the Jim Thorpe eXperience

 Guided Historic Adventure Tours

 484.225.1209                         theJTX@hotmail.com

Experience the Best of Jim Thorpe and the Western Poconos

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JTX Trips & Tours
Combine History and Adventure with a JTX guided tour!  Enjoy the best of Jim Thorpe and the western Poconos area, while local guides relate the unique history through fact, story and legend.  You’ll get the best views, great picture opportunities, the most relaxing break spots, plus admission to historic sites that match the day’s theme, historic discussion, a built-in photographer, and (above all) you won’t get lost or waste valuable time! 
Listed on each tour are summary ratings and features (in italics) that will help you choose a trip that suits your interests, time and ability.  If there is something special you’re looking for, see the very end of this page and/or contact the JTX about a custom tour.  

(Before you call with general questions, be sure to visit our FAQ’s page – the answer may be right there!)

** Note that although times are flexible, there is one tour given per day – the first reservation is what determines the day’s tour.  Call to find out what tour is going on a specific day, or if you’re planning ahead reserve the trip you want to take!  All tours are available "Weather Permitting..."


1.   Town & Country:  Historic Tour & Waterfall Hike
           3/4-Day: available daily before 12Noon   **
          (Difficult, Walking 2 miles, Architecture, History, Views, Advanced Hiking 2.5 miles, 6 hours)
A fully-packed 3/4-day of local history including a historic tour of downtown Jim Thorpe followed by a beautiful but strenuous hike to the waterfalls of Glen Onoko.  Hear unique facts and stories about Mauch Chunk/Jim Thorpe, some of which are only told by the JTX, as you enjoy the historic downtown’s amazing architecture and European feel.  We’ll visit Broadway and West Broadway, plus Race Street and a couple lesser-known spots in town. Much of what you hear will surprise you, as Jim Thorpe has a very checkered past.
Since this is an overview, we’ll also visit a beautiful vista for a huge mountaintop view, and then head over to visit the memorial to the town’s namesake while learning some recent history.  Finish up this aggressive afternoon by learning the legend of Glen Onoko: you’ll undertake a challenging hike to the beautiful waterfalls and discover more unique history and find some spots only the JTX will show you.
Price: $65 per person  (lunch or snack included)


2.  Town & Country 2:  Historic Tour & Switchback Hike
          1/2-day: available daily before 2pm  **
             (Moderate, Walking 2 miles, Architecture, History, Views, Easy Hiking 2.5 miles, 4-5 hours)
A nice half-day overview of local history including a historic walking tour of downtown Jim Thorpe, a visit to a scenic mountaintop overlook, and finishing with a beautiful walk on the Switchback rail-trail to serene Mauch Chunk Lake.  The downtown walking tour is the same as above (please see description there), but the walk to the lake is much less strenuous than the waterfall hike.  Enjoy the beautiful creek-side trail as it meanders into the woods, and learn some incredible history of the old Switchback Railroad (c.1827), which affects people even to this day.  You’ll hear of the prosperity of the area on several different fronts, plus discuss local ecology while strolling through the woods.  Relaxing lakeside will precede the easy walk back (downhill!), and you’ll be back to town in time to relax a bit before dinner.
Price: $45 per person  (hiking snacks included)



3.  Lehigh Gorge Trail Ride – Canals & Trains 
          Full-Day: available daily at 9:30am  **
            (Moderate, Biking 26 miles, History, Views, Museum, 7 hours)
Transportation was the ‘gold mine’ for this area – canals and trains brought coal and lumber to East Coast markets, which created enormous wealth here.  This tour gives you a guided, interpretive 26-mile ride of the beautiful Lehigh Gorge trail, with a focus on the canal and railroad history of the area.  Enjoy stops at historic sites, eat lunch by the river, find great picture opportunities and finish with a tour of the amazing mansion of canal boat builder and railroad magnate Asa Packer.  An all-day trip that gets you out into the wilderness, yet will amaze you with man’s desire and ability to dominate nature (or not!).  You won’t just hear about what was accomplished in the Gorge, you’ll actually see and touch it – the JTX takes you to all the best spots!
Price: $75 per person   (shuttle, lunch & snacks, Mansion admission included) BYOBike*


