White Haven
Named for Josiah White, co-founder of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co., the town today stands as the northern-most gateway to Lehigh Gorge State Park, and is best known for its rails-to-trails hiking and biking routes, whitewater rafting and paddling opportunities.
Here canal-meets-railroad and a community was born. In the 1800s White Haven enjoyed the enviable status of being the point where canal met rail. The Lehigh Canal began its southerly journey downstream to Easton, while the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad stretched north to Wilkes-Barre. Thanks to its status as a key link in the anthracite-shipping network, White Haven prospered. A visitor to town may have seen hundreds of railroad cars, laden with mountains of stone coal mined in the north and timber cut from White Haven’s surrounding forests - all waiting to be transferred onto the Lehigh Canal’s barges.
When a flood washed out the canal in 1862, railroads took over as the prime means of shipping goods and people. Following alongside the Lehigh River’s banks were the tracks of the New Jersey Central Railroad. A block away was the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Main Street ran between the two and housed two railroad stations, a pair of hotels and various stores. The stations and passenger trains have long since vanished, but you can still hear the whistle of Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad freight trains passing through town. Railroad buffs journey to White Haven to see the restored, 29-ton, yellow, Union Pacific caboose that sits along South Main St., housing railroad memorabilia.
To reach the White Haven Access Area, take Exit 273 on I-80. Follow PA 940 east to the White Haven Market, go through the parking lot, then bear left until you reach the parking area and trail head on the Lehigh River.
Things to see and do in White Haven
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The Auto Tour highlights John James Audubon's visit to the Upper Lehigh River where he studied the variety of birds and other wildlife. You can retrace Audubon's 1829 journey and experience the natural beauty of the region.
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The D&L Trail follows 165 miles of historic canal towpaths and rail lines that transported anthracite coal from mine to market. This path exposes walkers, hikers, bicyclists and others to some of Pennsylvania's finest wild lands, wildflowers and wildlife. It is one trail that travels through three distinct areas but ties the region together. It's an amazing journey for outdoor enthusiasts, families, history buffs and art lovers with hundreds of sites and stories waiting to be revealed.
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Deer Path Riding Stables offers a relaxing and scenic ride through the Pocono forests and a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Gentle horses, friendly, helpful guides and an "easy does it" pace make our ride suitable even for the first time rider.
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Francis E. Walter Dam is an 1,800-acre area with a small 80-acre reservoir that controls the flow of the Lehigh River. While there are no formal recreation facilities, picnicking, hiking and fishing are available, as is hunting, in season, on adjacent Pennsylvania Game Commission lands.
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With 16,000 acres, this large park has more than 40 miles of hiking trails, three state park natural areas and miles of trout streams. The Boulder Field, a striking boulder-strewn area, is a National Natural Landmark.
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Jack Frost & Big Boulder Ski Areas
Skiing/snowboarding packages for all abilities in winter. Jack Frost & Big Boulder's nationally-known summer music festivals entertain crowds of music lovers every year.
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A deep gorge with steep walls, thick vegetation, rock outcroppings, several waterfalls, and a 26-mile rail trail characterize Lehigh Gorge State Park.
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The Inn at Hickory Run provides the finest accommodations in a region filled with year-round outdoor activities
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In the 1860s, the second largest tannery in the United States sat on the banks of the Lehigh River at the small town of Lehigh Tannery.
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