Safe Harbor Petroglyph Tours
Join Paul Nevin for an unforgettable experience as he guides you through the spectacular Safe Harbor Petroglyphs!
Paul has been, visiting, experiencing, researching, and educating for more than 40 years and is acknowledged as
the leading authority on the rock art
of the lower Susquehanna River.
About the Safe Harbor Petroglyphs
The Safe Harbor Petroglyphs, located on the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County, PA, are part of what is likely the largest concentration of ancient American Indian rock art sites in the eastern United States. Unfortunately, most of the sites are now hidden under water impounded by hydroelectric power plants. Even with the loss of those sites, the petroglyphs at Safe Harbor still constitute the most outstanding example of Native American rock art in the northeast United States that is accessible to the public. However, they are not easily accessible. The petroglyphs are carved on rocks that can only be reached by kayaks, canoes, or small boats. Among hundreds of bedrock exposures, seven can be found that contain, in total, more than 400 petroglyphs – if you know where to look.
The act of creating petroglyphs was a sacred practice. Creating them demanded a significant investment of time and energy. And to carve capriciously on the bosom of Mother Earth would be to desecrate her. Petroglyphs are not prehistoric graffiti. They are messages left by the Ancestors to be “read” by those who would come in the future.
Tour Information
First off, calling this a tour is a little bit misleading. It’s more of an adventure, an expedition, an experience. Safe Harbor is a special place. It’s also a spiritual place. Rock art sites are sacred to Native peoples. Experiences range from awe inspiring to life-changing.
My regular "tour season" runs from mid-May through late October, however, tours can be arranged other times of the year if conditions allow. Obviously, weather and river conditions dictate when the rocks can be visited.
A limited number of tours are available for 2024, so book a specific date now or purchase a Tour Certificate now to reserve a tour, and set the date later. (Tour Certificates are refundable if you change your mind.)
If you're flexible date-wise, you can book for within a block of days and as the time approaches, we can look for the best day within the block.
The river is generally more reliable in July, August, and mid-September on. Best viewing is in September and October because of clearer skies and lower angle of the sunlight. Some September and October mornings can be foggy. Afternoon thunderstorms can crop up during late June, July, and August. At all times, early morning and late afternoons provide the best light. There are techniques that I use on mid-day visits and overcast days for better viewing.
Departure points are located about a 1/2 hour drive from the towns of Columbia and Wrightsville PA, with lodging and numerous attractions nearby.
Booking a tour
Email me at paulnevin@aol.com with your request.
Please include: Type of Tour (Boat, Kayak, or Group Guide), Date, Time, and Number of Participants)
I will reply with availability, payment, and logistics information.
or
Secure a tour now and schedule it later.
A limited number of tours are available for 2024. By securing a tour now,
you can be assured that you'll be visiting the Safe Harbor Petroglyphs this season!
Go to the "Purchase" page
Boat Expeditions
These personalized tours are tailored specifically to you, with up to four hours allowed for the experience that suits your interests. You are transported from the departure point to the sites via a “classic” 1963 Seacrest motorboat. This small, 13-foot (13’-9” for the superstitious!) boat is necessary to safely navigate among the many barely submerged rocks on this part of the Susquehanna River. Consequently, there is a strict 4-passenger maximum and 525-pound total weight limit. Cost for this unforgettable experience is $100 per adult, $50 for ages 6 to 16
Kayak or Canoe Expeditions
As with the expeditions by boat, these personalized tours are tailored specifically to you, with up to four hours allowed for the experience that suits your interests. For these expeditions, you must supply your own kayaks or canoes. Up to 9 vessels can participate.* Cost for this unforgettable experience is $100 per adult, $50 for ages 12 to 16. *(Larger groups can be accommodated, but a lead-time of 3 weeks is required to obtain a special permit.)
Group Expeditions
Expeditions are also available for organized groups. For these expeditions, you must supply your own kayaks or canoes. Up to 9 vessels can participate.* Cost varies. Please call or email to make arrangements. *(Larger groups can be accommodated, but a lead-time of 3 weeks is required to obtain a special permit.)
For people of Native American ancestry who wish to visit these sacred sites, special considerations and accommodations are available. Please email your request.
What to expect
- The petroglyphs at Safe Harbor are unlike those in the American Southwest. There, images are scratched through a thin, dark, desert varnish exposing the lighter stone underneath. Here images are laboriously pecked using a river cobble as a hammer and a hard stone such as quartz as a chisel. The surface itself is extremely hard. These exposed rocks are the survivors of hundreds of thousands of years of erosion of the river’s bedrock by forces of water, tremendous floods, ice flows, and water and ice-born debris – everything from rocks to trees.
- Six rock art sites can be visited along a half-mile stretch of the Susquehanna River. Most spectacular are Little Indian Rock, with more than 150 petroglyphs carved into its surface, and Big Indian Rock, with dozens of petroglyphs in an amazing setting.
Note
- Visiting the petroglyphs requires you to climb onto the rocks. You will be asked to remove shoes when you are near the petroglyphs.
- There is no shade or shelter on the petroglyph rocks. Surfaces can be hot. Bring water and adequate protection from the elements.
Email, call, or text to schedule a tour or request more information
paulnevin@aol.com 717.578.1358