Youth
Youth Whitewater Rafting

Paddle Challenging Rapids with Your Friends!

Join other New York youth on a ride down the thrill-packed Lehigh River Gorge during dam-release weekends. The Army Corps of Engineers frees thousands of gallons of water, and we’re going to ride it!

Surrounded by state-park-protected woodlands and mountains, you will enjoy 12 miles and five hours of Class I, II and III rafting and outstanding scenery. Within the deep gorge, you’ll ride down through thick vegetation on the steep walls, rock outcroppings and waterfalls! Naturalist and painter John James Audubon visited this area to paint birds. You will see a great diversity of plants and animals: great blue herons, mergansers, kingfishers and beavers are common river residents. In summer, the Lehigh Gorge Trail is a great place to see snakes, fence lizards and warblers, especially black-and-white and magnolia warblers.

No experience necessary! We’ll paddle over 17 rapids, stopping to rest along the way. We provide lifejackets, wetsuites, booties, gloves, rafts and shuttle service to and from the river. Your guide will brief you on the do’s and don’t’s and also basic whitewater rafting skills. Lunch is included!

Event Intensity Level

This trip is Intensity Level 2. Read a full description of all levels.

Event Details

• Departure 8:00 AM from NE corner of 73rd Street and Broadway. You must arrive with your child at 7:45 AM for check-in; the van will leave at 8:00 AM sharp.
• Bring Snack, water, a change of clothes
• Return Around 7:00 PM
• Wear Swimsuit, sturdy river shoes (no flip-flops!), hat, season-appropriate synthetic athletic clothing (no cotton!). Wetsuits, booties and gloves included in price (if needed, during spring).

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Intensity Levels

This event or trip is Intensity Level 2.

Experienced, Fun & Qualified Guides

From cycling across the United States to leading horse treks through New Zealand to scaling Nepalese peaks, Outdoor Bound guides have real-world outdoor experience. Collectively, they have hiked, biked, climbed and kayaked tens of thousands of miles around the globe.

Whether their professional backgrounds are as teachers, personal trainers, artists, environmentalists or business leaders, they all have an extensive knowledge of the natural world and local history. Each guide has also passed a rigorous guide certification program and is trained in wilderness first aid or as a Wilderness First Responder.

Diverse & Interesting Groups

There is no typical Outdoor Bound participant. While ages typically range from 20 to 50, those who come to experience outdoor adventure range from singles to couples, from lawyers to waiters. They are a mix of women and men. While the group is always diverse, you will certainly feel welcome. Our guides go the extra mile to make the atmosphere of each trip social and fun. Many people in the Outdoor Bound community have forged lasting friendships as a result of our trips.

New Experiences

Skydiving, ice-climbing, hot-air ballooning, skiing and hiking every weekend are just a few of Outdoor Bound’s year-round adventures. These trips are accessible to everyone, including the novice, who might feel a little uneasy, the young urban professional trying to get away and even the adrenaline junkie looking for a new rush.

Environmental Awareness

“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures,” is the Leave No Trace motto embraced by Outdoor Bound. From purchasing bamboo T-shirts to printing with soy-based inks on recycled paper, Outdoor Bound strives to create the least environmental impact possible while on trips and in the office.

Other Trips in This Category

1. Youth Paintball
2. Youth Whitewater Rafting