faq

……River Tubin’

How old do you need to be to tube?  Children need to be at least 5 years old to tube. We require a 1:1 child to adult ratio for safety. Please do not come by yourself with eight 5-year-olds. You will be turned away. Do not bring your newborn baby so you can get pics for Instagram on the river (yes we’ve seen it) you will be turned away and likely scolded by our staff.

Do we need lifejackets?  Children 12 and under are required to wear a lifejacket per Pennsylvania state law. You can bring your own or we rent them for $5 (this fee is not a profit center, it’s for wear and tear replacement). If you do not know how to swim, you should not be on or near water, river tubin’ is not for you. This is not a theme park, it is a natural waterway. We always recommend a life jacket. The water gets very deep at different parts of the river and swifter sections of the river can disorient even the strongest swimmers. 

Do you know the water temperature?  + or – 1 degree above refreshing. 

What can we bring in our coolers?  We do not look at what is inside your cooler. We just ask that you be responsible and bring ALL trash back with you and absolutely NO STYROFOAM or GLASS BOTTLES. 

Do we need reservations?  River Tubin’ doesn’t require any reservations. If you’d like to save some dough, book online to save around 10-20%, Depending on the day and time of year. We reserve the right to close up shop as needed for operational concerns, please call ahead if coming from a long distance away. If a time-slot displays open online, then we’ll be open. 

Where is the drop off?  When the water is high enough, we drop off at Greenhouse Park. When it is lower, we get in at our shop in Ferndale (where you check-in). Check the water level that is listed on the Homepage or the River Tubin’ page. 

Where do we go to check in?  Come to our location at 100 Station Street Johnstown, PA 15905.

When do your shuttles leave?  Our shuttles depart at the shuttle time that you booked online. Please arrive 15-30 minutes prior to check-in. Our shuttles typically last 3-5 minutes each way, if the shuttle departs, DO NOT FRET, it will return and we will get you on the river as quickly as possible.

How deep is the water?  When we talk about the level of water, it is just where the gauge is located. The river will get as shallow as a few inches, and as deep as 12 feet in a couple of pools. Always were proper footwear, never put your feet down in moving water, and be as mindful as you can when maneuvering around the river environment. Slips and falls can and do occur, be careful out there!

What should we wear?  Swimwear always works and we highly recommend having footwear that stays on your feet. Sandals are not a good idea, unless you want to donate them to the river. It is called the Stonycreek for a reason and without proper footwear it will be very difficult to walk in the river getting in and getting out. Ouch!

Can we tie our tubes together?  Yes! but with some caveats. When the water level is high enough, it is ok to clip together up to 4 tubes, plus a cooler tube MAX, together. Otherwise the floatilla becomes too difficult to maneuver and can be dangerous. At lower levels we recommend only connecting children to an adults tube. Too many tied together at lower water levels can make for a long day as someone is always getting “stuck”. Trust us on this one, we’re professionally lazy tubers, only tie together up to 4 plus a cooler (does not count for children). Be prepared to unclip as needed for increased maneuverability. Do not bring your own tie straps. Our straps or twine provided free of charge are designed to break before the handles of the tubes rip apart from the tube. Tube replacement costs are upwards of $60, no one wants to pay that.   

What happens if it rains or thunderstorms while we are on the river?  Rain is ok, lightning is not. Float to the next bridge and wait out the storm or for a Coal Tubin’ employee to come and give you instructions. We keep an eye on the weather and do our best to keep customers safe or warn them about incoming weather. We can’t be 100% accurate on our weather predictions but we do our best! Keep your head about you and you’ll be just fine in stormy circumstances.

What if we miss the takeout?  Stay with your tube! (Ideally on it!) Tubers tend to see our takeout beach and jump out of their tube to get over to it as they are floating by, stay in your tube and PADDLE over, jumping out into deep water just makes it harder to get over, trust us! Try to get to the shore and wait for instructions from a Coal Tubin’ employee about where to put your tube and where to walk to for the shuttle back to our shop.    

What if my tube floats away?  We charge $60 for a lost or stolen tube. Make every effort to hold on to your tube.