Outfitting the PA Wilds: Pine Creek Outfitters
- by Britt Madera
- August 3, 2023
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Part of the Outfitting the PA Wilds series
More than just rentals, Pine Creek Outfitters offers local knowledge, equipment and experience while exploring the Pine Creek Valley and the PA Grand Canyon landscape of the PA Wilds.
Looking to enjoy a safe and memorable trip? Whether you’re going rafting, hiking or biking, the professional team at Pine Creek Outfitters can help. With rentals and advice for everything from a leisurely bike ride on the beautiful Pine Creek Rail Trail or a group of friends going river rafting, Pine Creek Outfitters is able to provide what you need.
No matter what kind of outdoor recreation you enjoy, Pine Creek Outfitters is enjoyed by all types of outdoor recreation enthusiasts: hikers, backpackers, bicyclists, boaters and cultural explorers.
Pine Creek Outfitters is one of the oldest family-owned and operated outdoor businesses in North Central Pennsylvania, with almost four decades of experience. Chuck and Susan Dillon began Pine Creek Outfitters in January 1984. In 2011, ownership was transferred to their son, Jon, who managed and operated it until his untimely death in March 2021. Since that time his wife, Amanda, and his children, Eliana and Lylah, have continued its operation.
How does an outdoor rec business stay relevant for nearly four decades? Pine Creek Outfitters focuses on fair prices, customer service, and being responsive for each client’s needs.
Pine Creek Outfitters also was closely involved in the designation of Pine Creek as part of the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers System. They helped write its management plan and helped with its designation of the section of Pine Creek from Galeton to Ansonia as a Class A Waterway. Throughout the years, Pine Creek Outfitters has been active in its township government, local and regional business organizations, formation of the North Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, conducting an annual river cleanup, promoting river safety, and various environmental initiatives.
What can you rent at Pine Creek Outfitters? You can find a wide selection of high-quality bikes, e-bikes, kids or tag-along trailers for bikes, kayaks, canoes, rafts and tubes.
A shuttle service is also available for a cost to take you to or from your adventures!
However, Pine Creek Outfitters knows that an outfitting business is much more than just rentals. Although renting out equipment is a big part of what they do, they also make sure that each customer has the knowledgeable advice needed to have a great trip. The folks at Pine Creek Outfitters offer personalized maps of the river, trail guides for major backpacking trails, and books.
For those looking for a more in-depth experience, either for beginners or personalized to your skill level, Pine Creek Outfitters offers guided adventures. The Upper Pine Guided Kayaking experience meanders the mild, scenic section of Pine Creek that flows West to East towards the North end of the Canyon. The Canyon Rafting adventure accompanies you either in your raft or alongside you in a separate boat for 17 miles to aid you in navigating the rapids and to share the history of how the Canyon became what it is today. The Canyon Day Hiking adventure is a 3-mile, 2.5 hour hike over fairly level terrain and features numerous vistas and a variety of forest types, scenery, and an eclectic blend of knowledge about the Canyon, its natural environments, local history and folklore.
Since 1984, no other company has guided more trips on Pine Creek. Pine Creek Outfitters has decades of experience providing equipment and services for the boaters, hikers, backpackers, and bicyclists in the Pine Creek Valley region.
They are located conveniently on Route 6 at the entrance to the PA Grand Canyon, making it easy to center your trip by starting at Pine Creek Outfitters. They offer on-site access to Pine Creek and are only 1 mile from the bike trail and nearby hiking trails. Pine Creek Outfitters provides free parking, toilet facilities, heated changerooms, beverages, snacks, t-shirts, river gear, camping supplies, firewood, water and recycling.
In addition to being an experienced outfitter, Pine Creek Outfitters “walks the walk” when it comes to caring for and appreciating the natural world. They offer low-impact outdoor programs and also have free on-site trash disposal and recycling. The employees volunteer actively in community activities, donate time and money and services to organizations that benefit PA Wilds residents, and buy locally made products.
Pine Creek Outfitters is a Field Guide member in the Experience Makers category of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. Learn more about Pine Creek Outfitters and leave them a review or recommendation on their WCO profile.
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.
