Delaware River between the Buckingham Boat Ramp and Lordville, New York, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
Length: 3.5 miles
Water Level at Time of Trip: estimated 2 to 2.5 feet
Average moving speed: 3.8 MPH with two paddlers
Time: 1 hour
This river review covers the Delaware River from the Buckingham Boat Ramp in Pennsylvania to the Lordville Canoe Launch in New York, a span of 3.5 miles. The Buckingham ramp can accommodate all types of boats. This is a very convenient place to start a trip on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, though you do need a launch permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) to use the ramp regardless of the type of boat you have, including kayaks, canoes, and other non-motorized boats. See the PFBC’s Registering / Titling a Boat web page for more details.
Buckingham Boat Ramp, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
Before starting a trip on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, it is a good idea to check the water levels so that you have an idea of the river conditions. Levels of 2.5 to 4 feet are average and provide plenty of water for a trip down the river with conditions suitable for paddlers of all skill levels. The water level on this section of the Delaware River was fairly low at the time of my trip in late October. I could see the bottom nearly the entire time even when out in the middle of the river. The USGS water level gauge at Lordville, New York, claimed the water was 6.3 feet deep, but I can guarantee there was no 6 feet of water between Buckingham and Lordville. The reason for this reading is that the gauge is measuring the deep pool right before the Lordville ramp, but this is far from being indicative of the rest of the river. In fact, this pool was the only place where I could not see the river bottom. It was more like a lake, with almost no current and a mirror-like surface.
The only gauge north of Lordville is on the West Branch of the Delaware River at Hale Eddy, New York, and it measured the water level at 2 feet, which was more in line with the actual conditions. The gauge at Callicoon, New York, the next one south of Lordville (18 miles south), measured 1.3 feet, which again was more in line with my experience. The observations made in this article are based on the water levels reported by these two gauges, so adjust your expectations according to the conditions on the day you do the trip. The lower the water, the more often you will hit rocks on the bottom of the riverbed and get stuck. The higher the water, the more paddling skills you need.
Deep section of the Delaware River just before the Lordville Canoe Launch, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
On the previous segment of the river, the Hancock, NY DEC Canoe Launch to the Buckingham Boat Ramp, the water was low but I never hit bottom. On the trip from Buckingham to Lordville (done on the same day), I hit bottom often, though I never did get stuck. The current was very slow, even when going around islands where the channel narrows and the water typically flows much faster. I’m not sure of the speed, but sitting still on the previous river segment, the current was 1.3 MPH, and I have no reason to doubt that it was similar on the Buckingham-Lordville section.
The journey from the Buckingham ramp to Lordville covers three bends in the river, like a rounded-out W. There is a large island at the second bend, Frisbie Island, and the best way to travel around it is to stay to the right. There is also a small island just beyond the southern tip of Frisbee. I don’t know if it matters, but I took the channel between Frisbie and the small island, and things worked out fine.
Southern tip of Frisbie Island near Equinuck, Pennsylvania, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
As with the Hancock-Birmingham segment, this section of the Delaware River is scenic with only a few private residences along the shore.
Houses along the Delaware River between the Buckingham Boat Ramp and Lordville, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
The Lordville Canoe Launch is easy to spot. It is on the left side of the river (New York side) at the base of the Lordville-Equinuck Bridge, the only bridge you will come to on this section. You can get out either before or after passing under the bridge.
View of the Equinunk-Lordville Bridge from the Delaware River, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
Lordville Canoe Launch, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
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Last updated on January 28, 2024
