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Active Adventure
Whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River in the Poconos of northeastern Pennsylvania ... this is rafting just the way you want it, with rafting trips ranging from easy to exhilarating. A visit to Whitewater Challengers means real fun, real rapids, and real adventure! Come rafting for the whitewater ... or come for the scenery. Either way, the Lehigh River is the perfect close-to-home whitewater rafting adventure that feels a world away! Make this year's whitewater get-away an eco-friendly vacation adventure!
The Lehigh River is a popular whitewater destination on the east coast for family fun, group programs, boy scouts, girl scouts, or a day out with friends. Our group leader benefits feature a free rafting space with every 10 people, plus more. Group discounts apply with 20+ rafters. And the good news is, dam release rafting on the Lehigh River is less than 2 hours from New York City, most of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and much of the mid-Atlantic area.
While you're here, stay an extra day to enjoy our other adventures like rails-to-trails biking and paintball games.
Or, you can set your sights on upstate New York for world class whitewater rafting at the Hudson River or Black River
Guided Whitewater Rafting on the Lehigh River (enlarge)
The Lehigh River is a popular whitewater destination on the east coast for family fun, group programs, boy scouts, girl scouts, or a day out with friends. Our group leader benefits feature a free rafting space with every 10 people, plus more. Group discounts apply with 20+ rafters. And the good news is, dam release rafting on the Lehigh River is less than 2 hours from New York City, most of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and much of the mid-Atlantic area.
While you're here, stay an extra day to enjoy our other adventures like rails-to-trails biking and paintball games.
Or, you can set your sights on upstate New York for world class whitewater rafting at the Hudson River or Black River
Age range, type of group
Families, Corporate Groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Youth Camps, Singles, Church Programs, and more. Trips suitable for ages 5+ or 9+.
Whitewater Rafting on the Lehigh River (enlarge)
Sleeping and meals
The Adventure Campground at Whitewater Challengers offers convenient, comfortable access to Adventure Center activities like whitewater rafting, biking and kayaking in and around the Lehigh River Gorge State Park in the Poconos. Camping sites and rustic bunkhouses are just a few minutes' stroll from the rafting check-in area, food service, retail store and other Adventure Center facilities and activities.Our campground's sand volleyball court, basketball area and recreation field are available at no charge to our guests. A covered pavilion and group campfire/activity area may be reserved for use by your camping group for a small fee. Nearby opportunities for fishing, horseback riding, swimming, golf and more. Breakfast, lunch and dinner service are available to our guests (reservations sometimes required) from early Spring through October. The snack bar is open daily. Our retail store offers souvenirs, a variety of outdoor equipment and camping supplies. Hot showers and restrooms complete our Adventure Campground facilities. Showers are open from about mid-April through mid-October.
Girl Scout Raftoree at the Lehigh (enlarge)
Other Information
Checklist and Frequently Asked River Rafting Questions
1.What do we wear? In cold weather or water, a wet suit is best. These can always be rented at our rafting center. In milder conditions, a wool sweater or windbreaker is ideal. In warm summer weather, a swimsuit or shorts and T-shirt are appropriate. Always wear laced shoes with sturdy soles (wet suit boots or old sneakers are great). Loose-fitting sandals, flip-flops, "crocs" . bare feet and river socks are not permitted. Also, in cool or cold conditions avoid wearing cotton, either on its own, or under a wet suit or windbreaker. Cotton, when wet, loses all insulation value and will make you colder, not warmer. A ski-type cap is very important in colder weather, and a baseball cap, visor, or sunglasses are helpful in bright, sunny weather.
2.What can we bring? In the raft, bring as little as possible...on the Lehigh River, a light lunch, on our other rivers, a candy bar or light snack. If there is medication you do or might require, keep it with you on the river. Towels, dry clothes, valuables, and other than waterproof cameras should be left locked in your car.
3.How do we get back at the end of the day? Your vehicle will remain at our rafting center, and our free shuttle buses will take you to and from the river.
4.How deep is the water? River depths vary. Slow, calmer stretches of water tend to be those that are deeper. Faster, choppy water tends to be shallow, often 4 feet deep or less. Regardless of the depth, however, if you should find yourself overboard (this is rare, indeed) in fast moving water, the proper procedure is to float on your back, feet pointed downstream, and not attempt to stand until the water is less than 18 inches deep. A guide or nearby raft will assist you, or you may prefer to simply swim to shore.
