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THE DELAWARE RIVER

     U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, speaking about the Delaware River in 1931 said, “A river is more than an amenity, it is a treasure.”  The Delaware River has been called the “Crown Jewel” of the east, and rightfully so.

     The river starts on the western slopes of the Catskill Mountains in eastern New York and consists of two branches, the West Branch and the East Branch. From the point where the two branches merge in Hancock, New York the Delaware flows south all the way to the mouth of the Delaware Bay, more than 330 miles.  More than half of these miles are protected within five national parks units.                                                                                                                      Hawks Nest

     The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is a 73 mile stretch of river that flows from the East and West Branches all the way to Port Jervis, New York.  Almost 1/3rd of this section of river is designated as a national scenic river of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It is here that you will find “whitewater and cliffs” including the spectacularly scenic “Hawks Nest” just north of Port Jervis. In Lackawaxen, two historic sites are located  - the home of Zane Grey, the great American author and the Roebling Bridge, the precursor of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, designed by John Roebling.

     The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a national park encompassing 40 miles of the Middle Delaware River and includes 67,000 acres of river valleys and calm waters from Port Jervis to the Delaware Water Gap. The Delaware Water Gap is a gorge that has 1,200 foot cliffs on each side of the river and is one of the scenic wonders in the eastern United States. The park has more than 100 miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, river beaches and campsites.                                                                                                        Roebling Bridge

     South of the Delaware Water Gap is the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River. In what is known today as Washington’s Crossing on December 25th 1776 George Washington led his troops across the Delaware and defeated German mercenaries allied with the British at the Battle of Trenton.

     The Delaware River not only has a rich and exciting history, but has some of the most scenic and pristine vacation spots in the east. It’s not only a great place to visit….. it’s also a great place to live.