Experience one of Lancaster County’s most remarkable historic sites without the crowds.
Join Uncharted Lancaster founder Adam Zurn for a private kayak adventure to the ancient Safe Harbor petroglyphs. Reserved exclusively for your party of one to four guests, this personalized outing allows you to explore the Susquehanna River at a comfortable pace, spend more time among the carvings, and ask all the questions you want along the way.
This is more than a kayak trip. It is a privately guided journey through thousands of years of Susquehanna history, featuring the petroglyphs of Big Indian Rock and Little Indian Rock, the story of Safe Harbor, the mouth of the Conestoga River, Shenk’s Ferry, local legends, and the forces that transformed this section of the river.
Choose your companions. Choose from available dates. Enjoy the river without being part of a large tour group.
A Private Adventure Built Around You
Unlike a regularly scheduled group tour, this experience is reserved entirely for your party.
There is no need to keep pace with a larger group or wait while ten different kayaks launch from shore. We can move at a comfortable pace, pause for photographs, spend additional time examining the carvings, and focus on the parts of the story that interest you most.
Private adventures are ideal for:
- Couples looking for a memorable outdoor experience
- Friends or family members seeking a unique day on the Susquehanna
- Photographers who want more time at the petroglyph sites
- History enthusiasts interested in a deeper conversation
- Visitors who prefer a quieter and more personal outing
- Anyone who wants to experience the river without joining a large group
No two trips are exactly alike. River conditions, wildlife sightings, questions from guests, and the interests of each party help shape the experience.
Private Tour Pricing
Private adventures are available for parties of one to four guests.
One Guest: $250
Enjoy Adam’s complete attention during a fully private, one-on-one adventure.
Two Guests: $350
An intimate outing designed for a couple, two friends, or a parent and older child.
Three Guests: $475
A private experience for a small group with plenty of time for conversation and exploration.
Four Guests: $600
Bring your own small crew and enjoy the river together without joining a larger public tour.
Prices include the guided experience and all necessary kayaking equipment.
What Is Included
Each private adventure includes:
- A sit-in recreational kayak for every guest
- Paddle
- Properly fitted personal flotation device
- Private guidance from Uncharted Lancaster founder Adam Zurn
- Historical interpretation throughout the outing
- Visits to Big Indian Rock and Little Indian Rock
- Stories connected to Safe Harbor, the lower Susquehanna River, and Lancaster County
- Assistance launching, landing, and navigating the route
- A small-group experience reserved exclusively for your party
Guests are responsible for their own transportation to and from the designated meeting location.
Bringing Your Own Kayak
Guests may use their own kayak and equipment with advance approval.
Personal kayaks must be appropriate for the route and current river conditions. Each guest must also have a properly fitted personal flotation device and paddle.
Guests using their own approved kayak, paddle, and life vest receive a $25 equipment credit per person.
Inflatable kayaks, paddleboards, and other watercraft may not be appropriate for every tour. Please provide information about your equipment when submitting your request.
What You Will Experience
The Safe Harbor petroglyphs are among the most fascinating surviving links to the Indigenous people who lived along the Susquehanna River long before European settlement.
During the outing, you will paddle to Big Indian Rock and Little Indian Rock, where dozens of ancient carvings survive just above the waterline. Depending on river conditions, guests may be able to carefully step onto the rocks for a closer look.
Indigenous people consider these petroglyph sites sacred. As a sign of respect, all participants will be asked to remove their footwear before stepping onto Big Indian Rock or Little Indian Rock. Guests should also avoid touching or stepping directly on the carvings and follow all instructions while visiting the sites.
The carvings include human figures, animals, footprints, geometric designs, and other symbols whose original meanings remain open to interpretation.
Along the way, you will also hear stories about:
- The people who created the petroglyphs
- The Susquehanna River as an ancient transportation corridor
- The lost petroglyph sites submerged by the construction of Safe Harbor Dam
- Early efforts to document and preserve the carvings
- Safe Harbor and the transformation of the surrounding landscape
- The Conestoga River and its connection to regional history
- Local legends associated with the river
- The wildlife, islands, cliffs, and unusual features of this stretch of the Susquehanna
Topics may vary depending on river conditions, weather, available time, and the interests of your party.
About Your Guide
Adam Zurn is the founder of Uncharted Lancaster, a local history and adventure platform dedicated to uncovering Lancaster County’s forgotten stories, hidden places, legends, and historic mysteries.
Through guided tours, treasure hunts, presentations, articles, books, videos, and outdoor adventures, Adam has introduced thousands of people to the region’s past.
His petroglyph kayak tours combine historical research with a genuine love of the Susquehanna River. Rather than simply leading guests from one location to another, Adam brings the surrounding landscape to life through stories of Indigenous history, vanished communities, river engineering, local folklore, and the people who have traveled these waters for thousands of years.
Tour Length and Distance
Most private adventures last approximately three to three and a half hours.
The exact duration may vary depending on:
- The pace of the group
- River and weather conditions
- Time spent at each petroglyph site
- Wildlife sightings
- Questions and discussion
Guests should plan to paddle approximately two to three miles during the outing.
This is not a whitewater trip, but paddlers may encounter wind, waves, boat wakes, current, shallow water, slippery rocks, and changing river conditions.
Experience Level
Previous kayaking experience is strongly recommended but not always required.
