The Explore’s Guide to the Youghiogheny River Gorge/ Ohiopyle and S.W. Pennsylvania’s Villages

by Marci McGuinness

   Are you one of the two million annual visitors to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania who hike the Ferncliff Peninsula, bike the Yough River trail, and paddle the Youghiogheny’s white water rapids?  Have you been longing to tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, but need some background on its history? Would you like to rent a raft and brave the Lower Yough on your own?

  Ohiopyle author, Marci McGuinness, has published The Explorer’s Guide to Ohiopyle and the Youghiogheny River Region for that adventurer in you! The 240 page travel guide includes in depth chapters on the histories of Ohiopyle, Ohiopyle State Park, Fallingwater, and the Youghiogheny River Dam. She interviewed legendary river guides to bring you detailed instructions on how to paddle the white water rapids in both low and high water conditions. These chapters include Rapid-by-Rapid Photo Maps, aerial photographs of each rapid, white water safety and preparedness tips, and universal river signals.

   Town chapters offer you business listings, descriptions, and locater maps so that you can find your way around the mountains. Over one hundred photographs include vintage depictions of Ohiopyle, Fallingwater, Confluence, Addison, Farmington, and Mill Run.      Ferncliff Peninsula’s eighty seven unusual plants are listed with graphics so that you can pick them out while you walk the one hundred acre botanical wonder. Letters written between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar Kaufmann, Sr. take you into the inner world of the actual construction of one of the world’s most visited architectural phenomena’s.

   The Explorer’s Guide to Ohiopyle and the Youghiogheny River Region is McGuinness’ sixteenth book. Her Yesteryear series brought her not only local fame, but prompted the organization of the Yesteryear Museum. This guide has become THE Ohiopyle traveler’s bible. “It is about time this world class destination got the international attention it deserves. The Explorer’s Guide is great-a much needed service to the entire Youghiogheny Region, outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike,”  says Eric Martin, President of Wilderness Voyageurs.