Delaware Water Gap

https://www.nps.gov/dewa/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_Water_Gap_National_Recreation_Area The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is located along the middle section of the Delaware River in New Jersey and Pennsylvania stretching from the Delaware Water Gap northward in New Jersey to the state line near Port Jervis, New York, and in Pennsylvania to the outskirts of Milford. A 40-mile (64 km) section of the Delaware River, entirely within the National Recreation Area, has been granted protected status as the Middle Delaware National Scenic River under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and is also administered by the National Park Service. This section of the river is the core of the historical Minisink region. Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history, and striking scenery along 40 miles of the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi. The park offers year-round recreation including hiking, paddling, fishing, and hunting. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a long, narrow park that sits between two major interstates, I-80 at the south and I-84 at the north. US 209 is the main north/south road through the park on the Pennsylvania side and Old Mine Road is the main north/south road though the park on the New Jersey side. Dingmans Falls Visitor Center Visitor center where guests can get information from rangers and volunteers. A bookstore, run by America's National Parks, is in the visitor center, along with displays, passport stamps, and activities. Pets ARE NOT permitted in the visitor center or on the Dingmans Falls Trail. The Dingmans Falls Visitor Center is approximately 8 miles south of I-84 and approximately 21 miles north of I-80, and can be accessed via US-209. The visitor center is on Dingmans Falls Road, about 1 mile from the turn from US-209 onto Dingmans Falls Road. Located in Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania; GPS: 41.229477, -74.887899 Kittatinny Point Visitor Center This visitor center is currently closed. The Kittatinny Point Visitor Center is located in New Jersey, off of I-80, and is approximately 35 miles south of I-84. To get to the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center from I-80, take exit 1 in New Jersey and follow the signs to the visitor center, which is within a half mile from the exit. From I-84, it is possible to get to the visitor center via River Road and Old Mine Road. Located in Columbia, New Jersey; GPS: 40.970202, -75.128278 Millbrook Village While the village is open for visitation, there are no active visitor centers at Millbrook Village. For information on the park, call or visit an open visitor center. See calendar for information about special events offered. Millbrook Village is located in New Jersey, approximately 11 miles north of I-80 via Old Mine Road and approximately 30 miles south of I-84 via River Road and Old Mine Road. Millbrook is also near Blairstown, NJ and is located just 6 miles northwest of Blairstown by way of Millbrook Road/Route 602. Located in Hardwick, New Jersey; GPS: 41.073524, -74.963349 Park Headquarters Visitor Information, Bookstore Sales (Credit Card Only), Passport Stamps, Restrooms, America The Beautiful & Season passes. Park headquarters is located approximately 8.5 miles north of I-80 and approximately 21 miles south of I-84 on River Road in Pennsylvania. US-209 intersects with River Road and can be easily accessed from both I-80 and I-84. Located in Bushkill, PA; GPS: 41.070196, -75.017518 Dingmans Campground Dingmans Campground is a 136-site rustic campground located in Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania. Dingmans Campground offers a variety of settings with campsites along the river, forest campsites, as well as RV, water, and electric campsites. Group campsites for 20 to 40 people available. Camping is available from April until October most years. Telephone 570-828-1551 for details. RV Campsite RV parked at a wooded campsite Water and 20/30 amp electric services are available as select sites. Campsite empty wooded campsite 136 campsites are available at Dingmans Campground. Mohican Outdoor Center Primitive group campsites in a wooded setting adjacent to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in New Jersey; Drinking water available; Call 603-466-2727 for additional information regarding lodge or cabin rentals. Mohican Outdoor Center Campground view of pond with pink mountain laurel flowers in the foreground Campsites are nestled in the trees near Catfish Pond. River Camping The Middle Delaware Scenic and Recreational River offers 62 primitive campsites along the water. These sites are available for overnight paddling trips along the Delaware River. Reservations for these boat-in only sites can be made on Recreation.gov. For overnight vehicle parking, please visit https://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/index.htm to register your vehicle. River Campsite Reservation Fee 16.00 To reserve a boat-in only river campsite, please visit Recreation.gov. Bushkill Boat Launch - Autumn - J. Grier A view of the river from the Bushkill Access in the fall while the leaves are changing colors. Camping on the river is a great way to spend a weekend. Rivers Bend Group Campground Primitive group campsites for parties of 5 to 15 people per site in an open area with some trees next to and above the river. Drinking water available. Parking available for up to six vehicles per site. Rivers Bend Group Campsite Fee 70.00 Sites are for groups only. Each site can host approximately 5 to 25 people. Rivers Bend Group Campground view of the river from campground Nestled on a hill above the river, Rivers Bend Group Campground provides a peaceful spot for groups to enjoy their