Kayaker on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

The following boating information is from the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River’s Superintendent’s Compendium for 2023.

PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE (PFD) REQUIREMENTS

Personal Floatation Devices must be worn or carried on the designated waters, at the designated times and/or during designated water-based activities outlined in this document.

• Specifically, all individuals in or on the waters of the Delaware River within the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River during periods of high water are required to wear a Type I, II, III, or V U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD). The PFD must be of the proper size for the individual wearing it and must be in good, serviceable condition. High water is defined as six (6) feet and above, as measured at the Callicoon Gauge for all points upstream of the northern side of the Narrowsburg Bridge. For the river downstream of that point to the southern boundary of the park, high water is defined as six (6) feet and above as measured at the Barryville Gauge.
• Personal floatation devices are required by users of all watercraft, inflatable inner tubes, improvised flotation devices, or similar devices used for transportation on the water.
• Personal flotation devices must be worn during cold weather periods on all vessels and boats 16 feet and smaller from November 1^st to April 30^th.

BOATING OPERATIONS

Launching or recovering a vessel is prohibited, except at one of the following launch sites:

• PA Fish and Boat Commission accesses with launch ramps
• NY DEC accesses with launch ramps
• Hand launch only at the following NY DEC Accesses: Mongaup, Barryville, Highland, Skinner’s Falls, Cochecton, Lordville, and Hancock
• Hand launch only at Ten Mile River Access

This provision does not apply to landowners launching and retrieving watercraft from their private property.

Operating a vessel in excess of flat wake speed is prohibited within 100′ of shoreline, docks, launch ramps, swimmers or downed skiers, waders, anchored or drifting boats.

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC)

• The use of PWC on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is prohibited.
• Personal watercraft refers to a vessel, usually less than 16 feet in length, which uses an inboard, internal combustion engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of propulsion. The vessel is intended to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel, rather than within the confines of the hull.

USING A VESSEL TO TOW A PERSON

• Water skiing is allowed in the Narrowsburg pool only, in accordance with applicable State (NY/PA) Law.

Towing a person using a parasail, hang-glider or other airborne device may be allowed only in accordance with a permit.

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