We had an awesome time rafting the Delaware Water Gap. We drove up to the Poconos, where we stayed…read morea few years back, coincidentally. This was a pretty last minute, somewhat impromptu day trip. Our friends invited us along, to help celebrate their daughter graduating and going off to college. It would be the first time rafting for my fnsily, but our friends had done previously with other friends and acquaintances.
We arrived earlier than our time slot. I would suggest opting for the earliest outing you can, so that you have time to stop along the route. We started later than expected and we're rushing to get to the end, so we weren't able to chill and relax, and take our time heading down.
There's also a place to eat and an animal exhibit in the same area. You can hang out and do some stuff before or after your water sport.
You're able to bring your own vests, however for children, they MUST be US Coast guard approved. Honestly, adult of child, you should just be safe and ensure you have the right gear. Many of their vests were pretty new but I'd prefer to carry my own.
We paid, got our wristbands, and the staff explained what we would be doing. We drove a little bit away, to Smithfield Beach, where they have picnic areas and access to the water. They have bathrooms, changing rooms and showers. All of the bathrooms in the early part of the day are great but by dusk, they get dank and gross. They really should gave someone clean them mid-day. We had to pay for parking in the beach lot, which was about $10.
We walked down to another area where a guy explained to us how to navigate the river. He told us what to expect in terms of water height and expressed that we must ale3havr access to our vests in case water patrol stopped us. It seemed daunting at first but once we were out on the water, it was all good. We hopped in a van, which drove us to where we get our rafts. Oncr we got into our rafts, we were good to go. Our raft had to be switched out for antiehr because hubby noticed water bubbling at his feet, which meant there was a hole, so please make sure you inspect your craft before you head out.
Paddling was difficult because we were three in a raft and we couldn't get the rhythm. This is definitely a workout. Everyone had to work together or you're all just making more work for each other. I would suggest at least four strong paddlers to a raft. If only two or three, you should definitely focus on working together.
For the majority of the trip, the water was only knee or waist deep. There are lots of plant life in the water, making it difficult to paddle through. The entire trip straight should take 3-4 hours. We stopped at some of the "islands" to have lunch, drink, and just rest. We saw people off to the side camping, swimming, and having a good time. I'm convinced some of those people didn't make it back in time. That was not about to be us. We kept it moving, paddling and taking pictures, and enjoying the beauty of the nature surrounding us. It was amazing and the water was sooo clear.
We got to see the beginnings of the sun setting and made it back just in time before it got too dark. We were driven back to Smithfield Beach, dried off and changed in the bathrooms, and headed home. The drive was about two hours each way and by the end of the night, we were exhausted. It was a fun trip and I'd love to do it again but I would probably prefer staying nearby at the Wyndham cabins or a campsite.
