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Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River

The largest free-flowing river in the eastern United States, the Delaware River winds through forests, farmlands, and villages, and it also links some of the most densely populated regions in America. In 2000, the National Wild and Scenic River System incorporated key segments of the lower Delaware River to form this unit of the National Park System.



 The Basics


Hours:

There is no one schedule or operating season for this park. The park is composed of many separate and independent sites, under state and local management.
Address: 200 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 215-597-1655
Fax: 215-597-5747


 Map

Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River, Pennsylvania Map

 Directions

Main Routes

Lower Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is located between Easton PA/Phillipsburg NJ/Interstate 78 on the north and Washington Crossing PA/Washington Crossing NJ/Interstate 95 on the south

Routes along the river

Pennsylvania: Routes 611 & 32
New Jersey: Routes 519 and 29

To Reach the Lower Delaware

To the North End of the park (Easton PA/Phillips NJ)
Coming from the east, connect to Interstate 78 in New Jersey.
Coming from the west, connect to Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania.

For the New Jersey side of the park, exit at Alpha NJ and take Route 519 south toward Milford NJ, or begin your visit in Phillipsburg at Morris Canal National Historic Landmark. At Milford NJ, you can take take one of three routes to continue southward.

For the Pennsylvania side of the park, take PA Exit 75 and Route 611 south toward Raubsville/Reigelsville.


To the South End of the park (Washington Crossing PA & NJ)
Coming from the east, connect to Route 1 or Interstate 195 to Interstate 295 north near Trenton NJ, and then Interstate 95 south. (towards Philadelphia)
Coming from the west connect to Interstate 95 northbound near Philadelphia PA.

For the New Jersey side of the park take NJ Exit 1 off Interstate 195 and Route 29 north toward Washington Crossing NJ/Titusville NJ.

For the Pennsylvania side of the park, take PA Exit 49 off Interstate 95 and Route 332 east toward Yardley PA. Then take Route 32 north along the river.

 Fees
 

No entrance fee.


 Picknicking
 

Picnicking in Pennsylvania

Frost Hollow County Park PA
picnic area with view of the Delaware River

Easton PA
historic district, canal museum. river access, picnic area

Delaware Canal State Park, Easton PA to Bristol PA
60 miles of canal and towpath

Wy-Hit-Tuk County Park PA
community park with playground, picnic pavilion

Fry's Run County Park (small picnic area)

Tinicum County Park, Erwinna, PA
126 acres, camping and picnic pavilions by permit, boating, fishing, hiking, events

Nockamixon State Park PA
1500 acre lake, boating, fishing, pool, biking, hiking, cabins and camping, youth hostel, picnic areas year-round

Ralph Stover State Park, Point Pleasant PA
45 acres: picnic area, 1 mile hike, High Rocks overlook of Tohickon Creek, remains of 18th century mill

Tohickon Valley County Park ("Deerwood") Point Pleasant PA
612 acres: tent and cabin camping, picnic area alongside creek, pool

New Hope Village District PA
(historic district of 200+ buildings, restaurants, shops, galleries, excursion railroad, canal boat rides
New Hope Visitor Center,
(chamber of commerce)
(historical society at 1784 Parry Mansion)

Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing PA (north and south sections)
P.O. 103, Washington Crossing PA 18977
(215) 493-4076, fax: (215) 493-4820

Picnicking in New Jersey

Phillipsburg NJ

Bull's Island NJ, part of
Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park and National Recreation Trail NJ

Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park NJ

Lambertville NJ

Washington Crossing State Park NJ


 Hiking
 

Hiking in Pennsylvania

Easton PA
historic district, canal museum. river access, picnic area

Delaware Canal State Park, Easton PA to Bristol PA
60 miles of canal and towpath

Wy-Hit-Tuk County Park PA
community park with playground, picnic pavilion

Nockamixon Cliffs State Natural Area PA, part of
Delaware Canal State Park, 60 miles from Easton PA to Bristol PA
28 acres, unusual habitat, cliff face for the experienced

Ringing Rocks National Natural Landmark PA

Tinicum County Park, Erwinna PA
126 acres, camping and picnic pavilions by permit, boating, fishing, hiking, events

Nockamixon State Park PA
1500 acre lake, boating, fishing, pool, biking, hiking, cabins and camping, youth hostel, picnic areas year-round

High Rocks, Ralph Stover and Tohickon parks adjoin each other:
High Rocks section of Ralph Stover State Park PA
hiking trail to 200 ft. red shale cliffs overlooking the creek, cliff face for experienced climbers)
Ralph Stover State Park, Point Pleasant PA
45 acres: picnic area, 1 mile hike, High Rocks overlook of Tohickon Creek, remains of 18th century mill
Tohickon Valley County Park ("Deerwood") Point Pleasant PA
612 acres: tent and cabin camping, picnic area alongside creek, pool

New Hope PA
(historic district of 200+ buildings, restaurants, shops, galleries, excursion railroad, canal boat rides
New Hope Visitor Center,
(chamber of commerce)
(historical society at 1784 Parry Mansion)

Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing PA (north and south sections)
P.O. 103, Washington Crossing PA 18977
(215) 493-4076, fax: (215) 493-4820

Hiking in New Jersey

Phillipsburg NJ

Frenchtown NJ

Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park NJ

Lambertville NJ

Washington Crossing State Park NJ

Link to our Wilmington Hiking coverage for more information.

