Step 1: Choose the Right Delaware River Trip

Your adventure starts before you ever reach the water.

Adventure Sports offers one-day and multi-day Delaware River trips, with different routes, distances, and paddling times available. One-day options are ideal when you want to spend a few hours or a full day on the river, while multi-day trips allow you to cover more distance and camp along the way.

Your first decision is choosing an itinerary that fits your group, available time, and comfort level.

Adventure Sports offers trips ranging from shorter outings to multi-day adventures lasting up to four days, so you don't have to approach the Delaware River as a one-size-fits-all experience.

Explore Adventure Sports' Delaware River trips before booking to compare the available routes.

Step 2: Decide Between a Canoe, Kayak, or Raft

Next, you'll need to decide how you want to travel down the river.

Canoe

A canoe is a classic way to explore the Delaware River. Canoes provide room for gear and allow paddlers to work together, making them a practical choice for couples, families, and people bringing larger coolers or equipment.

Kayak

A kayak offers a more individual paddling experience. Adventure Sports has both one-person and two-person kayaks, giving you the option to paddle independently or share a boat.

Raft

If you'd rather have several people together in one boat, a raft may be a good choice. Adventure Sports offers rafting on select trip routes, including its Smithfield Beach to Delaware Water Gap trip.

If you're not sure which option makes sense, Adventure Sports can help you understand the differences and choose a boat that works for your trip.

Step 3: Arrive Prepared for Your Day on the River

Before leaving home, check the weather and current river conditions and make sure you've packed what you'll need.

A basic day-trip packing list may include:

• Drinking water
• Lunch and snacks
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• A hat
• Secure footwear that can get wet
• Quick-drying clothing
• Extra clothing when conditions call for it
• A waterproof bag or container for belongings
• Any personal items you'll need throughout the day

If you're bringing food and gear, think about your boat choice as well. Canoes and rafts can accommodate larger coolers and equipment, while soft coolers and luggage are better suited for kayaks.

For a multi-day trip, you'll need additional camping supplies, food, clothing, and other gear appropriate for your itinerary.

Step 4: Get Oriented Before You Paddle

You don't simply pick up a boat and get sent on your way.

Trip planning and orientation are included with Adventure Sports trips, helping you understand your outing before you get on the river.

Adventure Sports also provides the canoe, kayak, or raft used for your trip, along with:

• Paddles
• Life jackets
• River maps
• Trip planning
• Orientation
• Shuttle transportation for people, luggage, and boats

Having these pieces included simplifies the logistics of a Delaware River outing, especially if it's your first time paddling in the area.

For more answers before your visit, check the Adventure Sports FAQ.

Step 5: Take the Shuttle to Your Trip's Launch Point

One of the logistical challenges of a river trip is simple: you usually don't finish where you started.

That's where shuttle transportation comes in.

Adventure Sports includes transportation for people, luggage, and boats as part of its trips. Your specific launch and take-out locations depend on the itinerary you've chosen.

That means you can focus on your route instead of trying to coordinate multiple vehicles at different points along the river.

Step 6: Launch and Start Exploring the Delaware River

Once you're on the water, the adventure is yours.

The Delaware River through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area passes through a largely natural landscape surrounded by the Pocono Mountains. This section includes generally calmer stretches along with Class I rapids and riffles.

For beginners, this can make the area approachable, but easy-looking water should never be confused with risk-free water. River conditions can change, and paddlers should always take safety guidance seriously.

Wear your life jacket, pay attention to your surroundings, and follow the orientation and current river guidance.

Step 7: Don't Feel Like You Have to Race to the Finish

One of the best things about a Delaware River trip is that the experience isn't only about paddling from Point A to Point B.

Take time to look around.

Depending on your route, current conditions, and park regulations, you may have opportunities to enjoy different parts of the river corridor along the way.

That might mean stopping for lunch, taking in the scenery, or simply slowing your pace for a while.

Adventure Sports encourages paddlers to enjoy their time on the river rather than rushing through the experience.

After all, getting to the take-out is only one part of the adventure.

Step 8: Know What River Safety Looks Like

Even if it's your first trip, you should understand a few basic Delaware River safety principles before launching.

The National Park Service recommends wearing a properly fitted life jacket on the river. Paddlers should also be aware of potential hazards including strong currents, drop-offs, boat traffic, and strainers.

If a canoe or kayak capsizes in moving water, the National Park Service advises paddlers not to attempt to stand in rapids or fast-moving water. Instead, follow current river-safety guidance and your pre-trip orientation.

Conditions also matter. Water levels and currents can change after rain and at different times of the year, so always check current Delaware River conditions before your outing.

Being prepared doesn't make the experience less adventurous. It helps you approach the river with the respect it deserves.

Step 9: Reach Your Take-Out Point

Every Adventure Sports route has a designated destination, so knowing your take-out is an important part of your trip planning.

Pay attention during your orientation, use the river information provided for your trip, and stay aware of where you are along the route.

The goal isn't to reach the end as quickly as possible. It's to arrive at your take-out after a day spent actually experiencing the Delaware River.

Whether you chose a shorter one-day outing or you're completing part of a multi-day adventure, reaching the take-out marks the end of that section of your journey.

What Is a Delaware River Trip Really Like?

Every day on the river is a little different.

Weather, water conditions, your chosen route, your boat, your group, and how quickly you paddle can all shape the experience.

But that's part of what makes a river trip memorable.

Instead of following a rigid itinerary every minute of the day, you get to experience the Delaware Water Gap from the water and move through the landscape at your own pace.

You can make it a family outing, paddle with friends, bring a larger group, or turn it into a multi-day adventure.

Ready for Your First Delaware River Trip?

You don't need to own a canoe or kayak or figure out all the transportation logistics yourself to spend a day paddling the Delaware River.

Adventure Sports has been operating trips on the Delaware River in the Poconos since 1969. Your trip includes the use of your canoe, kayak, or raft, along with paddles, life jackets, river maps, trip planning, orientation, and shuttle transportation.

All you need to do is choose the adventure that's right for you and come prepared for your day on the water.

Explore one-day Delaware River trips or take your adventure farther with a multi-day Delaware River trip through Adventure Sports.