park visit. Rivers Bend Group Campground Open Area Image of the large open area found at Rivers Bend Group Campground Rivers Bend Group Campground Great Area Rivers Bend Group Campground Campsite Number Two One of the group campsites showing fire pit to the front and and bear proof trash cans to the right Rivers Bend Group Campsite Number Two Rivers Bend Group campground Entrance The entrance of Rivers Bend Group Campground shows a driveway into the woods and a sign to the right Entrance to Rivers Bend Group Campground from Old Mine Road Rivers Bend Group campground Flag Pole Image of an open area with a flag pole in the center and some small benches behind. Rivers Bend Group Campground Flag Pole Area Valley View Group Campground Primitive group campsites in an open area with some trees next to the river. Drinking water available at the nearby Bushkill Access. Groups of 5 to 15 people can reserve these sites. Only Site One is handicap accessible. Valley View Group Campground wooded group campsite Valley View Group Campground is conveniently located along the river near Bushkill, PA. Worthington State Forest Campground The park has 78 tent and trailer sites along two miles of river frontage.  Each site contains a picnic table and a fire ring. Showers, modern toilet facilities and drinking water are available. Sites 1-23 are available for tent camping only and sites 29 -82 are available for tents, travel trailers and motorhomes. Delaware Water Gap View of the Delaware River cutting between two low mountain peaks The Delaware Water Gap is the geologic formation that gives the park its name. This distinctive cut thru the Kittatinny ridgeline was made by the Delaware River over thousands of years. Fulmer Falls A waterfall flows toward the viewer along a rocky riverbed. Fulmer Falls is the second of three waterfalls in George W. Childs Park Millbrook Days A woman braids rye straw for hatmaking A woman braids rye straw for hatmaking River View from Mount Tammany a snaking river view from a mountain top High view of the Delaware River from atop Mount Tammany Nesting Great Blue Herons Great Blue Herons attending their nests in a tree Great Blue Herons attend their nests in a tree Dingmans Falls A strongly running Dingmans Falls waterfall surrounded by plants. Dingmans Falls in summer, as seen from the wheelchair and stroller accessible boardwalk Silver Thread Falls Tall and narrow, Silver Thread Falls Silver Thread Falls, as seen from the Dingmans Falls Boardwalk The Delaware Water Gap: A Window Into Earth’s Early Oceans The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA), straddling the lower Delaware River along northwestern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, boasts extensive ancient reefs. These reefs showcase prehistoric marine life that predates the dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era by 200 million years. A cross section of a preserved reef Partnerships add a Charge to your Travel Plans The National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, BMW of North America, the U.S. Department of Energy, concessioners, and gateway communities have collaborated to provide new technologies for travel options to and around national parks. As part of this public-private partnership, BMW of North America, working through the National Park Foundation, donated and arranged for the installation of 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports in and around national parks. Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Monitoring Program Yields Insights into Forest Health in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area From a mountaintop vista in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, forests spread across the Delaware River Valley. This vast sea of green is a complex ecosystem that provides habitat for countless plants, animals, fungi, and insects. Understanding the current condition of park forests and how the forests are changing is critical to long-term management of park ecosystems. Mountaintop view of a green, heavily forested landscape Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Treats 800 Acres with Prescribed Fire In 2014 Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area used prescribed fire to treat 800 acres across 12 burn units to maintain open space, reduce hazardous fuels, and restore the cultural landscape. The burn also contributed to the park’s natural resource management goal to provide early successional habitat for grassland birds such as bobolink and grasshopper sparrows, various insect species, and upland game bird species such as wild turkey. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. delaware water gap divides the ridge line Student Volunteers Plant 150 Chestnut Seedlings at DEWA On Monday April 27, 2019, an enthusiastic group of student volunteers and their teacher from the Wallenpaupack Area High School (WAHS) Eco-Team helped with a restoration project at Dingmans Falls in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. DEWA Reels In New Volunteers for Fishing Line Recycling Program A woman disposes of fishing line in a recycle bin at Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area, placed there by members of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA). Crystal Clear: Installing Four Continuous Water Quality Monitors Near Delaware River Basin Marcellus Shale Development National Park Service Delaware River parks collaborated with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Science Centers in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey on a USGS/NPS Water Quality Partnership technical assistance proposal to install four continuous water quality monitors near Delaware River Basin Marcellus Shale development. This project was selected for funding in 2012. green trees