5.Do I have to know how to swim? Swimming ability is not required. (Nevertheless, if you are especially apprehensive in or around water, you may want to consider one of our land-based adventures, ex: Mountain Biking, ZipLine Adventure. Rafting, by its nature, places you on, in or around water most of the day.) On all of our trips a PFD is worn at all times. Safety equipment will not fit all shapes and sizes, so please consider this in planning your reservations. Also, please remember that whitewater rafting is an active sport that requires some exertion on your part. The larger the rapids, the better your physical conditioning should be.
6.How big are the rapids? Rapids are rated from Class I (easiest) to Class V (most challenging). Class VI is considered to be not navigable without unreasonable risk of injury. Our easiest trips feature Class I or II rapids. At the Lehigh River, our more exciting trips feature Class III whitewater. At the Hudson and Black Rivers in New York, you'll find Class IV rapids.
7.Do I need experience? All our trips are open to first time rafters.
8.How old must I be? Minimum age for our easiest trips is 5. Other trips post minimum ages of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. Please refer to individual trip descriptions for specific minimum age requirements.
9.How do I decide which river to run? For youth groups, families and first timers, we generally recommend beginning with a trip on the easier portion of the Lehigh River, the Salmon River, the middle Moose River or a summertime trip on the Hudson River. For a more challenging adventure, select a Dam Release Lehigh River trip, a summertime Black River trip, or a Springtime Hudson River trip. For very challenging whitewater, choose the Black River in May or early June, or the Hudson River in April.
Boy Scout Troop Rafting on the Lehigh River (enlarge)
1.What do we wear? In cold weather or water, a wet suit is best. These can always be rented at our rafting center. In milder conditions, a wool sweater or windbreaker is ideal. In warm summer weather, a swimsuit or shorts and T-shirt are appropriate. Always wear laced shoes with sturdy soles (wet suit boots or old sneakers are great). Loose-fitting sandals, flip-flops, "crocs" . bare feet and river socks are not permitted. Also, in cool or cold conditions avoid wearing cotton, either on its own, or under a wet suit or windbreaker. Cotton, when wet, loses all insulation value and will make you colder, not warmer. A ski-type cap is very important in colder weather, and a baseball cap, visor, or sunglasses are helpful in bright, sunny weather.
2.What can we bring? In the raft, bring as little as possible...on the Lehigh River, a light lunch, on our other rivers, a candy bar or light snack. If there is medication you do or might require, keep it with you on the river. Towels, dry clothes, valuables, and other than waterproof cameras should be left locked in your car.
3.How do we get back at the end of the day? Your vehicle will remain at our rafting center, and our free shuttle buses will take you to and from the river.
4.How deep is the water? River depths vary. Slow, calmer stretches of water tend to be those that are deeper. Faster, choppy water tends to be shallow, often 4 feet deep or less. Regardless of the depth, however, if you should find yourself overboard (this is rare, indeed) in fast moving water, the proper procedure is to float on your back, feet pointed downstream, and not attempt to stand until the water is less than 18 inches deep. A guide or nearby raft will assist you, or you may prefer to simply swim to shore.
5.Do I have to know how to swim? Swimming ability is not required. (Nevertheless, if you are especially apprehensive in or around water, you may want to consider one of our land-based adventures, ex: Mountain Biking, ZipLine Adventure. Rafting, by its nature, places you on, in or around water most of the day.) On all of our trips a PFD is worn at all times. Safety equipment will not fit all shapes and sizes, so please consider this in planning your reservations. Also, please remember that whitewater rafting is an active sport that requires some exertion on your part. The larger the rapids, the better your physical conditioning should be.
6.How big are the rapids? Rapids are rated from Class I (easiest) to Class V (most challenging). Class VI is considered to be not navigable without unreasonable risk of injury. Our easiest trips feature Class I or II rapids. At the Lehigh River, our more exciting trips feature Class III whitewater. At the Hudson and Black Rivers in New York, you'll find Class IV rapids.
7.Do I need experience? All our trips are open to first time rafters.
8.How old must I be? Minimum age for our easiest trips is 5. Other trips post minimum ages of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. Please refer to individual trip descriptions for specific minimum age requirements.
9.How do I decide which river to run? For youth groups, families and first timers, we generally recommend beginning with a trip on the easier portion of the Lehigh River, the Salmon River, the middle Moose River or a summertime trip on the Hudson River. For a more challenging adventure, select a Dam Release Lehigh River trip, a summertime Black River trip, or a Springtime Hudson River trip. For very challenging whitewater, choose the Black River in May or early June, or the Hudson River in April.
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