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The changing of seasons forces a change in other things too. Winter’s sweaters and pants are put away in favor of summer’s shirts and shorts. The heat is turned off, the windows are rolled down and ice is added to coffee. Leisure activities change too — fairs, festivals and other events draw people outdoors and out of their comfort zones. Summer is a choose-your-own- adventure story, so why not call it “Adventures in Whitewater Rafting?”
Whitewater rafters take to the Lehigh River as early as April, but the season peaks during July and August thanks to special “dam release” weekends. Starting in March, less water is released from the dam than is let in. This causes a reserve of water to form, and that reserve is let loose on dam release weekends to enhance the rapids. This year’s dam release weekends are July 11 and 12, July 25 and 26, every weekend in August, Sept. 5 and 6 and Oct. 10 and 11.
Even with the extra power, the Lehigh River’s rapids don’t go above a Class III. The classification system, which ranks rapids on an increasing scale from Class I to Class V, puts the rapids on the Lehigh River at Class II and Class III, which represent beginner to intermediate levels. So, whitewater rafting can be a family affair, with children as young as 4 able to take part in the adventure.
Whitewater rafting centers are the gateway to Lehigh River whitewater rafting. Each offers a different experience to the potential rafter, so it’s important to choose the right center for the group.
Whitewater Challengers — Weatherly — 570-443-9532
Whitewater challengers’ lowest rate is their family summer rafting package for ages 5 and up, which starts at $26.95. The price then works its way up as the diffculty rises and stops at the dam release white water rafting for ages 9 and up, which starts at $52.95.
“That’s probably where most of our guests come, especially if they’ve been here before or they’ve already been white water rafting,” said Sarah Binder, Whitewater Challengers assistant marketing manager. “They like to come out for the dam release date because there’s more water, the water levels are higher and the flow is quicker. It makes the rapids a lot more exciting.”
Whitewater Challengers offers guests more than just rafting. Customers can camp, bike, ride the zipline and play paintball.
“It’s kind of an all-inclusive,” Binder said. “You can come for the weekend, park your car and never leave until you’re going home.”
Whitewater Rafting Adventures — Nesquehonning — 570-669-9127
Whitewater Rafting Adventures offers three different rafting trips for guests as young as 4. They also offer a 900 ft. zipline, paintball and biking on the Lehigh Gorge Trail. Steve Bretzik, manager of Whitewater Rafting Adventures, said their calm trips start at $30, while their whitewater runs can go up to $67. Whitewater Rafting Adventures also offers multi-day adventure packages.
On July 3 and 4, zipline rides at Whitewater Rafting Adventures will be discounted to $5 for rafters.
Jim Thorpe River Adventures — Jim Thorpe — 570-325-2570
Jim Thorpe River Adventures has three different rafting experiences. The Intro to Whitewater trip is a four-hour beginner’s ride that starts at $45 and welcomes children as young as 6. The BigTime Rafting trip is a five-hour weekend experience that starts at $53 and runs during dam release weekends for $57. A trip designed for younger rafters, the EasyWater trip, is a three-hour ride through Class I and Class II rapids that starts at $32. In addition to rafting, Jim Thorpe River Adventures also offers inflatable kayaking and mountain biking.
Pocono Whitewater — Jim Thorpe — 1-800-WHITEWATER
The trips at Pocono Whitewater mix rafting, biking and hiking for a variety of outdoor experiences. Each activity can be enjoyed on its own, but Pocono Whitewater’s unique packages offer combinations that add incentives for doubling or tripling up, like wine and cheese parties after moonlight bike runs. If this all sounds a bit too leisurely for the group, paintball can be added to the mix if there are any old scores left unsettled. Pricing depends on the chosen adventure.