Delaware River in Pennsylvania

Trip Overview

Took off with a friend of mine to run the Delaware from above Easton to Morrisville, PA in 2 days. We are both strong paddlers and usually run about 40 miles per day on the river. Stayed overnight at Tinicum park south of Frenchtown. Walked to Frenchtown for dinner and beers.

Highlight of the trip was the wing dam at Lambertville / New Hope which is a class 2+ or 3 mostly due to the large boulder field below the dam. I have run this wing dam a few times and it can be scary with strong hydraulics. Anyone approaching this for the first time should pull out on the dam at river left and scout it out. I would not run this without proper equipment. For the fearful, pull out onto the wing dam at river left and lower boat over the dam and run easier boulder field on the Jersey side.

The rest of the trip is mostly a lazy paddle with the wing dams at Bulls Island and Scudders Falls mere simple standing waves.

Outfitting:

14' Current Designs Kestrel, wetsuit

Fees:

none

Directions:

put-in 6 miles north of Easton at public ramp.

pull-out at Morrisville just north of Calhoun street bridge

Resources:

Canoeing the Delaware River by Gary Letcher