Departure: 9:00 AM
Monday – Saturday
Put-In: Sand Island River Access Point
240 River Street, Bethlehem, PA
We put in at Sand Island and begin a guided 5-mile paddle down the Lehigh River. The steady current carries you forward. There are a few waves along the way — no rapids — just enough movement to remind you you’re in real water, in real nature.
About 30 minutes in, the river curves, and the iconic Bethlehem Steel Stacks rise into view. We pause for photos and storytelling at one of Pennsylvania’s most striking riverfront landmarks. From this vantage point, history feels immediate and alive.
As we continue downstream, the landscape opens to Bethlehem’s “Metro Wilderness.” Blue herons lift from the shoreline. Turtles warm themselves on fallen logs. Geese squawk loudly as they fly past overhead. And every so often, a bald eagle appears — wild, watchful, unmistakable — a reminder that this river still belongs to nature.
When conditions allow, we slip into one of the river’s narrow tributaries for a brief exploration. The banks draw close. The water runs cooler and shallower. The space feels enclosed and distinctly different from the open river. We paddle upstream as the current steadily strengthens, the effort building until the creek makes the decision for us.
Then it’s time to turn.
You pivot, let the current take hold, and glide effortlessly back into open water — that welcome sense of ease returning as the river widens once again.
We take out at Nagy’s Landing, completing a scenic 5-mile journey that blends industry, wildlife, exploration, and flow.
After the Paddle
From the take-out, the experience continues.
Many guests transition onto a mountain bike for an easy, flat ride along the D&L Trail, part of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Once the artery of coal and steel, today it offers a peaceful ride beneath a canopy of green, with the river on one side and the historic canal on the other. As you pedal, you pass the locktender’s house, the mule barn, and the original canal locks — quiet reminders that you’re moving through history.
Prefer a different pace? Choose the narrated shuttle return to Sand Island. Settle into a comfortable ride as your guide continues the story, pointing out 1700s stone farmhouses, Nisky Hill Cemetery, and layers of Moravian lore woven into the valley. You’ll pass the hillside presence of Lehigh University, named one of the nation’s most beautiful college campuses.
As you travel back along the corridor you’ve just explored, the view outside becomes part of the narrative — connecting the Steel era, early settlement, and Bethlehem’s modern revival.
All equipment, guiding, and shuttle logistics are included.
Historic Bethlehem River Tours creates story-rich outdoor adventures from put-in to take-out — thoughtfully designed for motion, meaning, and memory.
Because sometimes the best part of the day isn’t just where you go —
It’s what you discover along the way.
See You on the River.
