Lehigh River Sojourn - Wildlands Conservancy

There’s FAMILY FUN Out Here

The 28th annual Lehigh River Sojourn, June 8 – 11, 2024 is Wildlands Conservancy’s guided paddling trip on the Lehigh River. We invite YOU and your family on an adventure of whitewater rafting through the Lehigh Gorge in the Poconos, along with a canoeing or kayaking experience through the metro-wilderness reaches of the Lehigh River in the Lehigh Valley.

Sojourners are treated to scenic views, visits from resident wildlife, and a shared appreciation for the lifeblood of our region — our mighty and beloved Lehigh River!

Bring your sense of adventure.

We’ll take care of the rest.

Catered lunches
All equipment provided.
Bring your own canoe/kayak permitted. We’ll shuttle it for you!
Dedicated safety team and paddling instruction.
Shuttle transportation
Educational presentations
Overnight camping
FREE meals included (see days for more info)

Paddle Into Summer!

Each day boasts a different get-outdoors experience on the water with unique views and experiences. Sojourn this year includes educational programming each day from our neighbors in conservation and environmental education, camping at various parks, and even special events.

On Day 3, Sojourners are encouraged to stick around after paddling for the joint-celebration of Northampton County Parks and Recreation’s 50th anniversary and Lehigh Valley Greenway’s 20th anniversary! Participants will receive a food truck voucher and can enjoy live music.

Day 4 includes the exclusive opportunity to explore the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor’s new special exhibition “Putting Down Routes: From Native Trails to Interstates” at the National Canal Museum.

Learn more and register below!

Meet at Pocono Whitewater (1519 State Route 903, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229) at 8:00 A.M.

Enjoy whitewater rafting through the Lehigh Gorge State Park from Drakes Creek to Glen Onoko. Halfway through the day, we’ll stop to enjoy a catered lunch and take a group picture. Before paddling back out for the second leg of our whitewater rafting adventure, Wildlands’ President Chris Kocher will share conservation stories from Wildlands Conservancy’s more than 50-year history. The total trip on the water is 10.5 miles this day.

Shuttle and all equipment are provided.
Minimum age for whitewater rafting is 8-years-old
Sojourners must carry paddle and gear about half a mile to the river put-in.
Opt to camp overnight at the Mauch Chunk (Friday and Saturday night) for an additional $15

REGISTER FOR DAY 1 REGISTER TO CAMP

Meet at Walnutport Canal Association parking lot (309 Lehigh Street, Walnutport, PA 18088) promptly at 7:00 am for registration.

From Walnutport, the shuttle bus will take us to the put-in at Jim Thorpe Outfitter Beach at 7:15 A.M. We will shuttle your boat as well if you have one. Once at the Jim Thorpe Outfitter Beach, we’ll have breakfast and start our paddle downstream. We’ll paddle approximately 8 miles to Bowmanstown and stop for for a catered lunch, group picture, and educational program about watershed conservation held by Da Vinci Science Center’s Brandon Swayser. From here, we’ll paddle approximately 5 miles to Walnutport. The total trip on the water is 14 miles this day.

If you need a canoe, be sure to check “I would like to rent a canoe” option during registration.
Canoes seat two. Exceptions can be made to accommodate families with small children.
Opt to camp overnight at Walnutport Canal Association for an additional $15 with a FREE dinner from Walnutport Canal Association

REGISTER FOR DAY 2 REGISTER TO CAMP

Meet at Wayne A. Grube County Park (1200 Willowbrook Rd, Northampton, PA 18067) promptly at 7:45 A.M. for registration.

From Wayne A. Grube, we’ll take a shuttle bus at 8:00 A.M. to the put-in at Walnutport Canal Association boat launch. We will shuttle your boat as well if you have one. Once at the put-in, we’ll serve a light, simple breakfast and then start our paddle downstream approximately 5 miles. We’ll stop in Treichlers for a catered lunch, group picture, and educational program from Lehigh Gap Nature Center. From here, we will paddle 4 miles down the river to Northampton. The total trip on the water is 9 miles this day.

Afterwards, sojourners are encouraged to join in on the fun for Northampton County Parks and Recreation’s 50th anniversary and Lehigh Valley Greenway’s 20th anniversary joint-celebration! The celebration is open to the public and is located at Wayne A. Grube Park. Sojourn participants can enjoy food from food trucks with a food voucher courtesy of Northampton County as well as live music.

If you need a canoe, be sure to check “I would like to rent a canoe” option during registration.
Canoes seat two. Exceptions can be made to accommodate families with small children.
Opt to camp overnight (Monday) at Wayne. A Grube Park for FREE (dinner included)
We will shuttle sojourners who want to shower at Northampton Community Pool from Wayne A. Grube Park that evening.

REGISTER FOR DAY 3 REGISTER TO CAMP

Meet at Hugh Moore Park (2750 Hugh Moore Park Rd., Easton 18042) promptly at 7:30 A.M. for registration.

This first, 3.6-mile section section is great for viewing bald eagles and experiencing our “metro-wilderness.” We’ll stop at the Rt. 33 boat access for a catered lunch, group photo, educational program about canal and lock history with D&L Historian Martha Capwell-Fox, and closing ceremony. From here, we’ll paddle down the river to Hugh Moore Park. If the conditions are right, we’ll access Island Park along the way to explore the unique space. After taking out at Hugh Moore Park, sojourners will have the exclusive opportunity to explore the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor’s new special exhibition “Putting Down Routes: From Native Trails to Interstates” at the National Canal Museum for FREE as well as meet Wildlands Conservancy’s animal ambassadors and take a photo with them. The rest of the museum will be closed, but this exhibit will be open to sojourners. The total trip on the water is 8.8 miles this day.