Guests should be comfortable:
- Entering and exiting a kayak near shore
- Sitting in a kayak for several hours
- Paddling several miles
- Following safety instructions
- Maintaining control of their kayak in wind, current, and boat wakes
- Walking or standing on uneven and potentially slippery surfaces
Private adventures are best suited for guests who are reasonably active and comfortable around water. Please disclose any mobility concerns, medical conditions, or other circumstances that could affect participation when requesting a tour.
Age Requirements
Private adventures are generally intended for adults and responsible older children or teenagers who can independently control a kayak.
Younger participants may be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on their age, paddling experience, physical ability, and the expected conditions.
A parent or legal guardian must accompany every participant under the age of 18.
River Conditions and Safety
The Susquehanna River is constantly changing. Water levels, dam operations, wind, thunderstorms, heat, and other conditions can affect whether a tour can proceed safely.
The safety of guests comes first. Adam may delay, reroute, reschedule, or cancel an outing if conditions are unsuitable. Guests must follow all instructions provided before and during the outing.
Life vests must be worn whenever required by the guide.
Weather Policy
Private adventures take place outdoors and may proceed during light rain or overcast conditions.
Tours may be rescheduled because of:
- Thunderstorms or lightning
- High winds
- Unsafe heat
- High or rapidly changing water
- Unsafe dam discharge
- Poor visibility
- Hazardous river conditions
- Other conditions judged unsafe by the guide
Weather forecasts can change quickly, so final decisions may not be made until shortly before the scheduled departure.
When Uncharted Lancaster cancels an outing because of unsafe conditions, guests may transfer their payment to another available date or request a refund.
Guest Cancellations
Because each private adventure reserves a limited date and time exclusively for one party, advance notice is required for cancellations or changes. Cancellations made at least seven days before the scheduled tour may be transferred to another available date.
Cancellations made fewer than seven days before the tour may be nonrefundable unless the vacated date can be rebooked.
No-shows and cancellations on the day of the outing are nonrefundable. Exceptions may be considered for emergencies.
What to Bring
Guests should bring:
- Water or a sports drink
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses with a retaining strap
- Hat
- Insect repellent
- Water shoes or secure footwear that can get wet
- Lightweight, weather-appropriate clothing
- A change of clothes and towel for afterward
- Any necessary medication
- A waterproof phone case or dry bag
- Snacks, if desired
Anything brought onto the river may become wet or lost. Guests are responsible for protecting their own phones, cameras, keys, glasses, and personal belongings.
Photography
Guests are welcome to bring phones, waterproof cameras, or other compact photography equipment at their own risk.
A private tour provides more flexibility for photography than a larger public trip. We can often spend additional time near the carvings or pause at scenic locations when conditions allow.
Professional photography equipment, drones, tripods, or large amounts of gear must be discussed in advance.
Meeting Location and Schedule
The exact meeting location and launch time will be provided after the tour is confirmed.
Start times may vary based on:
- River levels
- Dam operations
- Weather
- Daylight
- Seasonal conditions
- The availability of the guide
Please arrive 15 minutes early and ready to paddle. Late arrival may require the tour to be shortened or canceled.
Requesting a Private Adventure
Private tours are offered on a limited basis and are scheduled around river conditions and Adam’s availability. Tour season is from mid-to-late May through late October.
To request an adventure, submit the private tour form with:
- Your name
- Email address
- Number of guests
- Preferred dates
- Previous kayaking experience
Submitting a request does not guarantee a reservation. Your date is confirmed only after availability has been approved and payment has been received.
Request Your Private Petroglyph Adventure
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the petroglyphs always visible?
River levels and dam operations affect the visibility of the carvings. Private tours will only take place when the petroglyphs are visible, so participants are guaranteed the opportunity to see them.
Will we be able to step onto the rocks?
Yes. Participants will be able to step onto Big Indian Rock and Little Indian Rock. Because Indigenous people consider these sites sacred, all guests will be asked to remove their footwear before walking on the rocks.
Do I need kayaking experience?
Previous experience is recommended. Beginners may be accepted when conditions are favorable, but every participant must be capable of independently paddling and controlling a kayak.
Is this a strenuous trip?
The outing requires several hours of paddling and may involve wind, current, waves, heat, and slippery surfaces. Guests should be reasonably active and comfortable on the water.
Can I bring my own kayak?
Yes, with advance approval. The kayak and safety equipment must be appropriate for the route and conditions.
Are tandem kayaks available?
Sorry, no. The standard equipment consists of individual sit-in kayaks.
Can I book a tour for more than four people?
These private adventures are limited to four guests. Larger parties may be better suited for one of the scheduled group tours offered in partnership with KayakLanCo.
Can children participate?
Older children and teenagers may participate when they have the physical ability, maturity, and experience necessary to independently control a kayak. Approval is handled individually.
Can I bring my dog?
Pets are not permitted on private petroglyph tours.
Are alcoholic beverages permitted?
No. Alcohol and recreational drugs are prohibited before and during the tour.
What happens if the weather looks bad?
Conditions will be evaluated as the tour approaches. Unsafe tours will be rescheduled or canceled.
Is there a restroom at the launch?
Yes, there is one nearby.
Is gratuity expected?
Gratuity is never required but is always appreciated when guests feel they received an exceptional experience.
Leave the Crowds Behind
The Safe Harbor petroglyphs are easy to overlook from shore and difficult to fully appreciate without understanding the stories surrounding them.
A private Uncharted Lancaster adventure gives you the opportunity to slow down, explore, ask questions, and experience this remarkable stretch of the Susquehanna with only the people you choose to bring.
Four kayaks. One private party. Thousands of years of history.