Maybe you're a family or group looking for a wonderful day trip close to home on the easy rapids of what we call Section 3 of the Lehigh - 8 miles of FUN is yours with Jim Thorpe River Adventures' Summer Family Raft Trips. This stretch we run May through October and is perfect for 4 year-olds and up.

The easy action starts immediately, and you'll love the moments of excitement separated by quiet, serene pools perfect for swimming alongside your raft, coolin' out in the sun, or mixing it up in WATERFIGHTS. This trip is a hoot for the whole family - imagine everyone having a great time in the same boat!

Want a little more action in your Jim Thorpe River Adventure? Maybe you've done our Summertime Family Fun Raft Trip before and want to kick things up a notch? Add a quick dash of adrenaline and you have the trip we call "A Touch of Class 2" and this is just the ticket to step up to Lehigh Gorge whitewater rafting. Your river trip – 10 miles long and 4 hours in duration - starts one mile from our Rafting Center, at Glen Onoko. This beautiful area on the Lehigh River is a very cool place to start your day.

The Summertime Family Raft trip starts in the historic town of Jim Thorpe, passes through Lehighton and ends in Bowmanstown. You'll see great blue herons, kingfishers, and the occasional Bald Eagle during your day. Your fun-loving, experienced river guides will give you and your group a River Briefing. This is where you’ll be shown how to handle your raft, and the right way to paddle through the rapids of the Lehigh River. Your trip leader and guides spend the whole day with you – showing you how to have fun here on the Lehigh River. The guides escort your group of rafts down the river all day. The Point Guide leads the way, the Sweep Guide brings up the rear, and up to two Roamer Guides scoot around in the middle of the group. Each Jim Thorpe River Adventure guide will do their best to show you a good time!

If you choose "A Touch of Class 2" trip, you’ll be shooting down the rapids in the Class 2 rapid called Deaton’s Demise 5 minutes after you get in your raft! It’s a long, left-turning rapid that builds up to a great climax at Canary Hole – a favorite playspot for kayakers. As soon as it’s over, you’ll find yourself floating along in easy moving water with the scenic town of Jim Thorpe visible in the distance. There are lots of nice easy rapids all day long – a Class 2 rapid starts your day and the Class 2 rapid Final Exam ends your day. "A Touch of Class 2" adds a couple of miles to the Summertime Family Raft trip and starts things off with a bang! Try it for something just a little different!

Your trip includes a raft, paddles, personal flotation device, waterproof lunch containers, and more fun than you can stand. After your trip, take advantage of our hot showers, heated indoor changing rooms, shady picnic grounds, and on weekends - our free cookout - great for a little fill-up before your ride home!