Access Site
PA
Sand Island
City: Bethlehem, PA
County: Lehigh County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 40.61509197, -75.38630885
Air Temp: --
Location
Interactive access map
Loads when you reach this section.
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Runs on Lehigh River
8 runsDifficulty Classes
I Easy
II Novice
III Intermediate
IV Advanced
V Expert/Extreme
VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site:
Put-in at this location
This location is on the run
Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Downstream from here Upstream from here
I-III
Downstream from here (39.1 mi to put-in)
0.4 Stoddartsville Falls, Stoddartsville, PA to Francis Walter Dam
8.0 mi
I-III
Upstream from here (4.1 mi from take-out)
4. East Penn Boat Ramp, Bowmanstown,PA to Canal Park, Allentown
23.0 mi
I-II
Upstream from here (22.3 mi from take-out)
3. Glen Onoko to East Penn Boat Ramp, Bowmanstown, Pa
11.0 mi
12 ft/mi
II-III
Upstream from here (31.7 mi from take-out)
2. Rockport to Glen Onoko
13.1 mi
30 ft/mi
II-III
Upstream from here (35.1 mi from take-out)
1. White Haven to Rockport
9.1 mi
30 ft/mi
I-III
Upstream from here (39.2 mi from take-out)
0.3 DCNR Thornhurst Lehigh River Access to PA 115 Stoddartsville, PA
6.5 mi
II(III)
Upstream from here (40.4 mi from take-out)
0.5 Francis Walters Dam to White Haven
6.0 mi
15 ft/mi
I-III
Upstream from here (41.6 mi from take-out)
0.2 PA 435 Gouldsboro, PA to DCNR Thornhurst Lehigh River Access
7.1 mi
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
Sand Island Boat Ramp provides direct access to the Lehigh River in Bethlehem and serves as a popular put-in and take-out point for kayakers, canoeists, and motorized boaters. Located beneath the Hill-to-Hill Bridge and a low railroad bridge, the ramp is easy to find once you cross onto Sand Island—turn right and drive under both bridges, then look for the ramp on the left side. An open parking area is available immediately adjacent to the launch site.
This is a basic, no-frills access point with no facilities on-site, so plan accordingly. The location works well as either a starting point or endpoint for river trips on the Lehigh. Many paddlers use Sand Island in combination with other nearby access points, such as Treichlers Bridge (upstream near Laurys Station) or Cementon (downstream), to create multi-mile paddling routes. The area is part of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, offering paddlers the chance to explore a region rich in industrial and outdoor heritage.
This is a basic, no-frills access point with no facilities on-site, so plan accordingly. The location works well as either a starting point or endpoint for river trips on the Lehigh. Many paddlers use Sand Island in combination with other nearby access points, such as Treichlers Bridge (upstream near Laurys Station) or Cementon (downstream), to create multi-mile paddling routes. The area is part of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, offering paddlers the chance to explore a region rich in industrial and outdoor heritage.
Nearby Recreation Areas
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
Located within