Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Active and Adventure Travel Guide

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Active and Adventure Travel Guide

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Fall colors in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
Fall colors in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pennsylvania, New Jersey (Tony Sweet/Digital Vision/Getty)

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Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Active and Adventure Travel Tips

  • Canoe 40 miles of the Middle Delaware National Scenic River, which cuts a languid, scenic swath through the forested Appalachian Mountains. Overnight canoe camping is permitted at primitive riverside sites—in fact, it's highly recommended! Day trips by canoe, kayak, raft, or inner tube are also ideal ways to enjoy the watery scenery.
  • Fish the stocked rivers at Dingmans or Bushkill Creeks for brown or brook trout, Van Campens Brook for rainbow trout, or the small lakes and ponds around the Delaware Water Gap for rock bass, catfish, and sunfish. Single-day tourist fishing licenses are available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
  • Hike the three-mile Dunnfield Creek Loop, which traces the creek as it tumbles toward the Delaware River. You'll enjoy spring ferns and wildflowers, brilliant fall foliage, and glimpses of wildlife such as river warblers, bald eagles, and groundhogs.
  • Ride the five-mile McDade Trail, a multiuse hiking and biking trail that follows the Delaware River from Hialeah in the south to Turn Farm in the north. A mostly flat, gravel ride ideal for beginners and kids, several adjoining dirt roads and tracks add to the fun. Smithfield Beach, about halfway in, offers a nice place to cool off on those hot summer or spring days. The trail does double duty in winter for cross-country skiers, as conditions permit.
  • On the New Jersey side of the National Recreation Area, hike along the Kittatinny Ridge to the summit of Mount Tammany, where the ridge plunges 1,200 spectacular feet down into the Delaware Water Gap. This is a moderately strenuous 3.5-mile hike with views, wildlife, and a cooling waterfall at the end.


Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The Delaware Water Gap is a gaping hole in the Appalachians through which the Delaware River flows. This craggy, spectacular gap on the border of northwestern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania is more than a mile wide. Yet the National Recreation Area that surrounds the gap offers much more than a break in the rock; it encompasses 40 miles of the middle Delaware River and almost 70,000 acres of land along its shores. Read More

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3 Questions | 3 Answers
  • Hi all, what is the fastest part of the river (rapids, eddies, ...)? Any info appreciated.
    Read 1 answer or Answer this question
  • What campground is in the center of the Water Gap Recreational Area, and offers shuttle service to the Appalachian Trail? What was the original name for the town Stroudsburg?
    Read 1 answer or Answer this question
  • is there water realease dates for the deleware river? If so wwhat are they
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Hotels

Dingmans Campground

1006 Route 209
Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328 Map

Distance: 7.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
from: $99

The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort

1 River Rd.
Shawnee On Delaware, PA 18356 Map

Distance: 14.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
from: $250

Skytop Lodge

One Skytop
Skytop, PA 18357-1099 Map

Distance: 17.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0

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Attractions

Middle Delaware National Scenic River

expert favorite attraction
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
c/o Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, HQ River Rd off Route 209
Bushkill, Pennsylvania 18324

Distance: 0.2 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Middle Delaware National Scenic River is a 40-mile stretch of calm water forming the boundary... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0

Joseph McDade Recreational Trail

expert favorite attraction
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
c/o Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, HQ River Rd off Route 209
Bushkill, Pennsylvania 18324

Distance: 5.7 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail is a planned recreational trail that, when completed, will... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0

Mount Tammany Trail

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
c/o Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, HQ River Rd off Route 209
Bushkill, Pennsylvania 18324

Distance: 5.7 mi. (from destination center)

Description: This trail leads to the top of Mount Tammany and provides great views of Delaware Water Gap.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0

Airports

Major Airports near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Distance (mi.)
Newark Liberty International Airport 50.8 map
New York La Guardia Airport 60.3 map
New York John F Kennedy International Airport 69.2 map

Other Smaller Airports near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Distance (mi.)
Caldwell Wright Airport 38.4 map
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre International Airport 43.5 map
Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton Lehigh Valley International Airport 43.9 map

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