About Hazelbaker Recreational Services in Perryopolis, PA

Nearly 50 Years of Canoe and Kayak Rentals Serving Western Pennsylvania

Hazelbaker Recreational Services is a canoe and kayak rental operation serving Perryopolis, PA and the surrounding region, with nearly 50 years of continuous operation behind it. The current owner has run the business for 26 years, building on a foundation that has made it one of the most established paddling outfitters in western Pennsylvania.

The business operates two separate locations roughly an hour apart—a river operation and a lake operation—each with its own schedule and character. That structure lets paddlers choose the experience that fits them: moving water on the river or open water on the lake.

At the core of what Hazelbaker offers is the independent trip model. You sign a waiver, get transported upstream, and paddle your own way back. There's no guide dictating your pace or your stops. You're on the water on your own terms, which is exactly the point.

Connect with us to learn more about river and lake rental options, or to start planning your outing.

A Focused, Seasonal Operation Built Around the Paddling Experience

River trips make up the overwhelming majority of what Hazelbaker does, and that focus is intentional. Rather than expanding year-round or diversifying into unrelated services, the operation stays true to what it does well: getting people on the water and giving them the freedom to navigate at their own pace.

Western Pennsylvania's river corridors and inland lakes offer genuinely different paddling environments depending on the season and conditions. Hazelbaker's two-location structure means you have access to both without having to find a second outfitter.

The river location operates Thursday through Monday with trip times at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon. The lake location is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both operate on a seasonal schedule, which keeps the experience grounded in the natural rhythm of paddling season rather than stretched thin across months when conditions don't support it.

Group bookings—including youth organizations like Boy Scout troops and school groups—are a regular part of the season. Groups planning summer outings typically book as early as February or March. Printable PDF forms are available for groups coordinating offline bookings, and digital liability forms are integrated directly into the reservation process for individual reservations.