The Adventure Center at Whitewater Challengers offers superb outdoor adventures to nearly 30 million people residing within a three hour drive. Nestled in the shadows of Lehigh Gorge State Park, the 25-acre Adventure Center has built a reputation for informal, friendly service to visitors throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
Lush wooded campsites, convenient rustic bunkhouses, a full slate of evening programs and activities, fabulous buffet meals, and a delightful souvenir shop are a few features that make the Adventure Center the retreat of choice for tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Rafting trips on the Lehigh range from easy to exhilarating, with summertime dam releases making a great river trip even better. Biking along the scenic Lehigh Gorge rails-to-trails route is a popular second day outing, as are hiking, swimming, kayaking and orienteering programs. As the oldest, most experienced outfitter on the river, Whitewater Challengers has served over a million and a half guests in its more than 30 year history, logging over 12 million miles of guided whitewater rafting trips. With outposts on four additional rivers in upstate New York, there’s a trip here for every age and ability!
Rafting Trips and Adventure Programs
Three sections of the Lehigh provide a great choice for rafters. The lower section, from Jim Thorpe to Bowmanstown, features mainly class I and II whitewater … A nice introduction to rafting for first-timers, or for families with younger children. The upper sections of the Lehigh (inside Lehigh Gorge State Park) boast miles of class III rapids … Still suitable for first-timers, but with plenty of excitement even for veteran rafters. Thanks to a recent agreement between the Bureau of State Parks and the US Army Corps of Engineers, a series of weekend dam releases assures near-perfect water levels on designated weekends from May through September. Rafters can choose a day trip on any of the three river sections offered, or a two-day trip with overnight lodging at a nearby hotel or at the Adventure Center. For the very hearty, Whitewater Challengers’ Marathon trip encompasses the entire length of the Lehigh Gorge State Park … The longest whitewater rafting trip in the East!
For land-lubbers, the bike trail that parallels the river through the Gorge offers over 25 miles of easy, scenic, and downhill peddling. A view of the action on the river is an added treat for cyclers, as is the shuttle service from the end of the trail back to the Adventure Center.
Other popular programs include a two-day beginner whitewater kayak course, disc golf, orienteering, hiking trips, and nearby swimming and trekking at Hickory Run State Park.
Our Mission
We’re fond of telling folks that a visit to Whitewater Challengers will be “the most fun you’ll have all year.” We didn’t make that up. It’s what we’ve been told time and time again by our guests. It is why so many of our visitors have become our friends, our employees, and our best advocates. We understand fun. We aim to make every part of your day something you’ll savor and remember. It’s our mission and we’re stickin’ to it!
