Things to do nearLehigh Gorge State Park - Rockport Access

Lehigh Gorge State Park stretches roughly 26 miles through a deep river canyon carved by the Lehigh River, and the Rockport Access near Weatherly sits near the upper end of this wild corridor. The gorge itself was shaped by centuries of glacial meltwater and later altered by the anthracite coal industry, whose remnants, old railroad grades and stone retaining walls, now form the backbone of the trail system.

The converted rail trail running through the park is flat and well-surfaced, making it accessible for hikers and cyclists of varying ability. From the Rockport Access trailhead you can head south through the canyon, passing dramatic rock outcroppings and cascading tributary streams. The gorge walls rise steeply on both sides, and in quieter stretches you may spot great blue herons wading at the river's edge or osprey circling overhead.

Paddlers prize the Rockport put-in for access to some of the kayaking and whitewater rafting stretches the Lehigh is known for, particularly during spring releases from the Francis E. Walter Dam upstream. The Pocono Mountains region surrounding the park adds further outdoor context, with forested ridges visible from the canyon rim.

For anyone seeking genuine Pennsylvania wilderness without a long drive from the eastern part of the state, Lehigh Gorge State Park Rockport Access delivers a compelling mix of history, scenery, and river adventure in one compact entry point.