Exciting: Paddle from Lackawaxen to Sparrowbush

Paddle this longer stretch of river with a mix of calm waters, rapids, and rifts from Lackawaxen River Access to the New York DEC river access at Sparrowbush, NY. This stretch is approximately 20 river miles and takes on average 8-10 hours to paddle. This long and adventurous stretch of the river has many sights to see. Immediately after leaving the Lackawaxen River Access you will pass over the remains of the old spillwater dam and underneath Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct, the oldest wire cable suspension bridge in North America. It is recommended you pass under the bridge in the center of the river. After you clear the bridge, look to your left to see the D&H Towpath Trail which follows along remains of the historic Delaware & Hudson Canal, just on the other side of the path. After making it through your first set of rapids, you will pass by the Highland River Access. If you need a break to stretch your legs or grab a bite to eat, several restaurants and the Barryville Saturday Farmers Market are located within walking distance of the Barryville River Access. The access is located just before the Barryville-Shohola Bridge, on the New York-side of the river. After passing through the rapids after Barryville, you will not encounter rapids for quite some time. A little down the river on your left you can see a red barn and white house, which is the historic Cowen Farm, owned by the park. Next pass through Quicks Eddy and Pond Eddy and pass under the Pond Eddy Bridge. Coming on your right will be the only public lands camping area in the park, Buckhorn Camping Area. This campsite requires a permit and is only reachable by boat. The camping area is adjacent to Staircase rapids, which is then followed by Knights Eddy. After passing Knights Eddy and a small island, you will pass by the Mongaup River Access and through one final set of rapids before reaching the Hawk’s Nest, a well-known overlook area with sandstone cliffs. Cherry Island will be your last landmark before reaching Sparrowbush. Keep an eye out for eel weirs around this area. They are large “V” shaped structures in the river. Paddle around them and avoid entering the center of the “V”. This stretch of river has a mix of calm and exciting stretches with four sets of rapids, Cedar Rapids, Shohola Rapids, Stairway Rapids, and Mongaup rapids; and two rifts, Butlers Rift and Mill Rift. Among these are both Class I & II rapids. River Safety Wearing a life jacket is the #1 thing you can do to stay safe on the river. Make sure your life jacket fits snugly and is the correct size for you. Familiarize yourself with the life jacket rules of the river. During all seasons, there is always a risk of hypothermia. Even during summer, water temperatures can remain cold. Always come prepared, check the weather forecast, wear appropriate clothing, and bring an extra set of dry clothes. River conditions can change very quickly. Stay informed by calling the river hotline line at 845-252-7100 for daily information about river height, condition, and temperatures. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from April 1st to October 31st. Glass is prohibited on the river. Closed toed shoes are recommended to protect your feet. The river is surrounded by private property. Please respect landowners and do not stop or get off on private property. Driving and Parking There are no public shuttles, public transit, or ride-sharing services along the Upper Delaware River, as well as limited cell service. Unless you are renting equipment from a livery which offers shuttling services, make a plan on how you will get back to your vehicle after your trip. Parking lots are available at both the Lackawaxen and Sprrowbush River Accesses. Most visitors will leave one car at their starting point and another at their ending point.