Beginner's Trip on the Lehigh

Well, the paddling season has been great. Trouble is, our crew has barely been out hitting it. In may a few of us hit the South Branch of the Raritan River at about 7' on the gauge. Best run we've had there yet, but still holding out for 7.5-8' levels.

Memorial Day found Mike Ein, Keith Reed, and myself on the lower Lehigh Gorge with the Lehighton gauge reading about 2600. If it was 1300 at the Rockport put-in and with all the creeks gushing from the previous night's thunderstorms, it was our biggest gorge run ever! We all had a swim or two and felt the power of the river in a new way.

A mellow run on the upper in mid-June was the last of the spring paddling. The early summer found us all distracted and we did not paddle as a group until August 20-21.

What a fine weekend! Several experienced boaters and four beginners on sit-on-top boats made for a nice group and great introduction to whitewater paddling. We paddled the Touch of Class section from Glen Onoko to Bowmanstown on Saturday. On Sunday we were joined by others and a group of nine tackled the lower gorge. The level was about 1000-1200cfs over all. The trip was capped off with a torrential downpour and thunder and lightning just as we came into the climax of the run from Oxbow to Snaggletooth, very dramatic.

Thinking Ahead

Winter Snows promise a Wet Spring


Will you be ready when the gauges hit their spring peak, usually late March through April? Will you be with us when the buds are on the trees and the water is high? South Jersey is flat, but not too far away are the delights of whitewater creeks.

See your world from a new perspective.

Take me to the river,
Drop me in the water!