reflected in still blue river water 2011 Recipients: George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service Meet the six winner of the 2011 Hartzog Awards, which celebrates the amazing contributions of volunteers to our national parks. Youth volunteer The Future of Our Oak Forests: Can Fire and Fences Sustain Oak Forests for the Future? Oak-dominated forests are an important resource in the Appalachian Mountains, covering vast areas of the dry ridgetops and mesic hillsides. However, the future of these forests is uncertain due to the lack of regeneration that would form the future oak trees. Person crouched beside a forest health monitoring plot, recording data Unique Riverside Habitat Needs Restoration Different types of bedrock, the shape of the river channel, the timing of floods, and scouring by winter ice create unique environmental settings where rare riparian plant communities occur. Calcareous Riverside Outcrop and Calcareous Riverside Seep are two globally rare riparian communities that co-occur together at Dingmans Ferry and two other sites within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Lush riparian prairie alongside a gently flowing river Bat Projects in Parks: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Monitoring bats across New Jersey and Pennsylvania in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Dingmans Creek waterfall in Delaware Water Gap Zehra Osman Zehra Osman has been a Landscape Architect with the National Park Service since 2001. Through her work at a variety of parks around the country, Zehra explores how cultural landscape documentation and research contributes to historic preservation and planning projects. A smiling woman in a green NPS uniform with arms crossed Forest Health in a Regional Context Eight Inventory and Monitoring networks have been collaborating on forest health monitoring since 2005. Participants include 61 national parks in the eastern United States. As a result of this collaboration, vegetation data are collected in similar ways, which allows us to compare various parks across the region. One person on the forest floor collecting data, while another records the data So Many Mushrooms! It started as a personal project. Biological technician Sarah Daugherty would be out collecting data for the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network’s forest health monitoring program, and notice so many cool mushrooms. She started taking photos and jotting down what she saw. Soon, she noticed that many of the species she was finding weren't on park species lists. Discussing her discoveries with her colleagues, everyone agreed that a more formal fungi inventory was in order. Mushrooms of different colors, shapes, and sizes, laid out next to each other on a floor 2019 Weather In Review: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area In all, 2019 was very wet and warm at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The year ended as the 14th wettest and 15th warmest since 1895. Dark storm clouds gathering over the Delaware River. Silent Witnesses, Old Trees are Hiding in Our Midst An article about old trees in Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) parks. ERMN scientists have collected cores from two "average" looking canopy trees adjacent to every permanent long-term forest health monitoring plot in network parks. Of the 700 trees cored, over 60 of them hovered near 200 years old. A woman uses an increment borer to take a core sample from a tree. Celebrating soils across the National Park System First in a series of three "In Focus" articles that share insights into the near-universal and far-reaching effects of soils on the ecology, management, and enjoyment of our national parks. Fossil soils at Cabrillo National Monument reveal marine deposits Archeology ABCs Coloring Book Archeology paints a colorful picture of the past! Download and print this full coloring book packed with archeological objects from A to Z! Title page for coloring book entitled Archeology ABCs Coloring Book Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 11, No. 2, Fall 2019 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> devils tower Series: Crystal Clear: A Call to Action In 2016, the nation celebrates the centennial of the National Park Service (NPS) as the steward of special places that represent our natural and cultural heritage. Many national parks were founded on the beauty and value of water. Since the preservation of the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the National Park System has grown to include significant examples within majestic rivers, the Great Lakes, oceans and coasts, and other spectacular water resources. bright blue lake green islands in between Devonian Period—419.2 to 358.9 MYA The Devonian is part of the “Age of Fishes.” Fish fossils from Death Valley National Park shed light on the early evolution of fish in North America. Tilted Devonian rocks in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park attest to continued Appalachian Mountain formation. fossil brachiopod Silurian Period—443.8 to 419.2 MYA Excellent exposures and well-preserved fossils in Silurian rocks of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve provide clues to the timing of the assembly of Alaska’s assembly from a variety of continental fragments. fossil corals in a rock matrix Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix 2020 Weather In Review: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area experienced an extremely warm 2020 with precipitation that was near normal. The year ended as the 3rd warmest and 58th wettest on record (since 1895). Rainbow over the Delaware River. Plan Like a Ranger for your visit to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area An image of Mount