DELAWARE RIVER GUIDE

Delaware River Guide

History, public access, fish and paddling resources, and live water data along the Delaware River.

River story
History, landscapes and river context
Fishing
Species, water and places to explore
Boating
Paddling, boating and access
Live data
Current USGS gauges along the river
LIVE DELAWARE RIVER DATA

Delaware River levels, gauges and monitoring stations

Check the live river overview or open an individual USGS gauge for current streamflow, gauge height, trends and historical context.

EXPLORE THE RIVER

Follow the Delaware River

Trace the reviewed Delaware River mainstem geometry and use linked agency resources to plan for a specific reach.

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River path derived from U.S. Geological Survey NLDI hydrography.
Delaware River through the Delaware Water Gap. Photo: Zeete.
THE DELAWARE STORY

A free-flowing mainstem of canals, crossings and protected valleys

From Catskill tributaries, the Delaware runs between states through the Upper Delaware valley and Delaware Water Gap, then enters the tidal corridor at Trenton before reaching its bay. With no dam on the river’s main stem, long connected reaches support shad migration as well as a remarkable chain of national wild, scenic and recreation areas.

For thousands of years
Lenape river country
The Delaware watershed is the homeland of the Lenape, whose communities, travel routes and fisheries long predate colonial boundaries.
December 1776
The crossing near Trenton
George Washington’s army crossed the ice-choked Delaware before the Battle of Trenton, an event interpreted at protected historic sites on both banks.
19th century
Canals parallel the river
The Delaware, Lehigh and Delaware & Raritan canal systems moved coal and goods along the valley while leaving the mainstem itself undammed.
1960s–1970s
A proposed dam gives way to a national recreation area
The Tocks Island dam proposal displaced communities but was not built; the surrounding corridor became Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Wild and Scenic designations
Protected corridors connect the upper and lower river
Upper, Middle and Lower Delaware designations recognize free-flowing reaches, scenery, habitat and recreation across multiple jurisdictions.
Research context: National Park Service, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
FISHING

Fishing the river

Cold Delaware tailwaters support managed wild-trout fisheries, while warmer reaches hold smallmouth bass and the tidal river supports striped bass and catfish. American shad migrate from the estuary into the free-flowing mainstem. Regulations change at state boundaries and in special tailwater reaches.

Fish you may encounter

Brown trout
Smallmouth bass
American shad
Striped bass

Where the river changes

FISHING AREA
Delaware tailwaters fisheries ↗
State research and management information.
Before you fish
  • Rules, seasons, closures and consumption advice vary by jurisdiction and can change; consult the linked fish and wildlife agency before a trip.
  • A gauge reading describes conditions at that monitoring location; it does not establish fishing quality or safety elsewhere on the river.
BOATING & PADDLING

On the water

National Park Service units publish access, river-condition and safety guidance for the Upper Delaware, Middle Delaware and Delaware Water Gap. Rapids, cold water, private land and long distances between legal access points vary by reach, so visitors should use the matching park map rather than treating the river as one uniform trip.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River ↗
Official river access and visitor guidance.
Paddling River access
Know before you go
  • Use the linked managing-agency information for current access, permits, closures and river conditions.
  • Do not treat station data as a substitute for local hazard information, weather forecasts or on-water judgment.
PARKS & ACCESS

Places to reach the river

Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River ↗
Protected-corridor and partner information.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area ↗
Official visitor, closure and river safety information.
Delaware River Guide | Levels, Fishing, Boating & Access