See all 3 routes on Lehigh River
Pennsylvania | Pocono Mountains
Lehigh RiverWhite Haven to Rockport
Lehigh Gorge whitewater from the DCNR White Haven access to Rockport. DCNR names this 8.7-mile Class II-III trip, publishes official flow bands, and points paddlers to the USGS/USACE White Haven flow story below Francis E. Walter Dam.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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.
Access map
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 AreaThe published White Haven South Access GPS is an official access-area point; the exact hand-carry launch toe is not separately georeferenced. Follow current park signs to the designated launch.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- DCNR says private boaters must put on and take off only at designated Lehigh River access areas in the state park.
- The published White Haven South Access GPS is an official access-area point; the exact hand-carry launch toe is not separately georeferenced. Follow current park signs to the designated launch.
- 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.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Lehigh River below Francis E. Walter Reservoir near White Haven, PA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampWeather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain 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 |
| Preferred range | 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-06-12USGS 01447800 at White Haven outflow
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- 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
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
Quick answers
Lehigh River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the White Haven to Rockport route on the 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 the White Haven to Rockport route on the Lehigh River start and end?
This route starts at White Haven South Access Area and ends at Rockport Access Area, about 8.7 mi on the water.
Is the White Haven to Rockport route on the Lehigh River suitable 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.