Kayaking the Lehigh Gorge

So far in my blog I have talked about kayaking and rafting the Lehigh Gorge. For this Blog I am just adding a few of my clips so you can get more of a feel for the river and its inhabitants. The areas in these videos start from Glen Onoco and go further down river. I will be highlighting these areas in the near future.

Video 1: Lehigh Gorge just below Glen Onoco.
Video 2: Northern Water Snake. Common along the Lehigh River, mostly found around the calmer pools, but I have seen them in some faster moving water.
Video 3: Wood Turtle. A protected species in PA. This is a rare find even in the Lehigh Gorge, but they are around.

Lehigh Tannery

Foundation of Tannery.

Backtracking on 534 I knew of a shortcut to get back home. Before I got back to the intersection of 940 I took a left onto tannery road in Lehigh Tannery, which would take me back to Lehigh Gorge drive. When I was talking to Jim Flynn back at Rockport he mentioned the old tannery for which Lehigh Tannery got its name and I was interested in finding out more.

     Right off of Tannery road as soon as I pulled onto it there was a parking lot to the left and I could see a DCNR sign. I pulled in and got out to see what this site was. I found a deck, which bordered a foundation and information boards explained that this was the old tannery. The sign pictured below talks about the destructive force the tannery had on the surrounding area. The forest were logged and used for the tannins that could be extracted and waste products from the factory were dumped into the Lehigh. This was just one of the many problems for the Lehigh in the past and more will be explain as I get further down the river.

            Since I had never stopped at this location before I wanted to see the trail conditions down to the river. I found a trail and was surprised to find a sign forbidding the launching boats from this site. This was the first time I have ever seen a sign like this on the entirety of the Lehigh. I made my way down the path and could understand the reasoning for the sign. The path lead to a rock outcrop underneath the bridge of tannery road and there was no easy way down to the water.

Tannery Info.

Launching Prohibited.

Mud Run: Hickory Run, Part IV

Foot Bridge Over Mud Run.

Crossing the Lehigh on 940 I had to take my first right after the bridge. This took me to route 534 which runs from White Haven all the way through and past Hickory Run. I have already taken you to the most well know places of the park so I decided to go to Mud Run. Mud Run sits on the outskirts of the park and driving on 534 you will drive strait through and out of the park in order to get to it. Once the road runs underneath the turnpike you are back into Hickory Run and there is parking on both sides of the road. For Mud Run I would suggest parking on the right hand side of the road if you come in the way I did. The other side offers trails for those who want to hike to the boulder field instead of parking close.

      The trail which follows the small run is located about fifty yards from the parking area towards the turnpike. It is a nice walk, but may be strenuous for those who do not do well with hilly situations. Along this hike there are many access points to the run where you can see several falls, the largest of which is pictured below. Swimming is not allowed in these areas, but on several occasions I have come across hikers taking a dip in the pools below the falls. As far as I could tell when I hiked the area the trail is clear until you reach the intersection of mud and hawk run, from there I found many splits of smaller trails that did not lead anywhere at all. I think the hike is worth it just to see the falls and if you travel to where the two streams meet you can see where they run into the Lehigh.  

     By this time in the day after my two previous stops it was time to return home once again. Little did I know I was going to be making one more stop before I got there.

Waterfall at Mud Run.

White Haven

Decommissioned Caboose

From Rockport, I got back on Lehigh Gorge Drive and on my way back to Hickory Run. Lehigh Gorge Drive ends at the junction of 940 on which you can make a right and follow through White Haven. Since I knew of another stop along the way I decided to once again, put off the venture to the run until later in the day.
     When driving through White Haven many people pass an access point to the Lehigh Gorge without even realizing it. The yellow caboose above is the marker I use to find this access point off of route 940. This Caboose borders a parking area for a small shopping center that you must drive through in order to get to the park. Being tucked away you might think that it is not frequented by many people, but you would be surprised if you were to go there on a release weekend (weekends where water is scheduled for release from Francis Walter Dam). The release weekend attracts thrill seekers and those who want to run the river in high water. In years of drought or low water the releases offer the only time for rafters to run the upper portions of the gorge.
     Before entering into the park you will see the little green shed below owned by Pocono Whitewater. There you can rent bikes or sign up for a rafting adventure. When I stopped by the woman behind the counter was busy with customers so I decided to just grab some brochures and the information is listed below for web-site and contact information. In addition to bike riding and rafting, Pocono Whitewater also offer skirmish (paintball), which is not seasonal and open year round. For that you would have to go further down the Lehigh to another one of their locations.
     In the parking lot of the Park there were a lot of cars, but not much was going on. Some of the kayakers that were down in Rockport taking out were now in White Haven rearranging boats to the proper vehicles to go home. In my opinion White Haven is the best place to put in a kayak on the upper Lehigh as long as you have the proper experience to do so. The trip down to Rockport is a nice mixture of whitewater rapids and slow deep pools. Signs here explain that there are some rules before entering the water in your kayak. All kayakers must have additional float bags in both ends of their boats. These prevent your kayak from completely filling with water if submerged, making it easier to retrieve if you end up out of your boat.
     Since nothing was really happening in this part of the park I once again decided to get back on track and once again got on the road to Hickory Run.