3a.  Lehigh Gorge Trail Ride – Canals & Trains
           3/4- Day: available daily at 9:30 or 11:30am  **
             (Moderate, Biking 16 miles, History, Views, Museum, 5 hours)
Similar to the above transportation-themed trip, this is a shorter (16-mile), guided & interpretive ride of the beautiful Lehigh Gorge trail focusing on the canal and railroad history of the area, which includes historic discussion, relaxing breaks by the river, great picture opportunities and ends with a tour of the Asa Packer Mansion.  Enjoy a relaxing morning, then spend the afternoon in the beautiful Lehigh Gorge with the JTX helping you find the best of this amazing place.
Price: $55 per person  (shuttle & snack, Mansion admission included) BYOBike*




4.   Switchback/Rim Trail Rides & Mining & Kayak Trip
          Full-Day:  available Fridays at 10am     (in season, by reservation only)
             (Difficult, Mountain Biking 3m, Rail-Trail biking 9m, lake kayak 1hr, History, Views, 2 Museums, ~8 hrs)
Coal mining is an important aspect of this area’s history and culture, and this all-day tour gets at the best and worst of the subject in-depth (literally and figuratively).  Go 1600’ into a mountainside coal mine, explore parts of a strip mine by bike, visit miners’ cemeteries, then ride the Switchback Gravity Railroad, stopping for historic discussion on the way.  Lunch lakeside and discuss local ecological issues, then take an hour-long kayak excursion on beautiful Mauch Chunk Lake.  Finish the bike ride with more Switchback stories, and end the day with a tour of the Old Jail Museum while learning the legend of the Molly Maguires.  From the pitch-black mine and ravaged wastelands to the pretty trail and wonderful lake to demise of the Switchback and the bleak jail cell, this tour will have you pedaling, paddling and (above all) thinking!  The JTX is the best way to get the most of what Jim Thorpe offers, and this 8+hour tour is one of the most all-encompassing day-trips available.
Price: $95 per person  BYOBike* (shuttle, lunch & snacks, kayak rental, Mine & Jail admissions included)


4a. Switchback Ride & Mining 
          3/4-Day:  available Fri – Sun at 10am      (in season)
             (Moderate, Rail-Trail Biking 10 miles, History, Views, 2 Museums, 5-6 hours)
Coal mining is an important aspect of this area’s history and culture, and this well-rounded tour gets at the best and worst of the subject.  Go 1600’ into a mountainside coal mine, visit miner’s cemeteries and discuss the discovery of anthracite, then ride the Switchback Gravity Railroad, stopping for historic discussion on the way.  Lunch lakeside and discuss local ecological issues.  Finish the bike ride with more Switchback stories, and end the day with a tour of the Old Jail Museum while learning the legend of the Molly Maguires.  Enjoy a great day out, get a good feel for the history of the area, and finish up around 3:30 so you still have time to go shopping or relax a bit before dinner.
Price: $65 per person  (shuttle, lunch, Mine & Jail admissions included) BYOBike*




5.  Snowshoe the Lehigh Gorge
            1/2-Day:   available daily before 1pm
                            by advance reservation, conditions permitting
            (Moderate, Hiking 2-3 miles, History, 3-4 hours)
Experience the 'white season' in the beautiful Lehigh Gorge  while trying an exhilarating activity.  Snowshoeing is similar to hiking, with a little more 'cardio' but once you pick it up, it is actually more efficient.  During our trip, we'll discuss the canals and railroads that used this path over the past 200 years, as well as ecology of the area.  You might be surprised how different things look in the winter- and if conditions are right, in the dark (see below)!
Price: $60 per person- day trip (snowshoes, shuttle, snack included)

5a.  Full Moon Snowshoe Trip
            1/2-Day:   available at 7pm on select full moon dates 
                            by advance reservation only, conditions permitting
            (Moderate, Hiking 2-3 miles, History, 3-4 hours)
A whole new way to experience an exhilarating activity - in the dark with the full moon lighting the way.  For this trip, we'll choose from the Lehigh Gorge, Broad Mountain or Lehigh Canal trails, depending on snow/moonlight/time/conditioning/etc. During our trip, we'll discuss a bit of the ecology of the area., and any history that's of interest.  Otherwise, we'll just enjoy the night.  You might be surprised how different an activity is when it's dark!
Price: $70 per person- night trip (snowshoes, light, shuttle, snack included)


