Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area preserves a long, thin stretch along the Delaware River on the border of Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey. The park’s focal point is the river and the hills and bluffs overlooking it, but the national park area also encompasses the forests around the river, as well as lots of creeks running into the Delaware.

There are lots of ways to explore Delaware Water Gap. For the most avid hikers, the Appalachian Trail runs the length of most of the park. For others, there are a range of trails that allow hikers to explore different facets of the park–some provide sweeping vistas of the Delaware River, its islands, and the rolling hills surrounding it; others travel along the creeks that branch out of the Delaware, some of which feature waterfalls. We chose to hike a short trail to Raymondskill Falls, the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania. When we were there, we were fortunate to see a large amount of water flowing, the pounding water making for a spectacular sight.

The National Recreation Area also has scenic drives located on either side of the river. We drove on the western side, which spent much of the time winding through peaceful, low-lying forests along the river, but which also featured roads in higher elevations, especially on the way to our hike. While we were only able to go on the scenic drive and take a short hike during our visit, there are also lots of other ways to see the park. Because the Delaware River is the main feature of the park, there are many boating, fishing, and swimming opportunities.

We very much enjoyed our time at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The scenic drive was relaxing, afforded us great views, and placed us in peaceful forests. Our hike was spectacular. We agreed that we would very much like to explore Delaware Water Gap further, both on foot and in a canoe.