See all 3 routes on Lehigh River
Pennsylvania | Pocono Mountains
Lehigh River
White Haven to Rockport
Check current paddling conditions for this Lehigh River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at White Haven and take out at Rockport for the upper Lehigh Gorge whitewater section. Use the USGS White Haven outflow gauge below Francis E. Walter Reservoir and DCNR flow bands, and skip the route when water, weather, access status, or group skill is not clearly right.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
White Haven South Access AreaDCNR says private boaters must put on and take off only at designated Lehigh River access areas in the state park.
Take-out
Rockport Access AreaWhite Haven access has had traffic and access routing changes; use current DCNR signs rather than stale directions.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- DCNR says private boaters must put on and take off only at designated Lehigh River access areas in the state park.
- White Haven access has had traffic and access routing changes; use current DCNR signs rather than stale directions.
- The Rockport coordinate is a cross-checked access-area coordinate because the DCNR Rockport page appears to publish an impossible latitude typo. Verify the exact take-out with current park signs on arrival.
- This is a whitewater route. DCNR says inexperienced boaters should not attempt the Lehigh River without qualified guides.
- Release weekends can be crowded with commercial rafts, clubs, private boaters, cyclists, and shuttle traffic.
Watch for
- Class II-III rapids, ledges, rock outcrops, boulders, waterfalls, swift current, and cold-water swims in a steep-walled gorge.
- Very low water below about 250 cfs, when DCNR says many parts are not deep enough for boating.
- Flows above 1,000 cfs, when DCNR says difficulty progressively increases and better skill and equipment are needed.
- Flows above 5,000 cfs, which DCNR reserves for expert boaters in kayaks, closed canoes, or very large rafts.
- Dam-release timing, tributary rain, rising water, wood, strainer hazards, limited exits, release-day traffic changes, and missing the Rockport take-out.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Lehigh River below Francis E. Walter Reservoir near White Haven, PA |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 250 cfs to 1,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 250 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | PA DCNR Lehigh Gorge State Park flow rates |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official routeWhite Haven to Rockport, 8.7 miles
DCNR lists White Haven to Rockport as an 8.7-mile private-trip option in Lehigh Gorge State Park, where boating is limited to designated access areas.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 01447800 at White Haven outflow
USGS operates Lehigh River below Francis E. Walter Reservoir near White Haven, four miles northeast of White Haven and 0.7 miles below the dam; Water Services returned same-day 2026-06-12 discharge and gage-height values during implementation.
- DCNR flow bands250 / 250-1,000 / 5,000 cfs
DCNR says flows below 250 cfs are very low and many parts are not deep enough, 250 to 1,000 cfs becomes better for boating, difficulty rises above 1,000 cfs, and above 5,000 cfs is expert-only water.
- USACE basin corroborationWhiteHaven outflow and Lehighton downstream gages
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lehigh Basin page exposed same-day 2026-06-12 WhiteHaven outflow, Lehighton downstream flow, and update time during this run.
- Access and permit contextDesignated state-park accesses
DCNR says boaters must put on and take off only at designated Lehigh River access areas, and PFBC says unpowered boats using PFBC or Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests access areas need registration, a PFBC launch permit, or a DCNR State Parks launch permit.
- Core hazardsClass II-III gorge whitewater
DCNR highlights Class II-III whitewater, deep steep-walled gorge terrain, rock outcroppings, waterfalls, changing release traffic, whitewater craft rules, PFD requirements, helmets for canoes and kayaks, and cold-water gear recommendations for spring and fall.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Lehigh River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Lehigh River?
Paddle Today watches Lehigh River below Francis E. Walter Reservoir near White Haven, PA and treats 250 cfs to 1,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Lehigh River route start and end?
This route starts at White Haven South Access Area and ends at Rockport Access Area, about About 8.7 mi on the water.
Is this Lehigh River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.