The Francis Walters dam access road was modified to allow the dam to store water for recreational purposes, not just for flood control.  The Army Corp of Engineers now fills the dam in the spring to allow whitewater releases approximately every other weekend during the summer, and to ensure a minimum flow for trout fishing.  Future changes may include a multi-level discharge to allow colder water to be released during the summer to protect the trout fishery.

Related web sites: ab257's Lehigh Page  Lehigh River Water Trail 
The weekend releases are posted Fridays at: Army Corps and reservoir levels can be found at: Francis Walter Dam

Section I (the Upper) is a 9 mile run from White Haven (at Rt 80) to Rockport.

Section II (the Lower) is a 12 mile section from Rockport to Jim Thorpe (or you can use the Glen Onoko take out which cuts out 2 miles of mostly flatwater and Class II down to Thorpe).

Section III is a summer Class II 'family float' trip running from Jim Thorpe to Bowmanstown. Not as pristine and senic as the first two sections, but nice on those hot summer days.

The upper has more play spots (including enders at Wilhoyts and Beaver Hole, squirts at Lunch Rock and Eddy Turn Rock, and great surfing waves at Ledges) than the lower, but is not as pretty as the gorge area of the lower. The biggest rapids in the lower (Little Swimmers, Oxbow, Tower) are longer and bouncier than anything on the upper. But then the lower has more flatwater stretches, and can have a pretty stiff headwind near Bear Creek.

A bike trail follows the river along an old railroad bed from Glen Onoko to White Haven as part of the state park, with bike rentals available locally. The river is administered by the PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources. There is a steep trail starting at the parking area at Glen Onoko that goes up to the top of a multi level water fall. The park administers access to the river as well as the bike trail. The eastern shore of the upper section borders Hickory Run state park, with some hiking trails down to the river. The whole White Haven to Thorpe area has a long history of coal mining and tourism. Water levels are dependent on the releases from the Francis Walters dam, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, planned weekend releases are usually announced by Friday. There is usually enough water for regular releases in the spring, thru the end of May. The Army Corps also tries to release the second and fourth weekend in June, the third weekend in September and the first and third weekends in October by cutting back the flow during the week and increasing it for the release. These releases are sometimes cancelled due to prolonged dry spells.

The upper section of the Lehigh is stocked with trout down to about Hickory Run at Eddy Turn Rock. From the Francis Walter Dam down to White Haven is also a popular fishing stretch. A non-profit association stocks the river from Jim Thorpe down to Allentown. Mud Run near the Northeast Turnpike Extension overpass is fly fishing only. This area is one of the best for fishing in Carbon County. No boating is allowed on the Lehigh's upper section from White Haven to Rockport during the first weekend of Pennsylvania's trout season (early April).