Bicycle Trail Vacations

Pennsylvania: Lehigh Gorge Trail

Click on a town for a local map

Length: 25 miles, one way
Trail Surface: Crushed stone
Suitable for: MTBs, Hybrids
Difficulty: Easy
Families/kids: Yes
Our rating (out of 5): ****
User rating (out of 5): ****   read reviews (2)
Other trail uses: Horses, XC skiing, Hiking, Snowmobiling
Climbing from from White Haven to Jim Thorpe: 109 feet
Climbing from from Jim Thorpe to White Haven: 641 feet
Elevation gain (-loss) from White Haven to Jim Thorpe: -532 feet

Official sites
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

One of the most wonderful things about this trail is that it is a relatively flat oasis among some very rugged terrain. The roads in this area have some long, steep climbs that would test even a very good cyclist. But riding along this peaceful trail, you would never know - or even care - that the climbs are there. Riding from Jim Thorpe to White Haven, the trail is slightly uphill, gaining less than 650 feet in 24 miles. That comes to about 25 feet per mile, and hardly noticeable. Still, if you are looking for an easier ride, there are outfits in Jim Thorpe that will shuttle you and your bike to Rockport or White Haven for an all-downhill ride!

Of course, the ruggedness of the area is part of what gives the trail its beauty. The trail is very scenic and well marked. As you follow the river as it meanders through the gorge, you get the distinct feeling that you are traveling the wrong direction. And, at times, you are! When traveling from South to North, a few times you will actually be riding South as you parallel the river around an oxbow.

Services along the trail are minimal as there are only a few access points to the gorge. Keep this in mind if traveling with children. The town of Rockport, which roughly marks the middle of the trail, has restrooms and a restaurant.

The quaint town of Jim Thorpe makes an ideal jump-off point for the trail. There is plenty of parking, and (if you plan to do the whole trail in a day) the first leg is uphill, making for a slightly easier downhill finish.

A bend in the snowy trail.	Maybe it would be better to wait for Spring!
A waterfall just North of Rockport.	Somewhere south of White Haven.