Lehigh Gorge State Park, Lehigh River Delaware Watershed Tour 2017, 3rd stop

The river has carved out its own path and created a gorge that runs from the F.E.Walters Dam to Jim Thorpe. It’s well known for whitewater rafting, and there’s a good wide trail that follows the river. The Lehigh Gorge Trail follows over 20 miles of abandoned railroad along the river, making for easy walking.

But it turns out that this trail is just part of a much bigger story. It’s a part of a huge historic conservation program called the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor — www.delawareandlehigh.org — that runs from Wilkes-Barre (not in the Delaware River watershed) to Washington’s Crossing, which is right on the Delaware River, and includes cities like Allentown and Bethlehem, as well as Levittown and Yardley, Pa.

A National Heritage Area is a region that has been recognized by the U.S. Congress for its unique qualities and resources. It is a place where a combination of natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources have shaped a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape.

In this part of the watershed, special attention is paid to coal mining and the developments of the Industrial Revolution.

But in the Lehigh River’s northern reaches, none of that matters. Its waters are clear and cold.. Its web site has plenty of things to do that will help you enjoy the outdoors: http://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/LehighGorgeStatePark/Pages/default.aspx