With record hot temperatures hitting the Lehigh Valley this summer, the region’s plethora of lakes and rivers have never looked more enticing. For both the adventure and relaxation-inclined, kayaking and canoeing lets you enjoy these bodies of water — with the option of getting wet.
Here are seven local waters where you can rent kayaks and canoes, or take your own for recreation. Some are in state parks, which have visitor fees and require boat registration or a launch permit to launch nonpowered boats, including kayaks and canoes. Lifejackets are required for boaters in kayaks and canoes by Pennsylvania law.
Beltzville Lake
Just south of the Poconos and nestled in Beltzville State Park, the almost 1,000-acre Beltzville Lake is a popular fishing spot for both humans and waterfowl alike. Visitors can rent kayaks and canoes, along with stand-up paddle boards, rafts, pedal boats and pontoons at Beltzville Boat Rental, open daily during the summer west of the swimming beach.
While jet skiing is popular on the lake, Park Manager Cody Miller said that “significant portions” of the water are no wake zones, perfect for nonpowered boating and fishing.
“It’s very busy for all forms of boating,” he said.
For those with their own boats, the Pine Run boat launch and Preachers Camp boat launch give access on opposite sides of the lake.
- Beltzville State Park: 2950 Pohopoco Drive, Franklin Township
- Beltzville Boat Rental: 2950 Pohopoco Drive, Franklin Township
- Pine Run boat launch: 140 Deer Lane, Towamensing Township
- Preachers Camp boat launch: 575-975 Preacher’s Camp Drive, Towamensing Township
Delaware Water Gap
The bistate national recreation area, sandwiched between interstates, surrounds the Delaware River east of Stroudsburg. Visitors can check out conditions on the river at Delaware River Conditions, though this stretch of the river is known for its mostly mild and flat conditions.
There are several kayak and canoe rental businesses nearby, including Adventure Sports and Chamberlain Canoes (which offer multiday trips), and Shawnee River Trips.
There is no entrance fee for visitors, but there are amenity fees for launching boats. In the region, the Kittatinny Beach boat launch is upstream from the Worthington State Forest boat launch, both on the New Jersey side of the river.
- Delaware Water Gap: 1978 River Road, Middle Smithfield Township
- Adventure Sports: 398 Seven Bridge Road, Smithfield Township
- Chamberlain Canoes: 103 Five Star Lane, Smithfield Township
- Shawnee River Trips: Shawnee Inn Drive, Smithfield Township
- Kittatinny Beach boat launch: Kittatinny Visitors Center, Knowlton Township, New Jersey
- Worthington State Forest boat launch: Old Mine Road, Knowlton Township, New Jersey
Green Lane Park
The several lakes in Green Lake Park in Montgomery County have a diverse set of regulations. The largest, Green Lane Reservoir, at 814 acres, is owned by a water utility company and has the strictest boating regulations: all boats require park registration, a permit, and a 10-day quarantine before launching. Those who wish to take a shortcut can rent kayaks and paddleboards from Green Lane Boats in the east corner of the lake.
The very nearby Deep Creek Lake, at 38 acres, requires no park boating permits or quarantining, and has a public boat launch. The adjacent and slightly smaller Knight Lake does not allow boating, as it has been converted into a bird sanctuary, said Joe Seltzer, the regional park manager for Montgomery County parks, trails, and historic sites. “Come prepared and just enjoy,” he said. “That’s what it’s there for.”
- Green Lane Park: 2144 Snyder Road, Upper Frederick Township
- Green Lane Reservoir: 1051 Walt Road, Upper Hanover Township
- Green Lane Boats: 2821 Hill Road, Upper Frederick Township
- Deep Creek Lake: 2058 Snyder Road, Upper Frederick Township
Jim Thorpe
In the southern Poconos, with the Lehigh River snaking through, the town of Jim Thorpe offers many public boat access ramps and whitewater for the adventurous. Jim Thorpe River Adventures and the downstream Extreme Adventure Travel Outfitters offer kayaking and whitewater rafting.
The Jim Thorpe Access boat ramp is just off of the Lehigh Gorge Trail next to Route 209. Just to the north, Lehigh Gorge State Park hosts a plethora of boat launches, including the Lehigh Gorge, Leighton and the downstream Bowmanstown boat ramps, and the Glen Onoko Access Area.
“It is absolutely beautiful,” park Manager Stacie Hall said about Lehigh Gorge. “It’s a nice, deep river gorge that you are traveling through.”
She also noted that the sections of the Lehigh River in the park are Class II and III whitewater and recommended that new visitors explore with an experienced guide.
