The Lehigh River Water Trail is a 72-mile redemption story stretching from White Haven to Easton. Once devoid of life from wastewater of the steel industry, the river is now a community resource drawing paddlers and anglers alike.
Until 1967, the Lehigh River was the nation’s only privately-owned river. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was used to build a series of locks and dams to transport anthracite coal from northeast Pennsylvania to Philadelphia, New York and elsewhere. By the time the state took back ownership, the river was pretty much devoid of life from the wastewater and acid mine drainage of the coal and steel industries.
“It was characterized at one point…as black flowing lava from all of the coal silt…” says Chris Kocher, President, Wildlands Conservancy
Today, the river has made a recovery. The Lehigh River is cleaner today than any other point of the last 150 years and is now water where anglers and paddlers come to recreate.
What visitors can expect depends on where they go along the trail. Half of the northernmost miles of the Lehigh River Water Trail are a part of Pennsylvania’s Scenic River System with wild and rugged scenery. In White Haven, you enter the Lehigh Gorge State Park where the river moves fast along steep, forested canyon-like walls. The southern section of the trail spanning 31 miles is calmer and flows through Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.
Boating and Paddling Opportunities
The differences between the northern and southern sections of the Lehigh River Water Trail allow boaters of all skills to enjoy the river.
The Lehigh River supports 22 boat accesses. Paddlers can park in one spot, paddle upriver and float back down or vice versa. Hiking and biking trails along the river make a way for paddlers to expand their adventure on foot or wheels. Local outfitters can help adventurers who need gear or recommendations on where to get started.
Planning a paddling adventure along the Lehigh River is easy with one of these boat rental businesses.
Fishing Opportunities
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) annually stocks the northern section of the river with adult trout. As you travel upriver, better habitat and colder water boast Class A trout streams, like Saucon Creek, Lehigh and Northampton counties, Monocacy Creek, Northampton County, and Little Lehigh Creek, Lehigh County.
But the most abundant and widespread gamefish in the Lehigh River is the Smallmouth Bass. They are more numerous than big, with 12-inch catches being typical. But, you can hook into larger ones.
Discover PA’s best fishing waters, warmwater/coolwater fisheries and trout streams on the Lehigh River.
Explore the latest biologist reports and fishing opportunities in Bradford, Columbia, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming Counties and Carbon, Monroe, Northampton, Pike and Wayne Counties.
Nature and Scenic Opportunities
Since the river was once privately-owned, the land around it was protected. The land supports wildlife such as eagles, ospreys, deer, ducks and more all along the river corridor. Whether you are in the forested northern section or the metro southern section, you can float and see wildlife of all kinds, catch a lot of fish and lose yourself in the beautiful scenery of the Lehigh River.
“…It’s one of the best comeback stories as far as water resources, clearly in Pennsylvania if not in the country,” says Chris Kocher, President, Wildlands Conservancy
This content was partially adapted from Lehigh River Water Trail feature by Bob Frye in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Magazine.
