Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River between Callicoon, New York, and Damascus, Pennsylvania
Length: 5 miles
Water Level at Time of Trip: 1.4 to 3 feet
Average moving speed: 3.6 MPH with two paddlers
Time: 1.25 hours
This river review covers the Delaware River from the Callicoon Boat Ramp near Callicoon, New York, to the Damascus Boat Ramp in Damascus, Pennsylvania, a span of 5 miles. The Callicoon ramp is a great place to start a paddling trip. It has a large parking lot and provides easy access to the water.
Callicoon 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 two relevant water gauges for this section of the river are at Callicoon, New York, and just north of Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania. These cover a span of 26 miles, so you’re not going to get readings you can bet your house on, but you’ll be able to get a general idea of whether you’re in for an enjoyable outing or if you’ll be dragging your boat over rocks most of the time (or risking your life when water levels are high).
On the day of my trip, the Callicoon gauge reported water levels of 1.4 feet, which is low but typical of that gauge. The actual measurements are taken at the Callicoon Bridge where Callicoon Creek empties into the Delaware River. I can tell you that this reading was in the ballpark for a few miles upriver from the bridge, but after the bridge the water levels were much higher, perhaps waist deep—plenty deep enough for any hand-paddled watercraft. On that same day, the Lackawaxen gauge read 3.25 feet. Based on this information, the river should very, very gradually get deeper as I traveled downstream.
The Callicoon Boat Ramp, which is on the Pennsylvania (right) side of the Delaware River, is located just before an island. As soon as you launch you will be traveling around the island on its right side. The current typically picks up when going around an island due to the river splitting and all of the water suddenly getting funneled into the two narrower channels, but in this case there were a few riffles and that’s about it. Riffles often signal shallow water, and I did brush over a few rocks, but I never got stuck.
Delaware River just downstream from the Callicoon Boat Ramp, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
The Delaware River flows around another large island about 2.5 miles from Callicoon. This comes right before the start of an S-curve that ends at the Damascus Boat Ramp. I stayed to the right of the island and didn’t have any problems with rocks, though any less water and that wouldn’t have been the case. There were a few small rapids at the start and tail end of the island, though overall the current, while a little swifter, was still quite slow.
Channel narrows as the Delaware River flows around a large island 2.5 miles downriver from the Callicoon Boat Ramp, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
Small rapids on the Delaware River as it flows around a large island 2.5 miles downriver from the Callicoon Boat Ramp, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
Once past the island and into the S-curve, the Delaware River barely moved. The currently was 1.2 MPH, and that was pretty much the story on the entire stretch of river between Callicoon and Damascus other than when going around an island. Again, these observations are based on the above mentioned water levels, so adjust your expectations according to the conditions on the day you do the trip.
The Damascus Boat Ramp, which is operated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), is on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. It comes right after passing under the Cochecton-Damascus Bridge. It is an easy take-out spot if this is where you plan to end your paddling trip. The only catch is that all boats, including non-motorized boats, must have a launch permit to use the PFBC ramps. Tourists with their own kayaks or canoes might play dumb if caught using the ramp without a permit, but New York and Pennsylvania residents won’t have an excuse.
Upstream view of the Cochecton-Damascus Bridge from the Delaware River, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
Damascus Boat Ramp on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
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Last updated on August 16, 2023
