The balmy days of the summer paddling season are giving way to the cooler temperatures of the fall paddling season. Pennsylvania’s Water Trails still offer plenty of fabulous opportunities for your next river adventure. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Water Trail Managers, there are both planned group events and several new or improved waterway access points for your next trip. It’s also time to celebrate and welcome a new Water Trail Manager to the network. Keep reading to be among the first to know!
There are five designated Water Trails in the Delaware River basin in Pennsylvania, and each is managed by a local organization who maintains and develops new launches; prints and distributes maps for trip planning; installs informational and way-finding signs along the Water Trail; maintains an up-to-date website; and plans fun and educational events for community members.
For trail managers and their many partners, this work is ongoing, but some new and exciting projects in the Delaware River basin will enhance the paddling and recreation experience for paddlers planning to explore one of these Water Trails during the remaining 2024 outdoor season.
First, what exactly is a Water Trail?
A water trail is a designated route along a river, stream, and/or lake specifically designed for people using small non-motorized craft like kayaks, canoes, tubes, stand-up paddle boards, etc. Water Trails are the aquatic equivalent of a hiking trail (or “greenway”). They feature well-developed access and launch points at distances that provide for a variety of trip lengths. Each Water Trail in PA has a detailed maps available which show access points and river mileage and typically provides information on wildlife viewing opportunities, significant historical, environmental or cultural points of interest; and often include nearby amenities such as hospitals and medical facilities, restaurants, hotels and campgrounds.
What’s New on the Delaware Water Trail?
The Delaware River offers some of the finest and most accessible recreational opportunities in the northeastern United States. Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) is the manager of the Delaware River Water Trail, and the sponsor of the annual Delaware River Sojourn, which will celebrate its 30th year in 2025 — sounds like an event you won’t want to miss!
Additionally, on the “New Jersey side” on this interstate Water Trail, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Parks, Forests and Historic Sites has placed new signage at the boat launches at in Worthington State Forest, Reigelsville, Kingwood, Byram, Bulls Island, Lambertville and Fireman’s Eddy. The signs are installed near the river’s edge to provide water recreationists with location information.
What’s New on the Lehigh River?
The Lehigh River Water Trail is 72-miles long, starting in White Haven, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and ending in the City of Easton, Northampton County, where the Lehigh River meets its confluence with the Delaware River. While the Wildlands Conservancy is the designated Manager, many partners along this trail help to create and enhance recreational experiences for paddlers and other trail users. The City of Easton, for example, has been busy this summer improving access, parking, and signage at the trailhead at Delaware Canal State Park, at the terminus of the Leigh River Water Trail. The Park is a partnership between the City of Easton, which maintains the Trailhead, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which maintains the canal and the canal towpath, and the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, which is the non-profit steward of the canals (which run 165 miles from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol). With support in part from a PEC Water Trail Mini-grant, the parking lot at the site has been expanded and partially paved (the rest will be paved soon), new fencing and landscaping has been installed, and several trees were planted. The City has also been awarded a small grant from the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce to buy additional equipment for the park such as a bike rack or picnic table to enhance the visitor experience.
What’s New on the Tidal Delaware Water Trail?
The Tidal Delaware Water Trail is a great option if an urban paddling adventure is in on your bucket list for 2025! It includes 56 miles of accessible river opportunities from Trenton, New Jersey to Marcus Hook, Delaware. Here the river does in fact experience high and low tides! The Tidal Delaware is a hub of environmental features, historic resources, and recreational activities. This unique Water Trail has a new Manager, Riverways Collaboration, a coalition of non-profit organizations actively engaged with the waterways and communities in the Philadelphia and Camden, NJ area. Riverways is new to the “Water Trail” world but is already putting in motion plans to bring more information and resources for paddling and recreating in the urban waterways to Philadelphia and Camden, including reinventing a website with lots of great content scheduled to go live in mid-September. In the meantime, check out the map of Water Trail features.
What’s New on the Schuylkill River Water Trail?
The Schuylkill River flows southeasterly for 137 miles through Schuylkill, Berks, Montgomery, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties on its way to its confluence with the Delaware River. Schuylkill River Greenways (SRG) serves as the Manager of the Schuylkill River Water Trail and the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area. SRG hosts events throughout the season including this summer’s final Pedal & Paddle event taking place September 7. This 3-hour guided adventure includes a bike ride along the Schuylkill River Trail and a paddle in a kayak on the Schuylkill River. Go to schuylkillriver.org for info and registration!
SRG is improving access all along the river. The very popular Schuylkill Haven Island Park landing was reopened in July with a new ramp, a boat drop-off zone and handicapped accessible parking and paths. SRG is developing a new river access point, Reeser’s Landing, in Exeter Township, that will accommodate boats on trailers as well as kayaks. In Douglass Township, the popular Ganshahawny Park landing is being improved and expanded.
What’s New on Perkiomen Creek Water Trail?
The Perkiomen Creek Water Trail offers 14 miles of navigable waters from south of Green Lane to just before its confluence with the Schuylkill River near Oaks, PA. The Perkiomen Trail, a 20-mile, multi-use trail, parallels the creek on a former railroad bed and provides a framework for access to the creek. The Water Trail is managed by the Perkiomen Creek Conservancy and is the newest of the designated Water Trails in the Commonwealth. The Conservancy, as well as local paddlers, are celebrating improvements to Collegeville’s Creekside Park where there is now a 15-car parking lot and paved access to the boat launch. The renovation, which included new landscaping, were funded in part by two Montco 2040 grants from the Montgomery County Planning Commission. Collegeville Borough, along with Ursinus College, formed a partnership with the Delaware Tribe of Indians who are the original indigenous inhabitants of Collegeville worked together to give the park a new name. As part of the Welcome Home Project for the Lenape people, which has included the reinternment of remains, reading important books, engaging in meaningful learning discussions, the park was renamed, “Pretty Place” in Lenape, or “Welakamike.”
The next time you visit the area, or, any local river or stream, take a moment to consider how you will continue the legacy of care and stewardship on the sacred land of those who came before us and the precious spaces we are leaving to the next generation.
Remember to pack out what you pack in, protect the natural resources that make the river a fun and scenic recreation experience, and help trail managers keep the facilities along the river clean and functional for all to use.
Have fun out there and be safety aware!