National Park Service ready to welcome summer visitors at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA – Employees at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area have been busy gearing up and getting facilities ready for a busy summer season.

The 70,000-acre national park unit in PA and NJ and was the 17th most-visited national park unit in the country in 2022 with 4.2 million visits recorded.

“The park sees significantly higher visitation in the summer compared to any other season,” says Zach Piotrowski, outdoor recreation planner. “To have the most fun when visiting the park, visitors should plan ahead, pack their patience, and always have a backup activity planned. Being flexible is especially important on weekends when the park is busiest and popular sites fill early in the day.”  Learn how to Plan Like a Park Ranger by visiting the park’s website for tips.

Get information online, by phone, or in person:

• Visit the park website at www.nps.gov/dewa.
• Follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS.
• Call the information desk at (570) 426-2452 during business hours.
• Dingmans Falls Visitor Center is open to the public from 9 am to 4:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays from May 25 until June 9, including Memorial Day.  The visitor center will be open Wednesdays through Mondays from June 10 to September 2.
• Park rules and regulations can be found on the park website: Compendium of Park Regulations – Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Take a Hike:  With approximately 150 miles of trails in the park, including 28 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, there is a trail for everyone. Whether an avid hiker or just starting out, visit the park website for maps, directions to, and information on hiking trails.

Some trails, including waterfall trails and the trails to the tops of Mt. Tammany and Mt. Minsi, are very busy and are crowded on weekends.  Parking areas for popular trails often fill very early in the day during the busy summer season. Rangers suggest visitors arrive early and have a few backup activities planned for different destinations in the park in case the area they would like to visit is already at capacity when they arrive.

Cool Off In, or On, the River: Boat launches are available at Milford Beach, Dingmans Access, Bushkill Access, Smithfield Beach, and Kittatinny Point. Swim areas are open at Milford Beach and Smithfield Beach. A $10/car fee is charged 7 days a week. Annual passes are available for $45. Call the visitor information desk at (570) 426 – 2452 for information on where passes can be purchased.

• The park operates three beaches:  Milford and Smithfield Beaches in PA. Turtle Beach in NJ is closed this season due to construction.  Beaches are not lifeguarded.  Life jackets are recommended for anyone entering the water.  They are available for loan at no cost at each of the beaches, or visitors can bring their own. Beaches are open from 6 am to 8 pm daily.
• Motorboat launches are available at Kittatinny Point, Smithfield Beach, Bushkill Access, Dingmans Ferry Access, and Milford Beach.  Poxono Access is closed this summer due to road construction.
• The hand-launch access at Cadoo Recreation Site in NJ will be open Monday morning through Friday evening and is closed on weekends. There is no charge to use the access.
• Visit the park website for a list of businesses in the area that rent canoes, kayaks, tubes, and rafts. Transportation is provided.
• Free shuttle services are available for paddlers on Saturdays through Monroe County Transit Authority’s River Runner shuttle. For more information, visitwww.gomcta.com/trip.

Park rangers remind visitors to always wear a properly fitted and fastened US Coast Guard-approved lifejacket when on or near the water. Lifejackets must be worn by children 12 and under while aboard any vessel.  Lifejackets save lives, but they only work if they are worn and worn properly.

Go for a Ride… or a Drive:

• The McDade Trail in PA is a great place to ride your bike (and it is the only trail in the park where bikes are permitted). Bicycle rentals are available from local outfitters and Dingmans Campground.
• Take a scenic drive and enjoy the views.
• Check the park website for updates on planned construction, road work, and road closures.

Visit one of our partner-operated sites: The park works in partnership with several not-for-profit and volunteer organizations who offer a variety of programs and services for the pubic. Thanks to these park partners, visitors can visit and tour historic buildings, learn about nature, practice outdoor adventure skills, or learn a fine craft. Check their websites for hours and program offerings:

• Mohican Outdoor Center (Mohican Outdoor Center )
• Pocono Environmental Education Center (peec.org)
• Peters Valley School of Craft (Peters Valley School of Craft)
• Foster-Armstrong House and Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse (Montague Assoc. for the Restoration of Community History)
• Walpack Center and Van Campen Inn (Walpack Historical Society)
• Montague Grange (Montague Grange #140)

Pitch a Tent: Make reservations well in advance as campsites and campgrounds are in high demand during the summer months. A complete list of campgrounds, river campsites, and regulations is available on the park’s website.

