Guide to the section of the Delaware & Lehigh (D&L) rail-trail that runs through Lehigh Gorge State Park.
47.3 or 30 miles – or less, total round trip. Lots of distance options. Rentals available. The rail-trail surface is hard packed gravel/dirt and well graded, but is a slight (2%) uphill grade when heading north.
- Shorter: Simply turn back sooner. Mile markers are on the map and posted along the trail.
- Shorter, 30 miles: Jim Thorpe north to Rockport and back.
- Use a shuttle service or the bike train: 25, 15, or 10 miles total, gently downhill.
- Also in P.A., ~1-hour away: Hike the Pinnacle and the Pulpit.
Biking Info:
Our two cents:
A popular 25-mile stretch of the Delaware & Lehigh (D&L) rail-trail runs through Lehigh Gorge State Park between Jim Thorpe and White Haven, Pennsylvania.
It’s a beautiful ride with the river on one side and forest on the other, with a few waterfalls along the way. There is only one minor road crossing in the entire stretch so it’s very nice being able to just ride.
However, you won’t be passing stores and restaurants on the way – so be sure to have provisions. There are plenty of picnic tables along the way and stores in Jim Thorpe and White Haven.
Bike rental, bike shuttle service, and a bike train is available in order ride it one-way (more details below). Ride in July when the rhododendron are blooming. The trail is mostly shady.
From Jim Thorpe to Penn Haven Junction the trail runs along an active railway, and you might spot the scenic train from Jim Thorpe chugging slowly by, with people waving out the windows.
Updated: 8/2023 – Revised page, new photos; re-biked 8/2022; moved original guide to Trail Blog. 5/2020 – Page refreshed, not re-hiked.
Parking: N40.86375° W75.73689°
Jim Thorpe Municipal Parking. 1 Susquehanna St, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. Large paved parking lot. Parking fee $8 [as of 8/2022]; paid by license plate at the kiosk.
From New Jersey… Rt 78W to 476N Exit 74, to 209/Lehigh Ave in Jim Thorpe. This is roughly 2 hours from most of NJ.
There are other lots, such as Glen Onoko just north of this, as well as others, but we find this big lot just an easy place to start and you’ll get a big view from a bridge soon after the start that you’d miss starting at a later lot.
It can fill up as it’s parking for the town as well as the Lehigh Gorge train (but that doesn’t leave until 11am so if you’re arriving early it might not matter).
Bike Rental / Shuttles:
This is a fantastic trail for people who don’t own bikes or want to give biking a rail-trail a try before buying one. Bike rental, trailhead shuttles, and the bike train are available.
Rent a bike and just get going, or use a shuttle service to drop off at certain sections. This allows you to ride the whole trail without having to ride it back too. Plus, riding north to south is a slight downhill so it’s easy peasy the whole way.
For example, get shuttled (or use the bike train) to White Haven and ride 25 miles back, or to Rockport and ride 15 miles back to Jim Thorpe.
Check into Pocono Biking for available routes, shuttles, and a map of the trail. Or, combine a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway north to White Haven then bike the 25 miles back to Jim Thorpe.
While we’ve never used either of these services (because we have our own and ride the trail up and back) we think they are solid options for a fun day.
Overnight Trip:
There are lots of lodging and restaurant options in the area and plenty of other things to do in the Jim Thorpe area (whitewater rafting in season, Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway etc) that make it a worthwhile overnight (or more) stay.
Our first time (2013) we drove there, biked 50 miles, got ice cream, and came back the same day. Totally doable but long day.
Our second time (2022) we stayed the night before at the Hampton Inn Lehighton-Jim Thorpe. We found this better priced than places right in town yet perfect for our needs. Got an early start on the trailhead only 10 min away, leisurely ride and picnic lunch, iced vanilla lattes on the drive back, and home by dinner.
Restrooms:
Jim Thorpe train lot had portable toilets (8/2022). Thought there was a bathroom building but didn’t notice it this time.
Glen Onoko parking, just north of Jim Thorpe, has a toilet marked on the map – though we didn’t stop to check out the lot and see.
Rockport has a restroom building with composting toilets right along the trail (photo below), and a water bottle refilling station. These had been recently renovated (thankfully – recall these were pretty rough before).
White Haven parking lot likely has portable toilets, and there might be restrooms at the bike rental place at the trailhead.
