Established Camping
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
About
National Park Service
Site #106 When it comes to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, we have many options for a great outdoor experience. The Middle Delaware National Scenic & Recreational River Primitive Campsites offer 62 campsites located along the Delaware River running through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Camping is limited to one night per campsite (zone). After one night all campers must move to another camping zone if they plan to camp along the river additional nights.
This part of the Delaware River is relatively unspoiled as it travels through the rural landscape. A stay at one of these campsites located along the Delaware River will give you your fill of nature. You will be able to sleep under the stars, hear the birds chirping, listen to the tree frogs, listen to the river running by, and hopefully see some wildlife along the way.
Delaware Water Gap NRA's zoned approach to the primitive river campsites are as follows:
Zone 1- North Park boundary to Milford Beach Zone 2- Milford Beach to Dingmans Boat Launch Zone 3- Dingmans Boat Launch to Bushkill Boat Launch Zone 4- Bushkill Boat Launch to Smithfield Beach Zone 5-Smithfield Beach to Kittatinny Point The zone reservation system allows visitors to reserve camping permits within 5 designated river zones. Upon arrival boaters may pick any one of the available sites within the river zone they have reserved an overnight camping permit for. This allows boaters the freedom and spontaneity of choosing a site while on the river while also offering the predictability that a campsite will be available upon arrival. We recommend finding the campsite of your choice, within your designated zone, sooner rather than later in the day. Although we will only sell permits according to the number of sites in a specific zone, there is no guarantee the site you "want" will be available when you boat there. Make sure to plan alternatives if you pass open campsites and choose to keep going.
Location
Walter's Boat In Campsites — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is located in Pennsylvania
Coordinates
41.018717 N
75.073887 W
Access
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
Features
For Campers
- Reservable
RangerVery Nice Riverside Camping
The campsite in this review has two major points to express beyond the actual review.
First, this site is only accessible by canoes or kayaks. There is no public road access to the campsite. Secondly, the site is maintained by the NPS, (National Park Service) within the DWGNRA, (Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area). People found camping at this site that are not on a river trip or camped at the site for longer than one day can expect to receive hefty fines from the NPS.
This site was actually an Eagle Scout project according to the signs. There are two different levels to the campsite, which is nice for boaters. We were able to leave the boats on the lower level,(yet more than high enough that the river is no issue), and camped on the upper level. There are railroad tie stairs from the river up to the site, making it nice weather muddy or dry.
This is actually the second to last site on this section of river. After another 1/2 mile and there are no other campsites for more than 20 miles, and those are private or reserved sites.
There was quite a bit of room, and the site was very clean. According to all the literature this is a site with no road or trail access. HOWEVER, as dusk fell, a small group of local fishermen came walking through the camp to access the river. It turns out the locals know this place well and it is very popular with the anglers.
As soon as they seen the site was occupied they did change their path of travel, but still was a little bothersome when expecting total seclusion.
Upon leaving this site you will only travel down river about 30-45 minutes before you come upon Shawnee Golf Course. Its pretty neat to see, the last few holes of the course are on an island mid-river.
Beyond that another 20 minutes and you find yourself at the New Jersey Welcome Center and Mt. Tammany, a large mountain that forms the eastern side of the Delaware Water Gap. It has a moderate difficulty hike that takes about an hour an a half round trip to complete, but it has the most incredible view. You have to go to the top if you get here. If not it will always be one of those "I should have" memories. The Appalachian Trail also cuts across the top of this mountain.
All in all, a great campsite, just do not be surprised if in the middle of the night you have local fishermen visiting.
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