Upper Yough Expeditions -Upper Yough Gorge - Technical Class 4

Dan at Bastard Falls

Class 4 - 5 • 10.5 miles • Fri/Sat/Mon

The Youghiogheny River springs from the 3,000 - foot ridges of the Allegheny Plateau in Western Maryland. For 11 miles, the upper section of this pristine river offers a true wilderness experience as it cascades through a lush hemlock forest teeming with wildflowers and wildlife. This is the legendary Upper Yough... pronounced "Yock."

After you enjoy the scenery in the deceptively calm entrance pool, you'll soon find the river's main attraction.. whitewater, and plenty of it! Even the Class III rapids we warm up on will get your attention. Soon, You're careening through the tightest of slots in boulder-piles like Split Decision and the Fat Man's Squeeze.

As we run these increasingly difficult rapids, our expert guides will develop a strong sense of teamwork among our crew members before we enter the Class V rapids at Bastard Falls.

In the majestic Upper Yough Gorge, the river commands your attention. Precise cooperation is needed to skillfully navigate the many blind chutes and ledge drops. For 7 miles, the river is virtually one rapid! The Upper Yough drops an average of 116 feet per mile, creating the most continuous stretch of technical Class V whitewater in the east. This river trip is an "energizing" paddling experience.. guaranteed to please the most avid whitewater enthusiast.

The Upper Yough Facts

With its drop of 116 feet per mile, the Upper Yough is one of the steepest commercially rafted rivers in the country! The "heart" of the Upper Yough is something very special.. virtually one continuous Class V rapid! There's simply nothing else like it anywhere! To get through this stretch, you must skillfully paddle over 20 Class IV and V rapids, including such famous monsters as "Bastard," "Meat Cleavers," "Triple Drop," and " National Falls." This 11- mile trip is one of the world's finest. If you've rafted before and want to climb to the top of the rafting ladder, the Upper Yough is an absolute must. Space is limited so "don't miss the boat!"

Steep Gradient + High Water = Awesome Excitement!

The best way to figure out what kind of river trip you are getting is to chick the gradient.. how many feet per mile does the river drop? A low gradient makes for a long pool / small drop river. Most commercial rafting trips are on low to medium gradient stream that are very forgiving. However, we specialize in Class V river expeditions on steep mountain rivers. At an astonishing 116 foot-per-mile drop , the Upper Yough is a Class V + river, even at low water flows because of its steep gradient. If you are an experienced whitewater rafter looking for the ultimate river trip, make your reservation now!