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 snapshot
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
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.
Put-in
White Haven South Access Area Open mapDCNR says private boaters must put on and take off only at designated Lehigh River access areas in the state park.
Take-out
Rockport Access Area Open mapWhite Haven access has had traffic and access routing changes; use current DCNR signs rather than stale directions.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
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.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this score Today's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
Outlook Tomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the score Gauge, 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 |
| Data confidence 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 |
Notes What 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 route White 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 gauge USGS 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 bands 250 / 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 corroboration WhiteHaven 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 context Designated 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 hazards Class 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 yourself Check 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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
More in Pennsylvania
All 2 routesNearby routes by distance
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.