Outfitting the PA Wilds: Allegheny Outfitters
- by Britt Madera
- June 29, 2023
- Share:
Part of the Outfitting the PA Wilds series
Moving back home to rural Pennsylvania and starting a seasonal, weather-dependent small business… it’s not for the faint of heart. However, Piper VanOrd moved home from Alaska in 2006 to begin her journey with Allegheny Outfitters, a family owned and operated outdoors store and outfitter in the Allegheny National Forest and Surrounds region of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
This nature-based, veteran-owned company based in Warren, PA, started as a livery service, renting kayaks and canoes to tourists. However, a move made a few years ago has turned AO into a one-stop outdoor shopping outlet where you can buy a new kayak and buy or rent outdoor goods, or book guided and unguided backpacking, fishing, and paddling trips lasting anywhere from just a few hours to several days. They also offer unique souvenirs for those who are visiting or want to commemorate their adventure.
Below: Find Your Outside Voice video from Allegheny Outfitters
In 2019, the Allegheny National Forest & Surrounds company moved and expanded operations from a small storefront canoe, kayak and backpacking shop on one end of Warren and a livery side of operations on the other side of town, into one big building right on the banks of the Allegheny River downtown.
AO’s new Clark Street facility, which formerly housed the Loranger Company’s manufacturing factory, more than doubles its previous floor space.
Piper, the owner and creative director of AO, is Leave No Trace Master Educator certified from the National Outdoor Leadership School and ACA Level II Kayak Instructor certified. She is co-author of the Allegheny River Paddling Guide, and published On the river and down the trail…, a collection of 100 photos adventuring in the Pennsylvania Wilds. She is also one of the founding members of the annual Allegheny River Clean-up.
However, Piper doesn’t do it alone. She credits AO’s success to her core crew of four: Sue, Aaron, Chris, and Letti. In addition to wearing multiple hats during the daily operations, these team members bring new ideas to the table at AO’s winter strategic planning sessions, and spend as much of their off-time rallying around the river and trails to learn more. AO’s summer staff, Piper says, is nothing short of amazing. They help make adventures possible for those exploring the Allegheny River and help accomplish AO’s massive goals, both physically and logistically.
While Allegheny Outfitters offers both used and new equipment for sale in their outdoors shop, the draw for many PA Wilds travelers is that AO can provide kayak/canoe rentals as well as transportation to drop you off and pick you up before or after your paddling journey. There are options for adventurers of all skill levels. Travelers can book a day-trip rental or even overnight journeys (their shortest of which is 14 miles from AO to Wildwood and their longest of which is 107 miles from Kinzua Dam to Emlenton).
Allegheny Outfitters is a Field Guide member in the Experience Makers category of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. Learn more about Allegheny Outfitters and leave them a review or recommendation on their WCO profile.
Below: Paddle Happy video from Allegheny Outfitters
About the Outfitting the PA Wilds series:
Each Thursday, the PA Wilds Are Calling blog will spotlight an outfitter that is owned and operated within the PA Wilds, helping you explore in a safe yet unforgettable way. The beauty of the PA Wilds is evident in its vast spaces of public lands and scenic waterways. With all of that open space, it’s easy to find an outdoor experience to enjoy! We’re fortunate that the PA Wilds not only has a wealth of outdoor experiences, but also bountiful outfitter businesses that can help you make the most of your adventures.
