Lehigh
3. Glen Onoko to East Penn Boat Ramp, Bowmanstown, Pa (Section III)
| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 11 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 12 fpm |
| Gauge | Lehigh River at Lehighton, Pa |
| Flow Rate as of 28 minutes | 1210 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | August 23, 2021 |
River Description
A easy family float trip at low to moderate levels (up to 2 or 3000 cfs). A good place to train beginning kayakers. Wide river with some surfing waves, eddy lines and easy drops. Can get pushy with rescue difficult at higher levels when the river overflows into the trees, and the waves at the last rapid (Carnage) can get big and irregular.
River access at Glen Onoko, or at the town of Jim Thorpe (pay the fee at the township parking lot, and put in at the access at the north end of the lot), Dunbar's Bottling in Lehighton (go past the buildings to the river - be careful of leaving your car there), Weissport (park at the playground and put on under the 209 bridge), Parryville (park at the turnpike building - a difficult carry down to the river), and Bowmanstown (take-out on river right at the 895 bridge - park at the access road to the turnaround at the river). There is a new public access 3/4 mile down from the Bowmanstown bridge at Riverside Park on river right. Off street parking for 200 cars, and a bike trail south to Slatington and beyond to Whitehall, and north to Weissport, Jim Thorpe (with a new pedestrian bridge to cross the river), White Haven and beyond. A nature center is about 3 miles south on the trail at Lehigh gap, with a large walking trail network.
The main rapids are at the start and end of the trip - Deaton's Demise below Glen Onoko, Bear Trap in Jim Thorpe (start in the middle and run to the right, avoiding the rocks along river right at the bottom), and Carnage in Bowmanstown (start left and follow the main flow to the right avoiding the large rocks in the middle of the channel about 1/3 of the way down), or sneak to the right of a small island after you pass the old dam location.
The remainder of the river is pretty much riffles with flatwater and some small wave trains. A nice surfing wave is under the left arch of the railroad bridge just above Lehighton at Dunbars. Just beyond the PA Turnpike bridge is a rather trashy
...River Features
Put In - Glen Onoko
Glen Onoko - A Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources access, located a short distance upstream from Jim Thorpe, PA.
Deaton's Demise
Run down the middle, avoiding rocks. At the bottom there are two rocks in the middle right. Run to the left, or run the slot between the two rocks. A good pop-up spot between the two rocks.
Jim Thorpe Access
Jim Thorpe Access
Weisport Access
Park at the tennis courts on the east side of the river, next to the 209 bridge. Carry down to the river underneath the 209 bridge
Take-Out - East Penn Boat Ramp, Bowmanstown, PA.
Bowmanstown (take-out on river right at the 895 bridge - park at the access road to the turnaround at the river). There is a new public access 3/4 mile down from the Bowmanstown bridge at Riverside Park on river right.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportA detailed description of the entire Lehigh River can be found in the 'Lehigh River Paddling Guide,' which can be purchased online at http://www.ggentile.com/nonfiction\_books.html. Scroll down to the appropriate title.
Can eddy turn right below 1st rock, then take tongue through drop
Deeper on river left channel - good place to practice ferries and eddy turns.
Deeper on river left channel - wave train -- good place to practice ferries and eddy turns.
longer wave train, then rock to eddy turn behind, then small drop
Easy at 1000 cfs; have to eddy hop at lower levels