 

Pocono Whitewater.

Pocono Whitewater

Web-site: www.PoconoWhitewater.com

Phone: 1-800-944-8392

Down the River: Rockport, Part II

Mark Linn Kayaking the Lehigh.

My vantage point from the rock put me within thirty feet of a kayaker playing on a white cap in the river. In the shot above he is facing upstream and keeping his boat in place against the current. I myself am a kayaker, but at this time of year it takes a dedicated soul to get on the river. I sat for a short while watching the kayaker stay in the same general area and stuck around even a little bit after he left to see if anyone else would be floating down stream. No one came and I decided to head back up to the trail.

      After being sidetracked I completely forgot about the waterfall and I started heading back to the parking area. By the time I got there the kayaker who I was taking pictures of was talking with two bike riders as he was gathering his gear together. I waited until they were done talking and then asked him if he wouldn't mind a couple questions and a picture. He told me his name was Mark Linn and he didn't mind at all. He took about an hour drive this morning from Elysburg, Northumberland County to run the river. Mr. Linn is an American Canoe Association (ACA) trained instructor and has been kayaking for 33 years. Today however he was just out for fun and not doing any trainings. I thanked him for the interview and decided it was time I head on back to Hickory Run.

      Walking back up to my car a large sign caught my eye and I grabbed a photo of it. It highlight the cubic feet per second the river is moving at according to heights listed on a color scale located in the river. I just thought it was interesting so I added the picture below.

Mark Linn

Water Level Warning Guide.

Special Thanks to:

Mark Linn for the interview and pic.

Hiking, Biking, Waterfalls and more: Rockport Part I

Rails to Trails Path

On my way back to Hickory Run I found myself on Lehigh Gorge Drive headed north towards White Haven. I could not resist making a stop. One of my favorite places through the Lehigh Gorge is Rockport. Rockport offers easy access to the river for kayakers and easy access to the bike/hiking trail that runs the length of the gorge. Also for historians, birders or even art lovers, being a former home of John James Audubon, wildlife artist and the person who the Audubon Society is named for, this might be a place you just want to visit.
      There are two parking areas at this site. One along side the road as you drive in and the other right by the river. If spaces are available in the upper lot I would suggest parking there, unless you have trouble walking hills. I parked at the upper lot where almost all of the spaces were taken. I started walking down the road and stopped not far after the parking lot to take some shots of the tunnel pictured below. I do not know much about the tunnel, other than it is definitely man made and not a cave, but it is still interesting to check out. It runs a short distance all the way through the mountain and ends in a wooded area above the lower parking lot.
       As I was snapping shots of the tunnel a group came walking down from the lot. They were curious as to what I was doing with my notebook in hand and I happily explained. Jim Flynn was one of the gentlemen of the group and we started talking. He is and his wife are residents of Langhorne, Bucks county and have a vacation home in Lehigh Tannery. Mr. Flynn has been coming up to the Gorge for 11 to 12 years after finding a vacation home near one of his friends. I asked what brought him to Rockport today and he told me that his brother and sister in-law were in for a visit and he thought that this would be a good place to take them. They came for the views and Mr. Flynn suggested that before I leave today that I check out the waterfalls along side the trail. During our conversation his family members explored the tunnel and when they returned we parted ways and I headed down to the river.
      Kayakers were loading up their vehicles after a paddle and I tried several attempts at interview. Some said no thank you and others just didn't want their picture taken so I moved along down the path. With my notebook I must have been mistaken for someone who works at the park because as I was walking towards one of the waterfalls I was stopped by a mother and her son. They pointed out to me a small dear stuck on a rock ledge and asked me if there was any way I could get to it. I looked around at where it was and said that it would not be possible, but that the little dear probably could get back up if it needed to. The mother and son looked a little less concerned so I went on my way.
      Almost to the waterfall I came upon another distraction. Kayakers were still coming down the river and a path down to a large rock sitting off of the bank gave me a great opportunity for pictures.

Man made tunnel that cuts through the mountain.

Restroom Facilities and Parking along River.

Special Thanks to:
Mr. Flynn for the interview.

 

Day at the Beach: Hickory Run State Park, Part III

Hickory Run's Beach.

    









After leaving the boulder field I wanted to visit a place that I had been going since I was a child. Almost every Memorial Day my mothers side of the family would gather for a picnic at Hickory Run's beach and I wanted to see how much it has changed since then. It was later in the day before I arrived and there were very few people left around. A family group was having a cook out and the beach was nearly empty.
      The view hasn't changed much since I was a child. The buildings have been rebuilt, but much is the same. In the summer you can cool off in the swimming area or just throw a line in and go fishing. The opposite side of the lake from the view shown, offers another course like that at Francis E. Walter Dam for disc golf. On my short walk to the spill way and back two of the children from the family picnic asked me directions to the waterfall. Yes, to kids the lake even offers a waterfall. To adults it is just the spill way that falls into a shallow wide pool that turns into a stream.
      There is no admission to use the beach like some other parks located in PA and is opened during most of the summer, unless there are water quality issues. Just like the camping the beach area may be crowded on those hot summer weekends. I would suggest weekdays if possible for checking out this site as well. This ended my first day of my journey and I can't wait till I can get out and continue along my way.

