Park Archives: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap is one of the best places in America to see the power of water at work. Millions of years ago this area was a level plain. Erosion and gradual uplift of the land formed today's ridges. The process is not unusual, but what distinguishes this gap is the landscape's beauty. The river twists in a tight "S" curve through the ridge at Kittatinny Mountain. The result is so breathtaking that this became a renowned resort area in the 1800s. Large hotels catered to a clientele who enjoyed the quality of the air and coolness of the breezes, while cities simmered in the summer heat. Some people even arrived by train at Port Jervis, N.Y., and bicycled downhill to the Water Gap.

Most of the large hotels are gone now, and people usually come here for a day or two, not a month or more. But the natural wonders and the views are still spectacular. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, established by Congress in 1965, preserves this unspoiled natural and historic area. The National Park Service will help make your time in the park as enjoyable as possible.

Finding Information Park headquarters provides information weekdays year-round; closed federal holidays. • Dingmans Falls Visitor Center is open weekends and selected weekdays from late spring until early fall. The boardwalk trail to the falls is open daily in summer. • Kittatinny Point is open weekends and selected weekdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. • For details visit: www.nps.gov/dewa

Fees There are no entrance fees to the park or its waterfalls. Fees are collected at boat launches and beaches in Pennsylvania and at Watergate Recreation Site in New Jersey.

Sightseeing and Touring Over 200 miles of roads wind through scenic valleys, over ridges, and past historic buildings. Along the way you can view waterfalls, picnic, or walk along a trail or old road. McDade Trail in Pennsylvania and paved roads in New Jersey provide scenic bicycling; bicycling is not permitted on gated roadways or trails. Rhododendron blooms around the first of July. A colorful foliage display accompanies Millbrook Days in early October.

Camping Tent and RV sites are available nearby at private campgrounds. Primitive campsites are available for through-hikers on the Appalachian Trail and canoeists on extended river trips. No campfires are permitted on the Appalachian Trail.

Swimming The Delaware River is one of the cleanest and most scenic rivers in the East. Bathhouses, picnic areas, parking, and lifeguarded areas are available at Smithfield and Milford beaches in Pennsylvania.

Boating The 40 miles of the Delaware River within the recreation area attract people who enjoy canoeing, tubing, and rafting. River access points located every eight to 10 miles allow for easy day trips. River maps are available at visitor centers and park headquarters. For those on overnight trips, camping is allowed at designated sites along the river. A dozen canoe liveries are licensed to rent equipment and provide transportation between access points; most also rent kayaks, tubes, and rafts. Do not be misled by the river's calm appearance; use proper safety precautions at all times. Avoid the river in times of high water. Hypothermia, the lowering of body temperature to a dangerous level, can occur whenever water temperature is below 70°F. Always wear a life preserver when boating or canoeing.

Hiking The park has nearly 100 miles of hiking trails, ranging from flat boardwalks to challenging 1,000-foot climbs that offer spectacular views of the Water Gap. The Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia, traverses the park for over 27 miles along Kittatinny Ridge; backpacking is permitted, subject to regulations. Smaller trails lead through hemlock ravines past waterfalls, ponds, lakes, or down abandoned forest roads.

Fishing Many lakes and ponds provide excellent fishing for panfish, bass, and pickerel. Rainbow, brook, or brown trout are in most streams. The river has American shad, smallmouth bass, walleye, eel, catfish, and muskellunge. If you are 16 years or older, a valid license is required from the state in which you are fishing. A fishing license from either New Jersey or Pennsylvania is valid on the river within the park if you are fishing from a boat or either shore.

Hunting Hunting is permitted in some sections of the park in accordance with the game regulations of Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Park hunting regulations apply. Get details at visitor centers, ranger stations, or headquarters.

Wildlife and Birdwatching This landscape has a diversity of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, beaver, black bear, and river otter. The park is one of the best places in the East to watch for hawks and other raptors during their semi-annual migrations. Bald eagles spend the winter here. Watch for them in mid-morning or late-afternoon during January or February.