Related: NJ Bike Trails overview page.
Trail Maps/Books:
The park site has maps. Follow along on your smartphone with our Interactive Map link above. The trail is well marked with signposts listing distances to major spots.
Appears in Rail-Trails New Jersey & New York.
Refreshments:
Lots of food places at the start in Jim Thorpe and a supermarket is at the end in White Haven but nothing on the trail itself – so pack enough food.
Because we all know that biking (and hiking and kayaking for that matter) is really just an excuse to eat. Mmmm snacks.
The Details:
0.0 – The Lehigh Gorge Trail runs alongside the long narrow parking lot in Jim Thorpe, on the other side of the split-rail fence, and can be picked up at many points along the lot.
Where you start in the lot can vary the overall distance so we’ve started our mileage description where the parking lot ends – after riding under an overpass there’s a building and a low stone wall where the lot ends.
1.1 – Not far north of Jim Thorpe is a nice view from a bridge over the Lehigh River. This is the one big open vista of the trail, however – start from Glen Onoko and you miss it.
Looking ahead into the early morning mist. Below on the right is the Lehigh River.
1.6 – Pass the first of three parking areas on the right.
At the third parking area is a trail to the entrance of the Turn Hole Tunnel. This abandoned railroad tunnel is now off-limits due to instability of the rock.
On our first ride here we didn’t know this existed (no signs, not on the map) and now it’s closed for safety reasons so we’ve not been inside.
1.9 – Arrive at small bridge over the Lehigh River where the Turn Hole Tunnel is visible. A railway support is still in the water below.
Close up of the tunnel opening. The tunnel goes 496 feet through rock and was used for the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad from 1866 until 1910. The name, Turn Hole, comes from the bend in the river at this point. [Source: Wikipedia].
Just after the bridge pass the Glen Onoko parking area.
The surface of the Lehigh Gorge Trail is generally quite good the entire way – packed gravel or dirt with the occasional soft spot here and there. The surface is a little bit rougher after Rockport.
There is a 2% uphill grade when traveling from Jim Thorpe north towards White Haven. While minor, we do notice it.
On the return trip – or if biking this one-way from White Haven or Rockport south towards Jim Thorpe – it’s less effort and the ride is faster.
Trees do obscure a view of the river somewhat, more so even further north as the trail turns away from the river.
7.7 – Pass a box painted with a deer and “Independence” and “Welcome to Lehigh Gorge State Park”.
7.9 – The trail crosses over the train tracks at Penn Haven Junction. Tracks head off on the right and will now be on the other side of the river.
14.3 – Just before reaching Rockport is a cylindrical stone structure and Luke’s Falls, right along the trail.
Luke’s Falls is a small cascade that comes down the side of the gorge, goes under the bridge, and into the Lehigh River.
Unsure of the purpose of the structure… so use your imagination.
14.5 – Just after the falls is a small parking area at Rockport with toilets and water refilling station. There are stairs down to river level.
Rockport can be busy area with biking and rafting companies using it as a start/stop point. While we’ve never encountered groups here we have seen photos with a long line for the restrooms.
Buck Mountain Creek cascades over rocks as it flows past the parking area and under a bridge.
// Shorter option, 30 miles total roundtrip – Turn around at Rockport and head back. //
14.9 – Buttermilk Falls, not far after Rockport and also right along the trail. Water tumbles down a few rock tiers into a flat rocky area where water pools.
If only I had a dollar for every waterfall that was named “Buttermilk Falls”. Such as Buttermilk Falls in Layton, New Jersey, which is the most notable but not the only Buttermilk Falls in Jersey.
22.3 – Continue through a small parking area and cross Tannery Road. There was another cascade before Tannery Road but we did not mark it.
23.6 – Arrive at the White Haven parking area after passing under an overpass for Rt. 80. Turn around and retrace the route back to Jim Thorpe.
Just a bit further is a bike place and then a parking lot for a shopping center. The trail does continue more to Port Jenkins after a brief section through town, if you have more energy.
The bridge just before Jim Thorpe, on the ride back:
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Biked 8/31/22. Jim Thorpe to Tannery Road, 45.3m, construction prevented going to White Haven.
Biked 7/25/13. Trail Blog: “Biking Lehigh Gorge State Park“