Rocks as Far as the Eye Can See: Hickory Run State Park, Part II

Enjoying the Day Out.

Since I was told the boulder field is the main attraction at the park I had to make it my first stop. This wasn't my first trip there, but I believe, it is worth it to explore more than once. The park roads to the main attractions are clearly labeled and are easy to navigate. The drive takes you far from paved roads and gives you a realization of just how large Hickory Run State Park is. The road is a one way loop with lots of little pull offs and trails along the way. Eventually the road comes to a T intersection and strait ahead the road turns back to a two way and dead ends in the boulder field parking lot.

      On this day the lot was full with only one or two spaces left when I pulled in. If you want to come when it isn't crowded I would suggest going on a weekday. The crowds, though, meant people to interview and I did wonder what attracted people to this site. I met Mike Lillo, a New York resident who owns a home in the Poconos. He explained to me that not too long ago he was told about boulder field and he wanted to bring his family out to see it. He explained to me how the field was created by the glaciers which once covered the area. He and his family seemed to be enjoying walking around the rocks and he suggested to me that I go out to the other side and get the perspective of those who make their way all the way across. I took him up on his suggestion. 

     I found myself navigating over the rocks in sandals, which I would not suggest to any of my readers to try. A good pair of shoes or hiking boots would be a much better choice. In the distance I could see a group near the far edge and I decided they were my target. As I got close I was greeted with a welcome from the group. Pictured above they were students from Philadelphia. I joined there group for a little while and taking pictures and asking questions. They were clearly to have fun and most of the answers to my questions were quite humorous, but lacked reportability. They talked about their camping experience and it seemed to me that this was a great getaway for them from city life. I think this will probably be the theme throughout my blog two. The areas along the Lehigh are close, but far enough away from our everyday lives that it is an escape.  

Note: If you want to see the boulder field and want to drive right to it, go in late spring, summer or early fall. The roads to the field are closed after enough accumulation of snow in the winter.

Thanks to:

Julie Hoff, Andy, Mike, Deidre, Jon and Nick who are pictured above.

And to Mike Lillo for the interview.

The Office: Hickory Run State Park, Part I

Hickory Run Park Office.

Back on 940 I came to an Y intersection in White Haven. Here, I had a choice, go to the right and strait to the river and to Lehigh Gorge State Park or go to the left and head to Hickory Run State park. From the title, I think you know what my decision was. I went to the left avoiding the river at the moment for a specific purpose. The office for the Lehigh Gorge State Park, Hickory Run State Park, and Nescopeck State Park is located in Hickory Run, so that is where the information is.

      The park office is open from 8am to 4pm everyday between the second Friday in April to the third weekend of October. The rest of the year is Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm. At the receptionists desk I met Kathy Reabold, who seemed happy to answer all of my questions. I asked what the park had to offer and the first thing she pointed out was boulder field. She then explained the park holds roughly 40 miles of trails, with an additional 25 if including the Lehigh Gorge. The park also offers 381 campsites and she informed me that there are almost always sites open, but during the summer weekends they do get crowded.

      This is the best way to start off in a new area. Find someone who knows the ins and outs and get to asking questions. Hickory Run and other Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Parks have offices with helpful staff. If you are there during office hours use the park employees to make the most out of your experience there.

Special Thanks to:

Kathy Reabold for the interview.

 Video Sneak Peak of Boulder Field

Quick Stop

Leaving Francis Walter Dam I exited to the right on 940 towards White Haven. Not to far down the road I spotted a small building with a large sign out front, "Whitewater Challengers." The parking area was almost full and I decided to stop in and see what they had to offer.
     Inside was just a small office and no one was at the front desk. Lights were on, but I would have thought no one was home until I heard some voices in the back. After a couple minutes a lady came out and greeted me. I explained my blog and asked for and interview. She agreed and I started asking questions and found she would give as little info. as she possibly could. First question, can I have your name please? "Terri" she said. I asked for her last name and not so nicely she said we don't give out our last names here. She did tell me that Whitewater Challengers does offer mountain biking, a zip line, camping in addition to rafting and trips are run from April to the end of October. All of my other questions were directed to the brochures.
     I was not too impressed with Terri, but the brochures she directed me to did yield some information. Too much information to post on this blog. All that Whitewater Challengers offers though is online. If you would like to do some cold October paddling this month you might want to check it out. The web-address and contact information is below.

Whitewater Challengers

www.whitewaterchallengers.com

Phone: 1-800-443-8554
E-mail: rafting@whitewaterchallengers.com