Two Kayak Rental Venues, One 46-Year Model—Serving Somerset and Perryopolis

Lake Kayaking at Somerset and River Trips Near Perryopolis: What Each Location Offers

If you need kayak rental near Somerset, Pennsylvania, Hazelbaker Recreational Services operates two distinctly different venues—and choosing between them comes down to the kind of water you want to paddle. The lake location at Laurel Hill State Park runs as an open daily concession from the week before Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10am to 5pm, seven days a week. No reservation required: you show up, pay in full, sign your liability waiver, and get on flat water the same day. Families with younger paddlers or anyone who prefers calm lake conditions over moving river water typically find this format the easier entry point.

The river location near Perryopolis operates on a scheduled upstream-drop model tied to the Youghiogheny's current—a fundamentally different experience where the river does the directional work and you paddle yourself back downstream from a fixed put-in. Both venues follow the same core approach the business has used for 46 years: liability form, self-guided paddling, full payment at booking. The visible outcome at either location is the same—you're on the water independently, without a guide beside you dictating the pace.

How the Somerset Lake Location Works Day-to-Day

At the Laurel Hill State Park concession, the first-come, first-served model means the day stays flexible. Groups that don't want to commit to a reservation window weeks out can drive to Somerset, confirm availability at the dock, and be paddling within minutes of arrival. The 10am to 5pm window covers a full afternoon on the water, and the state park setting means restrooms, trails, and picnic areas are adjacent—making it a natural anchor for a full-day family outing rather than just a rental stop.

Kayak rental through this location also benefits from the operational continuity behind it: 211 Google reviews across both venues, 5,400 Facebook followers, and a concession license at the state park reflect the kind of repeat-use reputation that comes from running the same consistent model for decades. When groups return summer after summer—and about 80% do—it's often because the logistics are genuinely simple: arrive, pay, paddle, leave.

Planning a kayak rental day near Somerset or Laurel Hill State Park? Learn More about both locations and which one fits your group's paddling preference.

What to Know Before You Choose Between the Lake and River Locations

The choice between flat-water lake kayaking near Somerset and moving-water river trips near Perryopolis comes down to logistics, experience level, and what your group wants out of a day on the water. Here's what matters when comparing the two venues:

  • The Somerset lake location is first-come, first-served with no reservation—ideal for spontaneous outings or groups who want flexibility on arrival time
  • River trips near Perryopolis run on fixed departure times (weekdays 9am, 11am, noon; weekends 8am, 9am, 11am, noon), so arrival timing is more critical
  • Lake paddling at Laurel Hill State Park suits flat-water beginners; the Youghiogheny river run is a downstream current trip that covers meaningful distance with no upstream return
  • Both locations require a signed liability form and full payment before launching—returning customers at the river location skip the re-sign
  • The lake concession season runs from the week before Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10am to 5pm daily, while river trip scheduling may vary—confirming availability in advance avoids a wasted drive

If you're deciding between kayak rental options in Somerset or the Perryopolis area and want to confirm what's available for your date and group size, reach out before you head out. Contact Us to get current availability at either location.