Pocono Whitewater Rafting - Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

BethAnnie M.

We had an amazing time white water rafting!! Super organized, and you can tell they know what they are doing.

Rafting: we did the mega dam release with class 3 & 4 rapids. Very organized. Lots of guides in and out of the water. Good pre- briefing. Multiple times we all stopped and the next rapids were explained ("stay left," single file. etc).

Staff: Michelle, Joe Pa, and the team were fantastic. Patient, energetic, kind. Whistles, loud voices, and experience kept us safe and having fun. Got a little history of the town on the way back.

Facilities: Clearly marked parking. Great briefing. No pressure to buy anything - photos, food, gift shop. No tips are expected. Bathrooms clean.

Rentals: Great process for renting stuff. 2 piece wetsuits and booties of all sizes. Clean and numerous changing facilities and even some "family style". Life jackets are included. No helmets were offered, so I will prob bring our own next time.

Disabilities: Yes handicapped parking, but rafting is not wheelchair/ mobility friendly. Definitely lots of walking/carrying raft on gravel, dirt path, stairs, etc. The buses are big school busses so steps are involved. BUT If you still want to be there while your peeps raft, there is lots to do. Gift shop, cafe, bonfire and people watching is fun. Staff is super friendly, and I'm sure they'd accommodate. If you can do a couple of stairs, you could also take one of their (school) buses into town for $5 so you could explore Jim Thorpe for a bit.

Dan M.

Definitely the best rafting outfit on the Lehigh River. If you live near or are visiting Eastern Pennsylvania and like spending a day outside you should try to paddle with Pocono Whitewater. Bring a few family / friends / coworkers and [potentially] watch their teamwork stats improve right in front of you.

Dress for the weather. Wear synthetic fabrics that dry quickly and are comfortable to wear when damp. It's typically a few degrees cooler down by the river than it is at the weather station your app uses. The best rafting happens in the rain (if you're dressed for it).

If you're doing the more advanced class III / Dam Release section you'll need to bring your lunch or buy it at the center. If you bring your own : put it in a sturdy zippable plastic bag. They'll give you a container to keep things organized but your sandwich is worth a little extra protection. The lunches you can buy at the center also come in a sturdy zippable bag.

The images are from September but go whenever they're open. All times of year look their best on the river.

Shadows

**Unforgettable White Water Rafting Adventure!**

I have had the opportunity to embark on multiple white water rafting trips with this company, and all single trips have been nothing short of spectacular. From start to finish, the experience was thrilling, well-organized, and filled with breathtaking moments.

**The Guides:** Our guides were amazing! Their expertise and passion for rafting were evident, and they made the trip both fun and safe.

**The River:** The river was a perfect mix of calm stretches and exhilarating rapids. The scenery was stunning, with lush forests and towering cliffs. Each rapid brought a new surge of adrenaline, and the moments of calm allowed us to soak in the beauty of our surroundings.

**Overall Experience:** Every white water rafting trip has been an unforgettable experience. The combination of thrilling rapids, stunning scenery, and exceptional guides made for a perfect adventure. Whether you're a seasoned rafter or a first-timer, I highly recommend this trip. It's an adventure you'll cherish for a lifetime!

Laurel C.

We did the 12:15pm Dam Release white water rafting, and it was so much fun (Aug2024).
Overall, the variety of calm water and rapids in the route is just right. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, and plenty of snacks/lunch for the midday stop (they'll go in a large bucket which goes on your raft).

Check in was easy - for the 12:15 time we were called for orientation at 12:45 so we did not feel rushed.
I would recommend going as a group of 4 to 6 people (we had 2 of us and joined a group of 4). One other note, there is no guide in the boat so someone in the group steers the boat from the back.

Our guides included Madison, "Baywatch", Trey, and a very knowledgeable older gentleman with a mustache (sorry I missed the name). They were very helpful the whole way, kudos to their team for expertly guiding all 25+ rafts.

Kevin K.

Went rafting here with a few friends on the Family Express tour. LOTS of staff here and they were all helpful answering questions, showing us where to go and what to do. Check-in was real easy and everything was easy to find. We were early, so it was enough time to fill out a short waiver and grab some drinks.

Once our group assembled and listened to a briefing from the staff, we loaded onto the buses and we were off. The bus ride there was about 25 minutes.

For the Family Express rafting trip, it starts at 3:30PM, 8 miles and lunch is NOT included. The rapids are Class II and III and there were 3 swimming spots where you could jump out the rafts and float along the Lehigh River.

There were about 5/6 guides with us in kayaks, but we mostly talked to 2 as we were mostly up front of everyone else. Aliyah and Eli. They were both super nice and great to have conversations with during the calm parts of the trip. Loved Aliyah's personality! (^_^)

We had a great time and day! Would highly recommend this place for rafting. Thank you!

Andy S.

We had a great time rafting. Not too tough rapids, but might change depending on rainfall. Store seemed reasonable. My shoes broke when we arrived, they rent water shoes for $8 and and sell cheaper ones for $12. Everyone there was helpful. We arrived 30 minutes before our time and got ready, then they said it would be another 30 minutes before we did the safety talk. We also got to the luncheon early, had to wait before we could eat, then got rushed to leave. So maybe 15-20 minutes to eat and drink. I think our group got shorted on both ends.

Dave E.

Me and my son had a great time on the family style whitewater trip. It was our first time rafting and we weren't sure what to expect. This was an easy trip with some fun rapids and we felt safe the entire time. We are planning to go back and do the class 2 and 3 rapids for a more exhilarating experience next time. We got some nice views toward the end of the trip with fog shrouded mountains. Very enjoyable day on the water.

Tina S.

We had a great time at Poconos Whitewater Rafting. We did the family rafting with our 8-year-old and she had a blast. The guides Madison, Creek, Kyle and others were great. It was definitely appropriate for younger children and the guides kept a good eye on everybody. All staff members, starting with the phone call to schedule the trip, were amazing and professional. Would definitely recommend and we'll be back soon for the Damn Release!