Just Around the Riverbend: Levels of Kayaking in the Lebanon Valley
Lebanon Valley happens to be home to some of the most unique and picturesque kayaking opportunities of the mid-state. It offers a progression to help paddlers safely learn and explore the local waterways while basking in its rich, beautiful wildlife and history.
Memorial Lake State Park
Memorial Lake State Park was established in 1945 and is a 230-acre park located at the base of Blue Mountain in East Hanover Township near Grantville in Northwestern Lebanon County. It is home to an 85-acre lake made in honor of Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers who served in World War I and World War II. It’s a wonderful park with a casual and mostly flat 2-mile hiking loop around the lake.
Easy to get to off of State Rt 22 or Rt 81 Memorial Lake is an absolute stunning paddle. Lots of wildlife can be seen from the water. From waterfowl to turtles or the shores lined with great blue herrings there’s always something to see. This is a great place for families and children to learn how to kayak. It is still water, so it allows a new paddler to master their technique and build confidence in a controlled environment. Pro-tip: my kids like ice cream sold at the concession in the middle lot after a relaxing paddle. It takes at least 1 hour to paddle the perimeter of the lake at a moderate pace which is usually a perfect length for a beginner. There is also a pass through under the road at one spot to explore a back channel that regularly holds turtles lounging in the sunlight. Rentals are available at the concession and their friendly staff is helpful in teaching basic paddling techniques.
Swatara Creek
Oh yes, the mighty Swatara. Where to begin. I could begin with the fact that its geological history is believed to be one of the oldest waterways in the world. Over 300 million years to be exact. Swatara is Native American for “where we feed on eels”. It used to be teeming with eels until Europeans migrated to this area. Shortly after, they became all but extinct. With the efforts of local conservation groups and the Fish and Boat commission they have returned to these waters. Don’t worry you won’t see any because they’re mostly nocturnal and very reclusive.
It boasts a 60-mile water trail from Pine Grove to Middletown, Pennsylvania where it confluences with the Susquehanna River. The trail passes through Schuylkill, Lebanon, and Dauphin Counties on it’s way to the Susquehanna. The Swatara Watershed Association maintains 18 public access points along the trail. A map of those locations can be found at www.swatarawatershed.org. Consider 2.5 miles for every hour on water if you are “leisurely paddling”. Always have a float plan when setting out to paddle moving water
A gentle step up in skill from Memorial Lake, you can leisurely paddle along a lush and tranquil environment with banks lined by wildflowers, woods, and limestone cliffs. Glide through deep fishing holes and around islands as you make your way through the creek amongst mild riffles and long straightaways. The Swatara Creek provides a thriving habitat for white tailed deer, bald eagles, mink, and great blue herons; just to name a few of the inhabitants you may see along the way. There is also many other bird species that you might stumble across as it is part of a major migratory rout know as the Atlantic Flyway. Historic remains of the Union Canal can be seen south of Harpers Tavern. The remains appear as a dotted line of piles of rocks which used to be old aqueduct piers for the canal where it crossed the creek.
The creek is a natural resource for providing water to 800,000 people located around the watershed. It is the main source of water for Tröegs Brewery which distributes throughout the North East of the United States. There are two low head dams located on the water trail securing this water. One located north of Main Street in Jonestown and the other just south of the Rout 39 bridge in Hershey. Low head dams are very dangerous and should be avoided if you are paddling in this region of the creek. Although the water trail averages 3 feet in depth in most areas, always check the water levels before entering as they fluctuate and can become hazardous.
Union Canal Tunnel Park
The Union Canal once known as the “Golden Link” traversed over 500 feet of elevation change as it snaked it way from Reading on the Schuylkill River to Middletown on the Susquehanna River. Containing over 100 locks, the canal spanned 82 miles. A branch of the canal extended from Water Works on the Swatara Creek in Lebanon County up to Pine Grove, giving it access to rich coal fields and its main source of funding.
Completed in 1827, the tunnel was a crowning achievement of the Union Canal and was an engineering masterpiece in its day. The oldest active transportation tunnel in United States history, it is a National Historic Landmark and a National Civil Engineering Landmark. This section is the only remaining navigable section of canal. Although the park is public and open year-round, sunup to sunset, the tunnel itself is closed to the public for insurance reasons. There are only two ways you can tour the tunnel. The park conducts guided barge tours that can be found at the website below. They have also partnered with Cocoa Kayak Rentals to give exclusive guided kayak tours. The unique experience to paddle through the tunnel is highly recommended for any history enthusiast as well as kayakers that want to paddle through a mountain. The water is considered still or non-moving which makes it very easy, but experience is required as the tunnel is not the best place to learn.
The park is located in northwest Lebanon and is situated on 110 acres of woods and grass. There’s is trails throughout the park and a map can be located at www.lebanoncountyhistory.org/canal-tunnel.
Be safe and always wear your personal floatation device. Don’t forget all paddle craft in Pennsylvania must have a launch permit to access most of these sites.
There you have it. Three amazing paddling experiences to be had throughout Lebanon Valley. From learning to paddle at Memorial Lake, to honing in on your craft on the Swatara Creek, to experiencing our deep history of the development of early American transportation at the Union Canal Tunnel Park, you will never know what’s around the next bend. Hope to see you on the water!!
About the Author
Mike Adams is the co-owner of Cocoa Kayak Rentals of Hershey and has been an outfitter and outdoor enthusiast for his lifetime. On top of helping facilitate all the activities listed above he is the vice-president of the Swatara Watershed Association as well as a conservationist with the Manada Conservancy and Penn State Extension Master-watershed Stewards. For more information on kayaking in Lebanon Valley please visit www.cocoakayak.com.