In the Philadelphia area, we have a bunch of good rivers to paddle in. In all cases, wait two days after a significant rainfall before paddling in them. And I don't recommend paddling close to downtown Philadelphia.
The Schuylkill River is fairly tame. An excellent place for beginners to paddle is in the Phoenixville area, where a canal parallels the river for two miles, making it possible to do a "loop". The water is generally shallow in this area as well.
I do an annual paddle and hot dog roast in the Phoenixville area loop, please contact me if you are interested. It is usually on the Saturday of Father's Day weekend.
The Lehigh River is a nice beginner destination for whitewater paddling. You'll need to use an outfitter or arrange your own transportation back to the start. The river is controlled by dam releases - make sure you are paddling on a dam release day otherwise there will be no water.
The Delaware River from above the Delaware Water Gap to Yardley is an excellent place to paddle. You'll need two cars to get yourself back to the start. There are many boat launch locations along the river. Consult river maps before venturing out. Scudder's Falls has some serious rapids so be prepared.
The Schuylkill River is fairly tame. An excellent place for beginners to paddle is in the Phoenixville area, where a canal parallels the river for two miles, making it possible to do a "loop". The water is generally shallow in this area as well. I do an annual paddle and hot dog roast in the Phoenixville area loop, please contact me if you are interested. It is usually on the Saturday of Father's Day weekend.The Lehigh River is a nice beginner destination for whitewater paddling. You'll need to use an outfitter or arrange your own transportation back to the start. The river is controlled by dam releases - make sure you are paddling on a dam release day otherwise there will be no water.The Delaware River from above the Delaware Water Gap to Yardley is an excellent place to paddle. You'll need two cars to get yourself back to the start. There are many boat launch locations along the river. Consult river maps before venturing out. Scudder's Falls has some serious rapids so be prepared.