Lehigh Gorge State Park

Lehigh Gorge State Park protects a spectacular 26-mile stretch of the Lehigh River canyon as it cuts through the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania — a rugged, forested gorge with canyon walls rising up to 1,000 feet above the river, accessible by one of the most popular multi-use trails in the state. The Lehigh River surges through the gorge in whitewater rapids, its power amplified by releases from the Francis E. Walter Dam upstream.

The celebrated Lehigh Gorge Trail, a converted rail bed, runs the length of the gorge from White Haven to Jim Thorpe, offering bikers, hikers and runners an iconic route through the canyon with the river always nearby, forested walls towering above. Jim Thorpe — a charming Victorian railroad town — anchors the southern end of the gorge and serves as a gateway for whitewater rafting adventures. A dramatic river canyon, a premier trail and a historic railroad town combined, Lehigh Gorge is a treasured natural icon of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Gorge State Park is famous for whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Lehigh River (dam-release whitewater, with outfitters based in Jim Thorpe offering trips of varying difficulty), biking and hiking the Lehigh Gorge Trail through the 26-mile canyon (one of the most scenic rail-trail experiences in Pennsylvania), and trail running. The charming Victorian town of Jim Thorpe at the southern end of the gorge adds hiking (the Glen Onoko Falls trail), climbing, mountain biking and a historic-town atmosphere. Rafting the dam-release whitewater, biking the gorge trail and exploring Jim Thorpe are the signature draws. The combination of whitewater, a premier canyon trail and a historic railroad town makes Lehigh Gorge a destination of rare depth.

Spring and summer are peak whitewater seasons, when dam releases send the Lehigh surging through the gorge, and summer is the main season for biking and rafting. Fall brings spectacular foliage cloaking the canyon walls — biking the gorge trail in October, with the colored walls towering above and the river below, is a quintessential Pennsylvania fall experience — and the whitewater continues as long as releases occur. The fall foliage and the dam-release whitewater are the highlights. Check the dam-release schedule for rafting; come in October for the foliage; and bike the gorge trail in any season except icy winter.

The Lehigh River gorge was shaped by the industrial history of Pennsylvania. In the 19th century, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company built the Lehigh Canal through the gorge to carry anthracite coal from the Poconos to markets, followed by the railroads that ultimately replaced the canal. The town at the gorge’s foot was renamed Jim Thorpe in 1954, honoring the legendary Native American athlete who has no direct connection to the town but whose reburial there gave it a new identity. The rail bed through the gorge, abandoned as rail traffic ended, was converted into the Lehigh Gorge Trail. The Francis E. Walter Dam (1961) upstream controls the river. The gorge preserves layers of industrial, railroad and outdoor-recreation history unique in Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Gorge was carved by the Lehigh River cutting through the hard sandstone and conglomerate ridges of the Pocono Plateau — part of the Allegheny Plateau’s southeastern edge — over millions of years, wearing a deep, steep-walled canyon through the resistant rock. The canyon walls reflect the layered, erosion-resistant sedimentary rock, while the river’s energy in the gorge (amplified by dam releases) continues to shape the channel. The Ice Age glaciers blocked and redirected drainage in the Pocono uplands above, adding to the complex hydrological history of the gorge. The hard, layered plateau rock and the patient, powerful river carved this dramatic 26-mile canyon through the Poconos.

Lehigh Gorge’s forested canyon hosts white-tailed deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and a rich birdlife including bald eagles and ospreys along the river, the warblers and songbirds of the canyon forest, and migrating raptors on the ridge in autumn. The Lehigh River holds wild trout and other fish in its cold, clean water. The tall, steep canyon walls and the undisturbed gorge forest provide habitat for wildlife across a full range of elevations. Wildlife watching from the trail — especially the bald eagles and ospreys along the river — is a reward of hiking or biking the gorge, and the fall raptor migration on the ridges above adds to the birdlife.

Lehigh Gorge State Park protects 26 miles of the Lehigh River canyon — a clean, free-flowing river (managed by dam releases) through a forested gorge of mixed hardwoods and hemlocks, with steep canyon-wall habitats, tributary streams and the riverside environment supporting bald eagles, wild trout and diverse wildlife. The canyon’s microclimate (cool gorge, warm south-facing walls) creates ecological diversity. The hemlock stands (threatened by invasive insects) are a concern. Protecting the river’s water quality, the canyon forest and the riparian habitats sustains both the ecology and the dramatic beauty of the gorge.

