Delaware Canal State Park

Park Information & Education Pages

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Park Field Guide - Educational Programs & Resources - Recreation - Announcements & Events - Contact Us

Park Field Guide

Winding along the path of the historic Delaware Canal, our state park is the longest in Pennsylvania. It runs sixty miles along the Delaware River, from the city of Easton to Bristol Borough. Its narrow corridor—often a mere 60 feet wide—covers approximately 830 acres. It passes quaint Northampton and Bucks County towns, scenic river vistas, towering cliffs, secluded river islands, wetlands, farms, factories, ponds, forests, and ornate gardens.

Visitors to the park can see all aspects of life in Southeastern Pennsylvania, as the park traverses urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. A sense of history is woven throughout the entire park. In places it looks no different than it did in the 1860's, when the Delaware Canal was a vibrant, living waterway crowded with canal boats and their crews, hauling coal and other cargos from north to south and back again.

There is so much to see and do it is often difficult to figure out where to begin. The purpose of this field guide is to highlight some of the aspects of Delaware Canal State Park, and get you started in your exploration of all that the park and its environs have to offer.

Visit our Park Timeline to learn some of the important dates in Delaware Canal State Park history.

Have a question? See our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Ready to learn more? Explore the rest of our Park Field Guide.

Educational Programs & Resources

Delaware Canal State Park maintains year-round offerings of educational programs for schools, teachers, and the public. Explore these pages to find out more about our educational offerings, or contact us to find out more.

We offer:

• Watershed Education
• Environmental Education
• History Education
• Teacher Education Workshops
• Teacher Services
• Educational Resources

Recreation & Public Programs

Get Outdoors, PA! Delaware Canal State Park is a great spot to get outdoors. During the spring, summer and fall we offer lots of programs that are free (or at least inexpensive) and open to the public. Check out the Calendar of Events  to see what's coming up, or call the park office to find out. We are also happy to schedule a special event for your group of 10 or more. Contact our educators for details.

Hikes: What better way to experience the pastoral beauty of Delaware Canal State Park than by taking a walk along the canal towpath? Delaware Canal State Park educators offer regular themed hikes for the public from April through November. From bird watching to herp hunting to canal history, our hikes focus on many topics. We hope you'll join us for a program this season.

Bike-Hikes: Just like a hike, but on a bike! Our bike-hikes are BYOB (bring your own bike) and are paced for the beginning to intermediate biker. Children are welcome. We combine the joy of a long bike ride with a little bit of interpretation, pointing out some of the historical and natural features of note along the way, with a few tips on bike care and maintenance thrown in as well.

Canoeing & Kayaking: Besides a 60-mile towpath, Delaware Canal State Park has plenty of wonderful water resources to explore. One of our most popular programs, Giving Pond Canoe Paddle, happens every first and third Saturday from June to October. Learn canoe basics and some wildlife identification while exploring our 90-acre pond. The Delaware River and the canal also provide plenty of beautiful water for kayaking and canoeing. In addition to the annual Delaware River Sojourn, we can arrange educational river trips for your group.

CAUTION - The river poses natural hazards and visitors should use caution on and around the river.

For complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Rock Climbing: Strap on your harness, clip onto your belay line, and go! High Rocks Overlook at Ralph Stover State Park offers some of the finest climbing in the northeast. Come join us for a few hours of rock climbing for beginners. It's fun for the whole family!

Digital Photography: Have an interest in digital photography, but not quite sure how to get started? Or maybe you just want to get a few tips? Come participate in this hike, designed to get you familiar with some digital camera basics and awaken your creative eye. We'll focus on still or slow moving subjects (rocks, plants, scenery) and explore some of the ways that light and shadow can affect your shots. For a small cost we'll mail you a CD of the photos you shoot during the class. Because digital cameras vary in their operation, we will loan you one of our cameras for the duration of the hike.

Wildlife & Plant Identification: Come explore Delaware Canal State Park, and meet some of our denizens. These programs focus on learning to identify some of the common birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and plants that live along the canal. What makes a plant invasive? Did you know that birds are not the only migratory animals? How can you tell an American crow from a fish crow? This program can be combined with almost any of our recreational activities (hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking) to make a complete active educational experience.

Fishing: Learn the basics of baiting and casting, then settle in for some serious fishing. We provide loaner rods, bait and instruction. For details about Pennsylvania fishing license requirements, visit the Fish & Boat Commission's Fishing Regulations page. Join us for Gone Fishin' Fridays at Ralph Stover State Park during the summer months. Loaner rods are also available Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Delaware Canal Park Office in Upper Black Eddy. Please call ahead to make arrangements.

Announcements & Events

Ongoing and Annual Programs

• Canoeing and Kayaking Programs at Giving Pond Recreation Area
  June to October, First and Third Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  Contact our educators to reserve a spot.

• Annual Delaware River Sojourn
  A week-long paddle trip down the Delaware River. Join us for a day or for the whole trip. Educator scholarships available.
  Visit www.delawareriversojourn.org or contact our educators for more information.

For additional events and more information, visit our Calendar of Events.

For More Information Contact

Main Park Address

Education Department

Bonnie Tobin, Education Supervisor
Phone: 610-982-0161
E-mail: btobin@state.pa.us

Ian Kindle, Historical Programming
Phone: 610-982-0167
E-mail: ra-nrspdelaed@state.pa.us

Read our educators' bios.

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