Lehigh River Jim Thorpe

A trip from Jim Thorpe to Bowmantown is being led by Kathy Nicholson on Sat. August 13th, and is a great opportunity for new trainees to practice their recent training!  If interested, post on this forum or contact me by calling (302)893-1377.  This will be a release weekend, and we can plan to meet in the parking lot at Jim Thorpe by the train station by 10:30 for shuttle.  Make sure I hear from you if you’re interested in going so we know who’s coming!

Kathy Nicholson

General Information:
Whitewater: This section of the Lehigh is known as the “family float” section and offers some great practice spots for practicing ferrying, eddy turns and river reading. The scenery is more urban than the upper sections of the Lehigh but still mostly delightful. You can break the trip up by putting in or taking out at an access known as “Dunbars”, or use this wide stretch of rocky shoreline for lunch.

Difficulty & Must Haves:
Class: I-II. Section Length: 7 miles Time: 6 hours. Required Equipment: Boat suitable for whitewater, paddle, skirt, helmet, PFD, whistle, water, dry bag. Recreational boats with skirts can run this section of river. Required Skills: Paddlers must have good boat control, be able to catch and exit eddies in moving water, ferry and wet-exit safely.

Nice to Have &  Human Interest:
Lunch and snacks, extra water, sunscreen, glasses holder, throw-rope.

Additional Notes & Shuttle Info:
40°47’32.1″N 75°39’26.1″W https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zjduWflhNnK4.kxGWo1jxOtJQ
Paddlers should meet at Jim Thorpe; tell the attendant that you are “dropping off” to avoid the daily parking fee. Parking is free at Bowmanstown. Shuttle cars returned to Jim Thorpe will have to pay the daily parking fee – be kind and pool your money so your shuttle driver doesn’t have to pay. Dunbars Option: Down a bumpy, pothole ridden dirt path past the “Dunbars Bottling Company” in Lehighton is a wide rocky beach that will eat your car’s suspension. Enter at your own risk. You can drop off or pick up here, but please don’t park here for the day. All cars left in the vicinity should be parked back out on the main road in the back of the Dollar Store lot and paddlers will have to hoof it back to the river. Additional Notes: There are no facilities at Dunbars except the shrubbery. The railroad station at Jim Thorpe offers flush toilets and running water during regular business hours. I think there are porta-potties at Bowmanstown?