If you need a canoe, be sure to check “I would like to rent a canoe” option during registration.
Canoes seat two. Exceptions can be made to accommodate families with small children.

REGISTER FOR DAY 4

Share Your Excitement

Use these images to tell your Facebook friends, family, and peers about this get-outdoors opportunity to paddle the Lehigh River this summer by right-clicking “save image as…” or copying and pasting the image.

Event Contact

Nicole Landis, Senior Environmental Educator
610-965-4397 ext. 145 | nlandis@wildlandspa.org

Questions about Sojourn?

The Lehigh River is the perfect opportunity to “get your feet wet!” We have one of the best safety teams in the state with more than 200 years of river-guiding experience. Anything can happen out there, but this group of river professionals is serious about providing a fun first-time river experience that runs as safely as possible. Many of your safety crew are swift water rescue technicians, and most think they are part-time comedians! You will laugh while you learn and paddle under the watchful eye of your safety crew. You will also find yourself surrounded by a bunch of other paddle-enthusiasts and Wildlands Conservancy staff.

Safety briefings are held each morning, and all participants MUST attend these briefings. During these briefings, you’ll learn how river water behaves, how to read currents, and then how to paddle your craft most effectively. Once you understand a little about the physics of river water, you’ll be amazed at how well you do. Once we put on the river, there is always a period of practice during which your safety crew will help you with a few paddling tips.

While supporting Wildlands Conservancy, you’ll enjoy the friendly group and all of the other aspects of the Lehigh River Sojourn – our meals, programs, and professional guides. Take this opportunity to learn more about the river that you already paddle on. Also, the Lehigh River Sojourn focuses attention on the river, inspiring its permanent protection and stewardship.

The Lehigh River Sojourn is hosted by Wildlands Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation organization. Contributions of time, goods, and services from our many sponsors and supporters allow us to keep participant costs as low as possible.

The price you pay for registration includes lunch, educational programming, and canoe (if needed).

Of course! The Lehigh River Sojourn is four days long but participants are welcomed for one day, all days, or any combination of the four!

We begin and end our trip at the same location each day, so your car stays put!

Wildlands Conservancy suggests you bring:

Swim apparel
Rain gear
Water bottle
Appropriate foot gear (sneakers, hiking boots, water shoes (NOTE: flip-flops are not appropriate foot gear), warm clothes (sweaters and/or jackets)
Emergency dry clothes
Hats/visors
Sunglasses
Sunblock/suntan lotion
Dry bag or double plastic bag (to keep things dry. You’re paddling in a river – there is a high probability that the stuff in your canoe may get wet)
Camping gear
Snacks
Any medication you will need.

All kayakers must bring and wear a kayak helmet (Bike helmets cannot be used).

Unless renting one of our canoes, sojourners are responsible for bringing their own personal flotation device (PFD).

Remember to read the weather reports! The Lehigh River Sojourn is a rain or shine event. Please dress according to the weather.

Wildlands Conservancy is not responsible for any participant’s personal items on the Lehigh River Sojourn. Please be advised that if you decide to bring items into your canoe and/or raft you are solely responsible for them.

That’s fine! All you need to do is select the registration with canoe rental.

Participants must be at least 8-years old for Day 1 and 6-years old for Days 2-4 . Participants under the age of 18 years old are the responsibility of, and must be accompanied by, a parent or guardian. Children should be able to swim and must wear properly fitted youth Type III PFD. Families are welcome to share a canoe with a small child in the middle – this is ultimately up to the Safety Team Captain to ensure the safety of all participants.

If you must cancel your registration, please notify Nicole Landis at 610.965.4397, ext. 145 or nlandis@wildlandspa.org.

In case of bad weather or other external circumstances, Wildlands Conservancy does have the right to cancel or alter a portion of the Lehigh River Sojourn in order to ensure the safety of the participants. If a portion of the Lehigh River Sojourn needs to be cancelled or altered, participants for that day will be notified as soon as possible and a new date will be determined. There will be NO REFUNDS due to cancellation.

Wildlands Conservancy does reserve the right to alter any portion of the trip to ensure the safety of participants. Trip alterations can include the length of the trip, switching to rafts due to water levels or delaying launch times.

Upon your arrival, you must first check in at Wildlands Conservancy’s registration table.

Maximum people per canoe = Two adults and one small child. If you require a canoe and you registered alone, you will be placed with a partner.

For your safety, please inform safety officers if it is your first time in a canoe.

Safety Briefings are held each morning. All participants are required to attend safety briefings each morning.

If using a canoe from Wildlands Conservancy, paddles and a Type III PFD will be provided.

For your safety and that of your fellow Lehigh River Sojourners, the following policies will be in effect during the entire trip:

No alcoholic beverages will be allowed on the river or at any Sojourn-sponsored event

No glass containers are permitted on the river

All participants must attend the daily safety briefing conducted by the Lehigh River Sojourn Safety Team Captain, Jerry McAward, before launching. Basic skill instruction will be available. Participants must adhere to safety guidelines presented.

Participants must wear a Type III USCG-approved personal flotation device (PFD) at all times on the river.

All directives of the safety officers must be followed in the event of bad weather, hazardous conditions, or an emergency.

No pets allowed.

All participants must sign a liability and photo waiver. Parents must sign for children under 18 years old.

No smoking.

Participants are responsible for their own trash/recycling and campsite clean-up.

In the event of an emergency involving you needing to contact a sojourn participant, call 610.965.4397