Lehigh Gorge carries layers of Pennsylvania cultural history — as a canal corridor that moved the coal powering the industrial revolution, as a railroad artery through the mountains, as the gateway to Jim Thorpe (a Victorian railroad town of remarkable preservation), and now as a celebrated outdoor-recreation destination whose rail-trail and whitewater draw visitors from across the region. The convergence of industrial heritage, natural drama and recreational excellence in a single gorge is rare. Lehigh Gorge and Jim Thorpe together form one of the most layered and rewarding outdoor-cultural destinations in Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Gorge State Park stretches 26 miles from White Haven (Luzerne County) in the north to Jim Thorpe (Carbon County) in the south, roughly paralleling Route 940 and Route 903 in the Pocono Mountains, about 90 minutes west of New York City and 90 minutes north of Philadelphia. The Lehigh Gorge Trail has multiple access points (White Haven, Rockport, Jim Thorpe and others). There is no state park entrance fee. Whitewater rafting is offered by outfitters based in Jim Thorpe (no direct park fee, but outfitter fees apply). Parking at Jim Thorpe and the gorge access points fills on busy summer and fall weekends. Check PA DCNR and the Jim Thorpe outfitters for trail access, rafting schedules and conditions before visiting.

Pennsylvania DCNR protects Lehigh Gorge State Park and its canyon. Visitors help by staying on the Lehigh Gorge Trail (do not go off-trail on the steep canyon walls), protecting the river’s water quality, wearing life jackets on the river, respecting wildlife and nesting eagles, packing out all trash, and following all rules. The river, the canyon-wall habitats and the hemlock stands are sensitive. Dam-release whitewater requires special care — releases can change conditions rapidly. Protecting the river, the canyon forest and the wildlife sustains both the ecology and the dramatic beauty of this Pocono canyon.

Whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River is exciting and can be dangerous — always use a licensed outfitter (they provide guides, equipment and safety briefings), always wear a life jacket, and understand that dam releases can change water levels and intensity rapidly and without much warning. The Lehigh Gorge Trail is generally a smooth rail bed, but the canyon walls are steep; stay on the trail and keep back from the cliff edges. The trail can be busy with bikes — stay alert and yield properly. In spring and after heavy rain, the trail and river access points may flood. Watch for bears and ticks. Respect the whitewater, the canyon walls and the trail-sharing etiquette.

There is no state park entrance fee. Wear a life jacket on the river; whitewater rafting is regulated through licensed outfitters. Stay on the Lehigh Gorge Trail; do not go off-trail on the canyon walls. Bikes have right of way on the rail-trail — stay to the right, announce when passing, and yield appropriately. Camp only in designated areas (limited camping in the park — check with PA DCNR). Fishing requires a Pennsylvania license. Pets must be leashed. Drones are restricted. Pack out all trash. Check PA DCNR and the outfitters for current conditions, trail access and rafting schedules before visiting.

The Victorian railroad town of Jim Thorpe (with its historic architecture, the Glen Onoko Falls trail, mountain biking and climbing nearby, and a lively outdoor-adventure tourism scene) anchors the southern end of the gorge and is the essential complement to any gorge visit. White Haven is at the northern end. The Pocono Mountains resorts, the Lehigh Valley, and the broader Pocono region surround the gorge. Jim Thorpe and Lehigh Gorge together form one of Pennsylvania’s premier outdoor-cultural destinations, easily combined with the Poconos, the Lehigh Valley and the Delaware Water Gap NRA to the east.

Raft the dam-release whitewater with one of Jim Thorpe’s outfitters — check the release schedule (rafting is best on release days) and book ahead on busy weekends. Then bike the Lehigh Gorge Trail through the full 26-mile canyon (bike rentals and shuttles are available in Jim Thorpe) — coming in October for the fall foliage is a classic Pennsylvania experience. Explore the beautifully preserved Victorian town of Jim Thorpe after your gorge adventure: the architecture, restaurants and the Glen Onoko Falls trail make it a destination in its own right. Always wear a life jacket on the river, and book the outfitter well ahead in summer.