Tammany, taken from the Arrow Island Overlook, showing the layers of rock that make up the Kittatinny Ridge. This is the home of the famous Red Dot Trail, as well as the first section of Appalachian Trail in New Jersey. Mount Tammany from the side exposing layers upon layers of rock amongst the spring canopy of leaves Invasion of the Biome Bashers Invasive plants are a concerning and growing issue for eastern national parks. Learn what is spreading, and how some parks are seeing success in managing them. Glossy buckthron Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area announces $6.5 Million infrastructure investment to overhaul a main thoroughfare Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area announces $6.5 Million infrastructure investment to overhaul a main thoroughfare A road with pot hole damage runs off to the right. Headlights of an oncoming car in the distance. Hazardous Fuel Reduction Treatments in the National Capital Area Protects Structures In 2021, wildland fire staff throughout Interior Region (IR) 1 and the National Capital Area continued safeguarding National Park Service (NPS)-owned structures by reducing brush and trees adjacent to them. These efforts adhere to the Wildland Fire Risk Assessment Project, a bureau-wide effort focused on creating and maintaining defensible space around NPS-owned infrastructure. Mastication of fuels surrounding the historic township of Walpack PA Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background 2021 Weather In Review: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area experienced an extremely warm 2021 with total precipitation that was also above average. The year ended as the 7th warmest and 26th wettest on record (since 1895). Visitors and park staff gather at the observation area along the Dingmans Falls Boardwalk Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Invasive Plants & Pests Park forests are threatened by invasive plants and pests. Strategically tackling invasive plants to protect park’s highest priority natural resources and planning around forest pests and pathogens are important actions in managing resilient forests. Forest Regeneration I&M Networks Support Resilient Forest Management NPS Inventory and Monitoring Networks have been tracking forest health in eastern national parks since 2006. This monitoring information can guide resilient forest management and support parks in adapting to changing conditions through the actions described below. Forest health monitoring Series: Managing Resilient Forests Initiative for Eastern National Parks Forests in the northeastern U.S. are in peril. Over-abundant deer, invasive plants, and insect pests are negatively impacting park forests, threatening to degrade the scenic vistas and forested landscapes that parks are renowned for. With regional collaboration, parks can manage these impacts and help forests be resilient. This article series explores tools available to park managers to achieve their goals. Healthy forests have many native seedlings and saplings. Streamside Bird Monitoring in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Streamside bird monitoring at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area 2007-2019 indicates that 89% of bird species that breed in the park during the summer have stable or increasing populations. A small brown bird with a white chest with caterpillar in bill. Managing Resilient Forests. A Regional Initiative Forests cover tens of thousands of acres in eastern national parks and these critical resources face a range of interacting stressors: over-abundant white-tailed deer populations, invasive plant dominance, novel pests and pathogens, among other threats. The Resilient Forests Initiative will help parks address these issue collectively. Forest health monitoring Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface 2022 Weather in Review: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area experienced a very warm year, and the year ranked as the 14th warmest ever recorded (since 1895). In terms of precipitation, the spring was very wet and the summer was abnormally dry. In total, the year ended as the 58th wettest on record. Water cascading down Factory Falls. BARK Rangers to Bark Ambassadors Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area extends their volunteer opportunities to include pets, inspired by the BARK Ranger Program. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Hosts Science Summer Camp Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is offering their Science Summer Camp for six Fridays over the course of July and August 2023. This program is available to all visitors. Children and a parent standing at a table doing an activity with a Teacher Ranger Teacher. 2023 Weather in Review: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area experienced and extremely warm 2023 with total precipitation that was also above normal. The year ultimately ranked as the 3rd warmest and 17th wettest on record (since 1895). Fall foliage reflected in the river. Lifeguard Recruitment - National Park Service Join the National Park Service and apply to be a lifeguard today! boats on the water Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Project Profile: Implement Landscape-Scale Restoration of Eastern Grasslands to Improve Ecosystem Health The National Park Service will restore up to 4,000 acres of agricultural fields and degraded lands across 35 parks in 14 states. This landscape-scale restoration project will expand the range and connectivity of native grasslands across the eastern US, restore biodiversity and critical ecosystem functions, reduce pesticide use, benefit people and wildlife, and create employment opportunities for diverse early career youth. A park manager and others standing amidst a grassy landscape.