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Pocono Whitewater Rafting Adventures

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SuzetteML
SuzetteML
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5 out of 5
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2
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Editor Pick

Riding the Rails and Rafting the River

  • August 14, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by MikeInTown from Norristown, Pennsylvania
Riding the Rails and Rafting the River

Friends of ours invited us to join them in doing the Train Ride & Rapids package offered by Pocono Whitewater. It consisted of an hour-long scenic train ride followed by 4 hours of family-style rafting in the Lehigh River Gorge. Although I did not care much for the train ride, the rafting was great fun.

We met at the CNJ Train Station in downtown Jim Thorpe, PA. In addition to metered parking, there is a parking lot that offers all-day parking for $5. For those doing the Train Ride & Rapids package, 2 hours of meter parking should be sufficient since you must drive to the rafting meeting point after the train ride.

We boarded the train for our "scenic ride". The car we were in has seen better days. There were cracks in the floor and chipped paint. Some of the windows were propped open and we were instructed not to touch them. There are no restrooms on the train so make sure you give yourself enough time to use the restrooms in the station before your trip.

Our ride was mainly through a wooded area that provided occasional glimpses of the river and a mountain for those seated on the right-hand side of the car. Those seated on the other side saw mainly old railcars and a wall. A half-hour into the journey, the train came to a stop, the engine was relocated to the rear of the train, and we headed back to the station. The seats in the cars are reversible.

We had about 45 minutes after our train ride before we needed to head to the check-in for the rafting portion of the package. We spent that time walking around historic downtown Jim Thorpe. There are antique shops, eateries, B&B’s, and lots of Victorian architecture. Up in the hills are old mansions, one of which was used by Walt Disney as a model for the Haunted Mansion ride in Disney World.

Check-in for the rafting trip is in the Pocono Whitewater village located about 20 minutes by car from the train station. Check-in consisted of signing waivers, getting fitted with lifejackets, and attending a safety briefing. There are facilities for changing clothes. Swimsuits or clothes you don’t mind getting soaked are recommended. Water shoes, sun block, and a waterproof camera are also recommended, but definitely not flip flops. We locked our belongings in our cars. There is a key rack at the registration desk. I ended up using a safety pin to attach my car key to the inside of a pocket in my swim trunks.

We boarded a school bus which, to my surprise, drove us back to the train station to embark on our rafting trip. It had been almost 1.5 hours from check-in until the time we hit the water. There were about 20 rafts on our trip, each containing up to 6 people. Guides in kayaks traveled along the river keeping the group together and safe.

Since we were doing family-style rafting, the whitewater we occasionally faced was no more than Class II – slightly more than choppy ripples. Those looking for more challenging whitewater should consider the dam release weekend.

Getting soaked seemed to be the goal of our trip. Each raft contains a bail bucket which inevitably got used to throw water at other rafts. You can bring along water guns or purchase them at the Pocono Whitewater village. There were sections of the river where you are allowed to get out of your raft and swim. The water is remarkably clear. My favorite section of our journey was "The Jungle". This is where the river flows through a forested area that gives you the impression you are entering a cave as you float beneath the dark canopy of the trees and other flora.

Halfway through our trip down the river, we took a lunch break on shore where we were served hot dogs, potato chips, potato salad, lemonade, ice tea, and water. If these items are not your preference, you are welcome to bring your own lunch. You’ll be given a lidded bucket to take on your raft to keep your food dry.

The mild flow of the river was great practice for maneuvering the raft. Our final challenge was to negotiate Class II rapids that flowed between two boulders. Our problem was too many rafts traveling in the narrow space at the same time. This caused two rafts to flip over sending their passengers for a swim. We were able to scoop a 10-year old girl and her uncle into our raft on our way to the endpoint of the trip a few yards away. All was good.

A school bus took us back to the village where a magnificent bonfire awaited us. Its heat felt so nice on our drenched bodies. We got changed and visited the office where pictures of us on the river were being sold. It had been an absolutely fabulous experience. I thought the train ride was a bit of a tourist trap but the rafting was a blast. Packages are available that do not include the train ride.
Editor Pick

Whitewater Rafting Adventures

  • July 22, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by SuzetteML from Enfield, Connecticut
WOW! What an adventure! If you are in the Lehigh River Valley, or close to it, and have a spirit of adventure, you have got to go rafting with Whitewater Rafting Adventures! They were the best. We have three girls, ages 16, 11, and 8 and they just loved the day that we spent on the Lehigh River, just outside of Jim Thorpe, PA.

They provide a guide both in the front of the rafts and another behind, but you paddle yourselves down the river and through the rapids. We’ve been on a rafting trip before, but had a guide in the raft with us. This time we had to get around using our own ingenuity. It was so much fun! The guide gave lots of great safety tips and maneuvering advice before we left, so we were well equipped to pilot our raft for the day.

They provide life vests, paddles, rafts, and a waterproof bucket to keep the bagged lunch that we provided dry. You may want to bring a helmet, I didn’t see where they provided these, but we didn’t ask, either.

Going in the summer allowed us to experience class 2 rapids. Being a milder ride, they allow children age 5 and up to go. It was such a nice trip down river, the scenery was beautiful and the water cool. Every once in a while, you are allowed to jump out of the raft and swim in the river, provided that you have someone strong enough left in the raft to pull you back in!

The guides were always around, checking on everyone’s progress and condition. I got bumped out of our raft on one of the rapids, and the front guide started coming over to help me immediately. Before he could reach me, he saw that I was all right, having fallen only in water that was below my knees.

Halfway through our trip, we pulled over to a nice rocky beach and had our lunch. It was nice to be able to take a little break. Once the trip is over, you take a 20-minute bus ride back to the facility. They provide warm showers, a changing room and best of all, a free hot dog cookout at the end of each trip!

We thought the fee was very reasonable, $33.95 for adults over 12, and $24.95 for under 12, and the second child is free with 2 paying adults. This is for summer rafting, other seasons have different pricing. They also offer wetsuit, bootie and mitt rentals, pre-ordered lunches and group rates. If rafting isn’t your thing, they also rent mountain bikes and have paintball facilities. Check them out at Whitewater Rafting Adventures or call 800-876-0285 for more information.

From journal Pennsylvania Poconos-Not just for Honeymooners

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