6.   Hike the best of Hickory Run
         Full-Day:  available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 9am  **
           (Difficult: Advanced Hiking 6+ miles, History, Views, 7 hours)
Hickory Run State Park has many beautiful areas, and we’ll pick from several options for the day's exploration:  A short hike to a waterfall for a warm-up, then there are several great trail loops overlooking the Lehigh Gorge – we’ll choose one based on time and other hikes.   A visit to Boulder Field is a must – we can hike to it or drive there (so we can hike more of the other trails).  This hiking tour is a great way to see the best of Hickory Run – a really nice park with a surprising history – and still be back around 4pm for a rest before dinner.
Price: $60 per person  (lunch, snacks included)


 

7.  Ride the Broad Mountain Loop
         1/2-Day:  available daily until 3pm  **        
          (Difficult: Mountain Biking 11+ miles, History, Views, 4 hours)
Challenge yourself with an intermediate mountain bike ride on a double-track trail that loops around the top of the Broad Mountain, just outside of town.  This trail has some ups and downs - so it will also be a workout - and some high speed stream crossings, too! You’ll visit overlooks where you’re 700 feet above the Lehigh Gorge (people below look like ants) and we may stop to hunt some crystals or take a little walk down to the top falls at Glen Onoko to see some of the old picnic area trails and learn the legend.  The discussion will likely include hunting and biking, bear and biking and even uranium and biking.  A nice trail for relatively experienced mountain bikers.
Price: $45 per person  (snacks included)  BYOBike*



8.  ‘Active’ Bus Tour
        1/2-Day: available Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 1pm by advance reservation only
           (Easy, Walking 1 mile, Architecture, History, View, 4 hours)
Bus groups will enjoy a half-day guided tour through the unique and picturesque Victorian village of Jim Thorpe, PA.  Nestled between mountains next to the Lehigh River, this 200-year-old town has an amazing history, beautiful architecture, and many unbelievable stories.
Your tour includes an introduction to the area, then a bus ride through the historic downtown with discussion along the way.  A short walk on ‘The Switchback,’ a very important railway, is followed by a scenic overlook with a 40-mile view.  We’ll walk part of the downtown and discuss various aspects of history, money, architecture and some bizarre facts.  A tour of the incredible Asa Packer Mansion  finishes our adventure together just in time for lunch.
Price: $22.50 per person  (shuttle, Mansion tour included)
++This tour is designed for tour bus operators, whose clients can (& want to) get off frequently to experience the area++


9.  Historic Downtown Walking Tour
        1.5 hours: available daily (unless another tour is booked)
           (Easy, Walking 1 mile, Architecture, History, 90 minutes)
The most understandable and all-encompassing walking tour of beautiful and historic downtown Jim Thorpe! Learn the amazing history of this area in an easy-to-follow chronological order, as we walk around the Victorian downtown. Hear unique facts and stories about Mauch Chunk/Jim Thorpe, some of which are only told by the JTX, as you enjoy the historic downtown’s range of architectural styles and its European feel. We’ll visit Broadway and West Broadway, plus Race Street and a couple lesser-known spots in town. Much of what you hear will surprise you, as Jim Thorpe has a very checkered past. If you really want to understand why this place is the way it is, THIS is the first step....
Price: $15 per person


Other Options for Guided JTX outings:

Biking Trips: 
  • Lehigh Canal Path (easy rail-trail biking)
  • Mauch Chunk Ridge (moderate mountain biking)
  • Butcher Hollow (moderate mountain biking)
  • Upper Switchback Trail (moderate mountain biking)
  • Lehigh & New England Rail-Trail (easy rail-trail biking)
  • Twin Peaks Ride (difficult mountain biking)
  • Tamaqua Strip Mines (difficult mountain biking)
          and more...

      * BYOBike for bike tours means you either bring a bike OR rent one in Jim Thorpe.  We can help you get a
          rental - we'll take care of the whole deal if you want - but the point is that JTX does not provide bikes. 
        
      
Hiking Trips:
  • Upper Switchback Trail (moderate)
  • Appalachian Trail (difficult)
  • Lehigh Canal Path (easy)
  • Switchback & Ridge Trails loop (difficult)
  • Shoreline & Ridge Trails loop (difficult)
  • Mt. Pisgah climb (difficult)
         and more...

Snowshoe Trips:
  • Lehigh Gorge Trail (easy)
  • Lehigh Canal Path (easy)
  • Mauch Chunk Ridge (moderate)
  • Broad Mountain Loop (moderate)
  • Upper Switchback Trail (moderate)
  • Lehigh & New England Rail-Trail (easy)

Combination Trips: bike & hike, walk & bike, hike & kayak, bike & kayak, walk & kayak, just ask...

  Note:   Kayak tours are available when weather is warm - May to September.
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