WHITEWATER ACCESS
Delaware River at Phillipsburg
Delaware River at Milford (Riegelsville)
Delaware River at Lambertville (Wing Dam)
Delaware River at Scudders
Lehigh River at White Haven
Lehigh River at Rockport
Lehigh River at Glen Onoko
Lehigh River at Jim Thorpe
Lehigh River at Lehighton (Dunbars)
Lehigh River at Marvin Gardens
Lehigh River at Bowmanstown
Lehigh River at Lehigh Gap
Lehigh River at Walnutport
Lehigh River at Treichlers
Lehigh River at Allentown
Lehigh River at Bethlehem
Lehigh River at Route 33
Little Lehigh
Mongaup, put-in
Mongaup, takeout
Lehigh River at White Haven
This is the put-in for the “Upper” half or Section I of the Lehigh River Gorge. Class II and some Class III rapids. Experience and complete whitewater equipment are required. First timers will want to go with someone who knows the river. See American Whitewater write-up here for a detailed description and map of this section. The next access point is Rockport, about 9 miles downriver.
When you get to the White Haven put-in, look for the dirt road at the back end of the White Haven Market strip mall parking lot. Pass the bike rental shop and continue to the river access parking lot. You will carry your boat and gear down the access road on the left to the river, right underneath the I-80 bridge. Site has porta potties, no other conveniences.
Lehigh River at Rockport
This is the put-in for the “Lower” or Section II of the Lehigh River Gorge. Class II and Class III rapids. Experience and complete whitewater equipment are required. First timers will want to go with someone who knows the river. See American Whitewater write-up here for a detailed description maps of this section. The next access point is Glen Onoko, about 12.5 miles downriver.
Park in the paved lot at the end of the access road if there is space. If not, park in one of the overflow areas — on the grass to the left of the road before you reach the paved lot. You can drive down the steep road from the lot to the river to drop off your boat. Rangers are usually on duty directing traffic. Access to the river itself is by a steep staircase from the lower lot to the water. There are rudimentary bathrooms on the site.
Lehigh River at Glen Onoko
This is a popular put-in for easier and shorter runs on the Lehigh. Known as Section III of the Lehigh Gorge, there are Class I Class II rapids and numerous places to take out. Experience and complete whitewater equipment are required. First timers will want to go with someone who knows the river. See American Whitewater write-up here for a description of this section to Bowmanstown.
When you get to the access area, cross the bridge and follow the one-way signs to the kayak put-in area, just past the rest rooms and down a drive to the left. Unload your gear and then drive the car back up the hill to the nearest available parking spot. The lower lot is for buses only. Rudimentary bathrooms on site.
Lehigh River at Jim Thorpe
This a popular place to start an easy paddle with multiple take-out options to make a short or longer trip. Class I and II rapids with numerous slow stretches.
In Jim Thorpe enter the large municipal parking lot just north of the railroad station and across the railroad tracks. There is a wide path down to the river toward the north end of the lot – a left turn from the lot entrance. Whitewater equipment is required for club trips. There are no facilities at the launch site, but there are public restrooms in the train station.
Lehigh River at Lehighton (Dunbars)
Dunbars is a handy place to end a trip from Glen Onoko or Jim Thorpe. Downstream from here the going is slow and easy. Dunbars itself is a good place to play and practice technique where the river runs between a pair of bridge pilings next to the parking area.
Follow the Google map directions to Dunbars bottling in Lehighton. Slowly follow the road that runs in front of Dunbars into the woods. It’s rutted and sometimes has a lot of standing water on it. The parking area is all river stone. At peak flows, the lot will flood.
Lehigh River at Marvin Gardens
We use this spot for playtime and training. There’s a mix of deeper, slow moving water just below some mild rapids good for basic whitewater skills work. If you’re coming across the bridge from Route 145 at Bowmanstown, you’ll see a small park on the right. Make a hard right just after the park and you can drive down to a gravel launch area by the water. There’s a parking lot in the park. No facilities here, but if you paddle downstream to the Bowmanstown launch, about three-quarters of a mile, there are bathrooms there. The paddle back up against the current builds character.
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