Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is one of two parks, along with Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, that preserve long portions of the Delaware River and the surrounding landscape. Visitors are able to get up close to the river, enjoying the fast-rushing water over the stones strewn about the riverbed; or, they can climb above the river on a scenic drive, getting a bird’s eye view of undulating mountains towering over the thin ribbon of water in the valley below. Since the Delaware River is the centerpiece of the park, visitors are able to enjoy a number of fishing and boating activities. However, there are also several hikes in the park, as well as some interesting historical features. One of the most interesting is Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct, a portion of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. This canal was built in the mid-1800s to transport coal from Pennsylvania to towns along the Hudson River. The aqueduct was designed by John Roebling, who would later build the Brooklyn Bridge. Although it no longer holds water and carries coal, visitors can drive over the aqueduct and imagine what it would have been like transporting coal in the 1800s.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River offers beautiful scenery and ample activities to escape from a busy life. The vistas it offers are inspiring, and the sound of the river flowing by is calming. It should also be noted that it is interesting to visit during the different seasons during the year–the blooms of spring, the lush greens and birdsongs of summer, the fiery colors of fall, and the snow and ice floes of winter are all beautiful.