A Wet and Wild Trip – Our Most Popular
Our Whitewater trip is our most popular…It is a wet and wild 13 mile trip that runs through the breathtaking scenery of the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Hang on tight and experience the thrill of Class II and III whitewater. With 18 action packed rapids like Snaggletooth and Cookie Monster this ultimate whitewater trip is truly memorable and available in the Spring and Fall plus most weekends all summer long on scheduled whitewater dam release dates.
- 2024 Whitewater Release Dates
May: 11, 18, 25, 26
June: 8, 9, 22, 23
July: 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
August: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31
September: 1
October: 12, 13
* Release dates August 26th thru October 8th 2023 are subject to cancellation by the Army Corps of Engineers due to insufficient water levels.
Trip Prices*
$74.95 per person
Adult Groups (15+): $69.95
Youth Groups (15+): $65.95
*All Trip rates subject to a $6.25 per person River Access Fee.
Trip Specs, Information & Considerations
Difficulty: Class 2 and Class 3
Length: 4 to 6 hours on the River / 6 to 8 hours Total
Distance: 11 or 13 miles
Schedule: Spring, Fall & certain weekends all Summer long! See our Dam Release Whitewater schedule for mid Summer dates.
Minimum Age: 8 years old
Lunch: A pre-ordered box lunch is available ($9.95 +tax) from our very own Red Rock Cafe
This is our longest and most physically demanding trip. All rafters should be able to paddle for 4 – 6 hours as well as endure the natural elements (heat, sun, rain, cold, etc.) Rafters sometimes do fall into the water, everyone should be capable of helping themselves get back to and into their raft. If your physical fitness level, weight, medical condition or fear of water would hinder you in any way we strongly recommend your group try one of our shorter, more mild trips like EZ Whitewater or our Summer Rafting Trip.
Be prepared. Dress appropriately and wear sturdy footwear that attaches to your feet (No flip flops, slides or bare feet). Non aerosol Sun Block is highly recommended. Your trip will stop for a lunch break, it is very important that you bring something to eat and enough to drink or pre order from our Red Rock Café.
We require at least one member of every raft to be able to speak English so that they can translate all safety instructions and directions to the rest of their party.
No Drugs or Alcohol of any kind are permitted before or during your Rafting Trip.
No Squirt or Water Guns permitted on the Whitewater Section. Squirt Guns are allowed on the EZ Whitewater and Summer Rafting Sections.
Adult Life Jacket accommodate individuals with a 30-52 inch chest & weigh more than 90 lb. Child Life Jackets accommodate individuals with a 26-29 inch chest & weigh 50-90 lb
Rental Gear
Full Wetsuit: $12 (+tax)
Half-suit: $6 (+tax)
Farmer John: $6 (+tax)
Paddling Jacket: $4 (+tax)
Mitts: $3 (+tax)
Boots: $5 (+tax)
All rental fees are subject to 6% state sales tax.
River Details
Whitewater Rafting Adventures uses two separate launch sites on the whitewater section of the Lehigh River depending on the water conditions.
The upper section (Upper Lehigh Gorge) is 11 miles long and puts in at Whitehaven and runs to Rockport. We typically only use this section on Dam Release Dates. The rapids are a mix of Class 2 and 3 whitewater1. A few of the Class 3 rapid names are Triple Drop, Initiation and Staircase. The scenery is spectacular and you might catch a glimpse of a bald eagle soaring overhead or other wildlife grazing along the river banks.
The lower section (Lower Lehigh Gorge) is our favorite. We launch at Rockport and raft the 13-mile stretch of the Lehigh River to Glen Onoko in Jim Thorpe. The trip takes about 5 hours on average as you paddle your way through a challenging mix of Class 2 and 3 rapids1 including favorites like Bridal Veil, Mile long and Pipeline.