- Jim Thorpe River Adventures: 123 Lehigh Drive, Lehighton
- Extreme Adventure Travel Outfitters: 465 Riverview Road, Lehighton
- Jim Thorpe Access: On D & L Trail, Across Lehigh Avenue from 20 Packer Hill Ave., Jim Thorpe
- Lehigh Gorge boat ramp: Lehigh Gorge Trail, Jim Thorpe
- Leighton boat ramp: Near 123 Lehigh Drive, Lehighton
- Bowmanstown boat ramp: Near 57 Bowmans Road, Lehighton
- Glen Onoko Access Area: Lehigh Gorge Trail, Jim Thorpe
Lake Nockamixon
The reservoir southwest of Allentown, at 1,450 acres, is in Nockamixon State Park. With five public launching areas open 24 hours a day, Lake Nockamixon is a welcome spot for all different types of boaters. Kayakers and canoers are frequenters of Three Mile Run and Haycock access areas, whereas the marina and Tohickon access are favored by sailors.
Those without their own boats can rent from Nockamixon Boat Rental at the midpoint of the lake’s length, or the nearby Nature’s Way Canoe & Kayak.
- Nockamixon State Park: 1542 Mountain View Drive, Haycock Township
- Three Mile Run access: 2784 Three Mile Run Road, East Rockhill Township
- Haycock access: 2100-2162 Mountain View Drive, Haycock Township
- Lake Nockamixon marina: 1542 Mountain View Drive, Haycock Township
- Tohickon access: Off Mountain View Drive near Pheasant Run Road, Haycock Township
- Nockamixon Boat Rental: 1542 Mountain View Drive, Haycock Township
- Nature’s Way Canoe & Kayak: 2540 Mountain View Drive, Nockamixon Township
Southern Lehigh River
Separated by the Lehigh Gap, the southern end of the Lehigh River is known to be calmer than its northern counterpart. Threading through the Lehigh Valley’s three cities — Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton — this section also provides a plethora of boating rental options and access points.
The Allentown Canal Park access is close to the center of the city, and the downstream Sand Island access is closer for Bethlehem residents. The latter is adjacent to Historic Bethlehem River Tours, which offers guided kayak and bike tours.
On the way to Easton is the Delaware & Lehigh Trail, which has boat access at Nagy’s Landing Trailhead in Bethlehem Township and the Route 33 access point in Easton.
- Allentown Canal Park access: 101 E Walnut St., Allentown
- Sand Island access: Near Historic Bethlehem River Tours, River Street, Bethlehem
- Historic Bethlehem River Tours: 240 River St., Bethlehem
- Nagy’s Landing Trailhead: Down trail from D&L Farmersville Road Trailhead, 4352-4388 Wilson Ave., Bethlehem Township
- Route 33 access: Palmer-Bethlehem Township Bikeway, Bethlehem Township
Merrill Creek Reservoir
The deepest man-made lake in New Jersey is known as a fishing haven: Merill Creek Reservoir. The private property — spanning 2,700 acres with a 650-acre reservoir — is open 7 a.m. to a closing time based on the season (8 p.m. until Labor Day). Also importantly, it is free to the public, according to the reservoir’s environmental specialist John Parke.
“This is a haven for wildlife, but it is also an area that’s free to the public to come utilize for passive recreation,” he said.
No commercial businesses are permitted on the lake, which means visitors don’t have options to rent kayaks or canoes. However, there is a boat ramp for kayak and canoe owners by the visitor center at the eastern tip of the lake.
Parke emphasized that swimming is prohibited and that the reservoir has a 9-feet minimum for kayaks due to unpredictable wind conditions.
“Make yourself very acquainted with the rules,” he said. “It’s on the website, it’s on brochures, it’s in the kiosk, and you’ll have the greatest day ever. If you don’t, things could get real bad, real fast.”
- Merill Creek Reservoir Visitor Center: 34 Merrill Creek Road, Washington, New Jersey
Mount Pocono
The Pocono Mountains, about an hour drive north of Allentown, encompass several state parks and a federal park (some of which are already on this list). The region might just be a local boaters paradise, with 150 lakes and 170 miles of the Delaware and the Lehigh rivers.
“With having those rivers, we have great whitewater opportunities,” said Chris Barrett, president and CEO of Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. He also highlighted that these rivers have what he called the “some of the best freshwater fishing in the United States.”
The man-made Lake Wallenpaupack is the largest lake in the region at 5,700 acres and has both free and fee boat launch areas. One free option is in Mangan Cove at the north end of the lake.
“Not only do a lot of folks live around and near the lake, but they actually recreate there all year long,” Barrett said.
There are plenty of public boat launches for the variety of bodies of water and 12 kayaking and canoeing rental suggestions on the official Pocono Mountains website.
Lake Wallenpaupack
- Public boat ramp, Route 590, Hawley
- Pine Crest Marina, 839 Route 507, Palmyra Township
- Lighthouse Harbor Marina, 969 Route 507, Palmyra Township
- Sterling Marina, 61 Lacawac Road, Salem Township
- 1st Klas Marina, 387 Route 507, Palmyra Township
Selma O’Malley is a freelance writer.
