Mountain Bike Instruction.
1993 Historical Float Trips.
1995 Deluxe Trips.
1996 Overnight Trips on the Yough.
 1998 Helmets - The first company to make them required on all Lower Yough trips.
 1999 Pittsburgh to DC Bike Tours.
2000 Falls City Pub opens - the first full service restaurant in 30 years.
2000 Digital Photography for river trips.
2002 Turned Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitter Store into a year round shop, bringing winter life to Ohiopyle!
2003 Opened Rapid Java - the first Gourmet Coffee & Espresso service in Ohiopyle.
2004 First private bathhouse facility for guests
2005 First hot spot in Ohiopyle

And more to come.........

What we believe….Sustainability and stewardship are core values of the activities we offer and the way in which we operate our organization. We see a unique and precious opportunity to reach the general public in all that we do. The potential to create a genuine and lasting connection with the natural world is paramount while participating in outdoor activities. The realization of this potential means the creation of advocates and stewards for the next generation. 

What have we done to back this up? We’re glad you asked . . . .

Alternative Fuel Sources
All of the used grease from our very own Falls City Pub, as well as the used grease from many other restaurants in the area, is converted into biodiesel. We then use the biodiesel to fuel our shuttle vehicles and heat our buildings in the wintertime. For more information, check out www.biodiesel.org and to see the folks of Ohiopyle making and using biodiesel, go to www.immersionresearch.com.

Recycling
> 100% of the cardboard from our retail and restaurant operations is recycled.
> All office paper is recycled along with glass and plastic bottles from the store and office. >Trillium Lodge recycles all paper, glass, aluminum & plastic products used by the guests. > >All cleaning products used are environmentally friendly. Recycled paper products are used as well
> All old office computers and monitors are recycled
> Compact Flourescent's light our store and our restaurant instead of traditional flood lights.
> We recycle old flourecent lights because of the mercury content.
> We encourange use of resuable bags when shopping, instead of plastic.
> When shipping orders for the store, we reuse boxes.
> Falls City Pub & Rapid Java use corn based biodegradeable plastics

Did you know that nearly 10 percent of U.S. oil consumption – approximately 2 million barrels a day – is used to make non-biodegradable plastic. U.S. manufactures 100 billion pounds of plastics a year, non-biodegradable.

Smart building
When building our retail store, we insisted upon the use of as much local material as possible. The 5000 square-foot building was sided with white pine that was harvested, milled and pressure treated within 20 miles of our location. The structural glue lams and para-lams that are the backbone of the building were manufactured in West Virginia. Tankless water heaters and huge windows that admit natural light reduce energy use and round out our sweet structure.

Removal of Invasive Plants
Join us in May 2007 as we endeavor to remove Japanese Knotweed, as invasive plant species, from the middle section of the Youghiogheny River.

Responsible Vendors
The staff of Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitter Store has a deep and lasting commitment to doing business with manufacturers that produce environmentally friendly products at fair wages. While very few manufacturers meet these criteria, we remember that Rome was not built in a day, and so we put our full weight and support behind those manufacturers who are clearly moving in the right direction. Our featured vendors include Keen, Mion, Immersion Research, Astral Bouyancy,Sigg, Prana & Smartwool, Frankferd Farms and begining in 2008 the local Friendship Farms.

Rapid Java serves only Triple Certified Organic, Fair Trade, Shade Grown Coffee

Causes we support
ADA (American Diabetes Association)
JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
Adopt a Highway
Three Rivers Paddling Club
Friends of the Cheat
Friends of Ohiopyle
Charity given regularly to local schools and groups
NPR
Mountain Water Shed & The Yough River Keepers
Leave no Trace

Experience:
The company was the first to run commercial trips on the Youghiogheny and continues today with more miles and experience than anyone else.
Staff:
The special people responsible for ensuring that your vacation is a memorable and safe experience. Our river staff maintain certifications and training that is trice the state minimum. Every guide undergoes an intensive 3 month training course and then must complete 20 trips before being allowed to guide.
Diversity:
Wilderness Voyageurs offers a variety of trips other than just whitewater rafting. We have
kayaking,climbing, mountain biking, 5 day Pittsburgh to DC Bike Tour, a unique Historical float trip and overnight camping excursions just to name a few. Falls City Restaurant & Pub, Trillium Lodge & Rapid Java help make your adventure in Ohiopyle complete.
Detail:
Attention to detail is a must and found throughout our trips.  Foot stirrups, radio contact with all trips,custom meal options, staff naturalist, and more!
Safety:
When Ohiopyle State Park developed the guidelines for commercial rafting, it was our internal policies & procedures that became the standard for all outfitters.   Continuing our leadership role, in 1998 we made helmets standard equipment on Lower Yough Trips.

 

Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitters in the Laurel Highlands of SW PA
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