Getting to the Park Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is easily reached from the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas and from Allentown, Bethlehem, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Food, lodging, gasoline, and medical services are available in the towns near the park.

Safety and Laws • Always wear a life preserver when boating or canoeing. Pennsylvania law requires children age 12 and under to wear life preservers while in a canoe, kayak, or a boat less than 20 feet long. • Hunting is permitted in some parts of the park; check the areas and dates of hunting seasons with the park staff. • Rock and ice climbers should always let a friend know when and where they plan to climb. Never climb alone. • Use of metal detectors in the park is prohibited.

Delaware Water Gap is not just a place for river activities but for exploring and learning, too. You can learn about nature in a residential campus, see artisans at work, and visit historic sites. Junior ranger and junior naturalist programs are offered at park visitor centers.

Peters Valley Craft Education Center Skilled artists live here, working on their specialties. They teach beginning and advanced courses, show techniques, and sell their wares. One-day workshops and short courses are offered in summer. Write: Peters Valley Craft Education Center, 19 Kuhn Road, Layton, NJ 07851-9702.

Millbrook Village In 1832 Abram Garris built a mill here that became the nucleus of a village. Millbrook flourished in the mid-1800s but by 1900 it was in decline. Today Millbrook is the stage for recreating a late-1800s rural community rather than restoring the original. Take the self-guiding village walking tour to learn about the buildings and life here over 100 years ago.

Pocono Environmental Education Center Located in a former Pocono honeymoon resort, the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) offers study programs in a residential environment. PEEC is ideal for youth groups, schools, and churches, offering weekend workshops, including family vacation camps. Elderhostel sessions are held throughout the year. The center has 12 miles of hiking trails through the park and has access to 20,000 acres of public lands nearby. Contact: PEEC, R.D. 2, Box 1010, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328-9614.

Mohican Outdoor Center This Appalachian Mountain Club facility offers recreational programs and educational workshops for members and non-members. Set along the Appalachian Trail on the banks of Catfish Pond in New Jersey, the center is t he base of operations for trail work projects in the recreation area. Contact: Mohican Outdoor Center, 50 Camp Road, Blairstown, NJ 07825-9655.

The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

1970	1976	1977	cover only 1978	1979	1980
1984	1985
1986-1998		cover only 2000-2001		cover only 20002-2006
cover only 2008-2011		cover only 2012-2023

Camping in Black Bear Country 07/11/2007	El Acampar en País de Osos Negros 07/11/2007	Campgrounds 12/1/2007		Campgrounds May 2015
Firewood: Threat From Invasive Beetles Date Unknown		Fishing 11/01/2006		Hunting 07/12/2011
Advanced Mt. Tammany Geology 12/03/2008		How the Gap Was Formed February 2016		Route 209 Fees 02/07/2008
Canoeing and Boating on the Delaware River 1986		River & Canoe Campsite Map 06/10/2009		River Camping & Canoe Campsite Map 08/11/2009
River Camping Map and Guide 05/02/2012		River Guide Date Unknown		River Guide 07/26/2006
River Trips 07/15/2016		Woods and Waterfalls 04/15/2006		Woods & Waterfalls - PA 05/18/2015
Millbrook Village 12/28/2005		Millbrook Village 8/17/09		Millbrook Village May 2012
Maple Sugaring at Millbrook Village, NJ 03/04/2009		A self-guiding tour of a century old village Millbrook Village 10/83		Canoe Day Trips by Livery 05/2012
Appalachian Trail Governing Regulations 11/22/2006		Crosscountry Trails Hiking and Skiing 12/28/2010		Conashaugh View Equestrian Trail 07/01/2007
Mills on Dingmans Creek 06/15/2008		Bridges at Dingmans Ferry 02/02/2007		Trail Guide Dingmans Falls Ravine 10/27/2005
Dingmans Ferry 01/23/2008		Hikes at the Gap 05/22/2012		Hikes: the Gap and New Jersey 07/01/2007
McDade Trail/Biking 09/12/2008		A Quick Guide to Hiking the Park 05/10/2012		Military Trail 07/07/2007
Trading Cards
(©Jefferson National Parks Association)