Lehigh River in Pennsylvania

Trip Overview

The Lehigh River is a great place to go paddling for a few hours. On this day I put in the river in Easton, PA where the Lehigh empties into the Delaware, and head up river. There is a small park across the river from downtown. If youre heading in from Rt 78, when you come down the hill, youll want to turn right before going over the Lehigh; the park is about a half mile down the road on the left.

Hugh Moore Park is a small area in Easton it continues up the river with very scenic paved bike trail that switches between following the canal and the river. A few miles up river the park ends with a large area complete with pavilions, playground, and a working canal boat which is pulled by mules. The web site for the park is www.canals.org/, they have a sunset dinner cruise on the canal that I highly recommend.

But this is a report about paddling not the park, so back the paddling. I went up river about a half mile and had the choice of porting my kayak into the canal, or continuing up river. Since I wanted a bit of a workout I continued up river.

It was a great paddle, with the park on one side and riverside drive on the other. There are only a few cars on the road, so you dont realize how close to civilization you really are.

It turned out to be a pretty easy paddle up river until I got close to the chain dam. There the river got shallower and swifter and I decided to turn around before reaching the dam.

Along the way I there is a nice inlet to explore. Also Lehigh University and Lafayette College both have rowing teams that use this section of the river so youll see some graffiti they made, and may even see them practicing.

After I got tired of going up river I turned around and enjoyed an easy paddle back to my car.

Accommodations:

In Easton, there are none, when I turned around just before the dam, Hugh Moore park is there with bathrooms, pavilions, and Canal Boat rides.

Fees:

no

Directions:

From I-78 take exit 75 for 611. Head North down the mountain into Easton. You'll go under the rail road bridge, then turn right at the light just before the bridge over the Lehigh. Follow the road for about .5 miles, the park is poorly marked, and is on your left. The park here is little more then a parking lot, and some picnic tables.