• Dingmans Campground is located on the banks of the Delaware River and offers tent and RV sites. For more information or to make a reservation, visit their website at DingmansCampground.com or call (570) 828-1551.
• Backpacking on the Appalachian Trail is permitted in accordance with park regulations.

There are 3 different options for camping along the nearly 40-mile stretch of the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River within the park.  Reservations are required to use these sites and there is a camping fee in addition to any parking fees that may apply. To make a reservation and pay the camping fee go to Recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777 prior to arriving in the park.  Reservations cannot be made in person.

• Primitive river campsites are available by reservation to those on extended river trips in accordance with park regulations. These sites are only accessible from the river and the cost per site per night is $16. Reservations are made by selecting a river zone with individual sites chosen upon arrival.
• Valley View and Rivers Bend Group Campsites are available by reservation at a cost of $100/night with a limit of 25 people per site.  These sites are accessible from the river and by vehicle.
• Alosa River Campsites are accessible only from the river and allow campers to reserve a specific site rather than a zone. There are 6 individual campsites at this location.

Pick a Place to Picnic: Whether you’re packing a picnic basket or planning a barbecue, it’s important to know where you can picnic and where you cannot before you pack the kitchen sink.  Grills are not provided anywhere in the park, but visitors may bring their own grill to one of the following designated picnic areas:

• Milford Beach, Smithfield Beach, Toms Creek Picnic Area, Bushkill General Store Picnic Area, and Hialeah Picnic Area

These sites are in high demand and fill quickly.  Park Rangers recommend that visitors pack food that does not need to be cooked prior to consumption in case sites that allow grills and other cooking devices are already full when they arrive.

Most areas are “carry in/carry out.”  That means visitors should take all food scraps, trash, and other waste home with them when they leave so that wild animals are not attracted to these areas.

To protect park resources, including wildlife, and to reduce trash, picnicking and food preparation and consumption are prohibited at the following areas:

• Raymondskill Creek, Trails, and parking areas, from the park boundary to the confluence of the Delaware River, including Hackers Falls and Trail.
• Point of Gap overlook parking area and riverbank along Route 611 (Route 611 through the Delaware Water Gap is closed as per PennDOT)
• Van Campens Glen (inaccessible due to construction on Old Mine Road)
• Riverview Trailhead parking area for the McDade Recreational Trail on River Road; and
• Karamac Trail and riverbank. (Closed for the season)

Watch Water… Fall: Because of the unique geography and geology of the area, the park boasts several stunning waterfalls that are free to visit. From water rushing over a steep cliff to rambling streams with gentle cascades, there is a waterfall for everyone. Waterfalls are among the most popular and busiest destinations in the park, especially on summer weekends when visitation swells. For the best experience, visit on a weekday, early in the morning, or at twilight.

To protect park visitors and resources, including wildlife, picnicking is not allowed at any of the waterfall areas and visitors are expected to take everything they brought in back home with them when they leave. Swimming is prohibited within 50 feet upstream from the top of all waterfalls and in other areas as posted.

• Dingmans Falls: The boardwalk trail is open daily during daylight hours.
• Raymondskill Falls Trail is open daily during daylight hours. The parking for this trail is very limited, so arrive early and be prepared with a backup plan in case the parking is full. Roadside parking is prohibited.
• Buttermilk Falls: Mountain Road in NJ is open to vehicles from the Walpack Cemetery to the Three Bridges area within the Flatbrook-Roy Wildlife Management Area (WMA).  It remains closed at the southern end within the WMA. The Walpack Bridge is closed due to structural damage. The Buttermilk Falls trail and area can be accessed from Struble Road in Stokes State Forest.
• George W. Childs Park remains closed for construction. The site is anticipated to re-open in late summer of 2024.