Link to our Johnstown Hiking coverage for more information.

Link to our Pittsburgh Hiking coverage for more information.

 Outdoor Boating and Fishing
 

Canoeing and Kayaking; Whitewater

Canoe Access, PA

  • Sandt's Eddy Access, PA (boat launch on the Delaware River)
    1 ramp, 24 parking spaces; shallow-draft light-weight fishing boats, canoes and inflatables
  • Easton, PA
  • Wy-Hit-Tuk County Park, PA
  • Riegelsville, PA
  • Nockamixon State Park, PA
  • Delaware Canal State Park, 60 miles from Easton, PA to Bristol, PA
  • New Hope PA

Canoe Access, NJ

  • Phillipsburg NJ
  • Lambertville, NJ

    • Whitewater Access PA

    The best choice is Ralph Stover State Park, Point Pleasant, PA.

    When whitewater exists, Tohickon Creek is a challenging course for closed-deck canoes and rafts. There are planned whitewater releases at the end March and beginning of November.

    Fishing

    Fishing, PA

    • Easton, PA
    • Delaware Canal State Park, Easton PA to Bristol PA
    • Wy-Hit-Tuk County Park PA
    • Riegelsville PA
    • Tinicum County Park, Erwinna PA
    • Nockamixon State Park PA
    • Ralph Stover State Park, Point Pleasant, PA
    • New Hope PA
    • New Hope Visitor Center
    • Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing PA (north and south sections)

    Fishing, NJ

    • Phillipsburg, NJ
    • Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, NJ
    • Lambertville, NJ
    • Washington Crossing State Park NJ

Link to our Wilmington Boating and Fishing coverage for more information.

Link to our Johnstown Boating and Fishing coverage for more information.

Link to our Pittsburgh Boating and Fishing coverage for more information.

 Biking
 

Biking, PA

  • Delaware Canal State Park, Easton PA to Bristol PA
    60 miles of canal and towpath
  • Tinicum County Park, Erwinna PA
    126 acres, camping and picnic pavilions by permit
  • Nockamixon State Park, PA
    1500 acre lake
  • Ralph Stover State Park, Point Pleasant, PA
    45 acres: picnic area, 1 mile hike, High Rocks overlook of Tohickon Creek, remains of 18th century mill
  • New Hope Village District, PA
  • New Hope Visitor Center
  • Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing, PA (north and south sections)

Biking, NJ

  • Frenchtown, NJ
  • Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, NJ
  • Lambertville, NJ
  • Washington Crossing State Park, NJ

Link to our Wilmington Biking coverage for more information.

Link to our Johnstown Biking coverage for more information.

Link to our Pittsburgh Biking coverage for more information.

 Places To Go
 

Visitor Centers

Visitor Centers, PA

  • Visitor Center, Delaware Canal State Park, Two Rivers Landing, Easton, PA
  • New Hope Visitor Center, 1 West Mechanic Street, New Hope, PA 18938

Visitor Centers, NJ

  • Bull's Island (Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park NJ)
  • Washington Crossing State Park NJ

Canals & Towpaths

  • Morris Canal NJ (formerly 102 miles between Phillipsburg NJ and Jersey City NJ; operated 1831 to 1915; now largely abandoned or destroyed)
  • Delaware & Raritan Canal NJ (formerly 43 miles between Bordentown NJ and New Brunswick NJ; operated 1834 to 1923; now used for water supply by the State of New Jersey)
  • Delaware Canal PA (60 miles; operated 1834-1932; the most intact canal and towpath in the country, with nearly its entire 60-mile length accessible and fully watered)
  • Lehigh Canal PA (Lehigh Navigation)
  • (46 miles between Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe) PA and Easton PA; operated 1820-1942, the last functioning towpath canal in the country; sold to various public and private organizations for recreational use)

Historic Places

Pennsylvania Side (north to south)

  • Easton PA: historic district, canal museum within Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
  • Delaware Canal State Park, Easton PA to Bristol PA: 60 miles of canal and towpath, Delaware Canal and the Chain Bridge are within Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
  • Riegelsville PA (Benjamin Riegel House)
  • Uhlerstown PA: historic district of 60+ buildings
  • Point Pleasant, PA: historic district of 70+ buildings
  • Lumberville PA: historic district of 80+ buildings
  • Honey Hollow Watershed National Historic Landmark, New Hope, PA: prototype of small scale watershed development (public access only by arrangement with the National Historic Landmarks Program)
  • Phillips Mill Historic Site, New Hope, PA: historic district of 30+ buildings, home and studio of William Lathrop and the "New Hope School" of artists
  • New Hope Village District, PA: historic district of 200+ buildings, restaurants, shops, galleries, excursion railroad, canal boat rides
  • Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing, PA (north and south sections)

New Jersey's Historic Sites & Districts

New Jersey Side (north to south)

  • Morris Canal National Historic Landmark - formerly ran from Phillipsburg to Jersey City, NJ
  • Frenchtown, NJ: historic district of 400+ buildings
  • Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, NJ: (canal follows the Delaware to Trenton NJ then east to New Brunswick NJ)
  • Prallsville Mills, NJ: historic district of 100+ buildings
  • Lambertville, NJ: historic district of 680+ buildings
  • Titusville, NJ: historic district of 100+ buildings
  • Washington Crossing State Park, NJ

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