Lehigh Gorge State Park
State park and rail trail
About
Lehigh Gorge State Park follows the Lehigh River through a deep, steep-walled gorge, from the Francis E. Walter Dam in the north to Jim Thorpe in the south. Its main draw is the Lehigh Gorge Trail, a gravel rail trail of about 26 miles that you can hike or bike. The state recommends wide tires.
The park is long and narrow, so access points are far apart. Parking areas are in White Haven, Rockport and Glen Onoko, and the trail climbs a 2 percent grade as you head north. Plan to shuttle or turn around. Waterfalls along the trail include Buttermilk Falls, a quarter mile north of the Rockport access, and Luke's Falls, a quarter mile south of it. The map pin is at the White Haven south access.
History
The state says a forest fire swept through the gorge in 1875 and burned the remaining timber and many sawmills. Around 1900, railroads made the southern end popular as a resort called Glen Onoko. Fires in 1911 and 1917 ended the hotel and the resort era. Pennsylvania began buying park land in the 1970s.
When to go
The park is open every day of the year, from sunrise to sunset. Contact the Hickory Run State Park office for facility seasons and hours.
Potable water is available seasonally at the Rockport and White Haven access areas. Restrooms are at White Haven, Rockport and Glen Onoko.
Good to know
The Glen Onoko Falls Trail is closed. The state says it has been closed since May 1, 2019, and a May 2026 news report says it will stay closed to visitors through 2026 while rehabilitation work continues. Stay off the closed trail.
Pennsylvania law requires bicyclists under 12 to wear an approved helmet.
Cell service is unpredictable, so download the park map before you go.
As of November 2026, Pocono Biking says a rockslide near Jim Thorpe has closed a 2-mile section of the D&L Trail until further notice. Check before you plan a ride between Glen Onoko and Jim Thorpe.
Price
- EntranceNo entrance fee
Prices checked November 2026 on the website of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. They can change, so check before you go.
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