Delaware Water Gap

Geological feature along the Delaware River

For the town with the same name, see Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. For the American indie band, see Del Water Gap (band).

Delaware Water Gap

Delaware Water Gap seen from the Appalachian Trail at Mount Minsi in Pennsylvania with I-80 on the left

Elevation| 335 ft (102 m)[1]
Traversed by|  I-80,  PA 611, Delaware–Lackawanna Railroad
Location| New Jersey and Pennsylvania, U.S.
Range| Blue Mountains/Kittatinny Ridge
Coordinates| 40°58′3.7″N 75°7′11.6″W﻿ / ﻿40.967694°N 75.119889°W﻿ / 40.967694; -75.119889
Topo map| Portland, Stroudsburg

The Delaware Water Gap is a water gap on the border of the U.S. states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River cuts through a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains.[2]

The gap makes up the southern portion of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which is used primarily for recreational purposes, such as canoeing, fishing, hiking, and rock climbing. Though the US National Park Service manages the National Recreation Area, portions of the water gap are also patrolled by New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.

The park does not charge an entrance fee but does have expanded amenity fees, including vehicle season and daily passes, bicycles amenity fees, and charges for beach use. Most of the park is open 24-hours a day, with most day-use areas within the park open sunrise to sunset (such as trailhead parking lots, Millbrook Village, and all picnic areas).[3]

## Geology

[edit]

Worthington State Forest seen from a campsite The Delaware Water Gap with the Pennsylvania town of the same name visible in the lower left next to the I-80 crossing.

A water gap is a geological feature where a river cuts through a mountain ridge. The Delaware Water Gap formed 500 million years ago[4] when quartz pebbles from mountains in the area were deposited in a shallow sea. The Martinsburg Shale on the eastern side of what was to be Kittatinny Mountain was uplifted 450 million years ago when a chain of volcanic islands collided with proto-North America. These islands slid over the North American plate, and deposited rock on top of the plate, forming the Highlands and Kittatinny Valley.

About 400 million years ago, a small continent collided with proto-North America. The heat from the pressure melted the quartzite, which allowed it to bend the quartz pebbles. This layer was then uplifted and cracked over thousands of years. During this period, the Delaware River slowly cut its path down through the shattered and cracked quartzite. If the quartzite had not been cracked, the river would not have been able to cut its path through the mountain to form the gap.[5]

Millions of years of rain, ice, snow, and wind erosion shaped the area. The Wisconsin glaciation, which occurred between 21,000 BCE and 13,000 BCE, covered the entire Kittatinny Ridge and ended near Belvidere. When the glaciers retreated, the existing gap assumed its present form.[6]

The mountain is composed of Silurian shawangunk conglomerate. This is gray quartzite, which makes the mountain highly resistant to weathering. The Silurian High Fall formation of sandstone is on the western side of the gap near the base. The eastern side of the gap has Ordovician Martinsburg shale. Sedimentary rock is along the river. The Bloomsburg Red Beds, a red shale, are at the gap under Dunnfield Creek.

The Delaware Water Gap is nearly 1,300 feet (400 m) wide at river level and about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide from the top of Mt. Tammany to the top of Mt. Minsi. It is more than 1,200 feet (370 m) from mountaintop to the river surface.[7] The river through the gap is 290 feet (88 m) above sea level.

The ridge of the Appalachians that the Delaware River crosses is called the Blue Mountains in Pennsylvania and the Kittatinny Ridge in Warren County, New Jersey. This is the first major ridge of the Appalachian mountains. New Jersey's mountain is Mount Tammany, named after the Lenni-Lenape Chief Tamanend. The Pennsylvania mountain is Mount Minsi, named after the Native American tribe of the area. The summit of Tammany is 1,540 ft (470 m) above sea level.

## Flora and fauna

[edit]

Delaware Water Gap seen from the Delaware River Viaduct in Knowlton Township, New Jersey in June 2021

In 1739, America's first botanist, John Bartram of Philadelphia, followed the course of the Delaware River in his search for American trees, evergreens and shrubs to supply new species that were formerly unknown to British naturalists. These gardeners waited months for shipments of saplings, seeds, and pinecones to be sent by sea that were then introduced into English gardens. Using Native American trails, Bartram rode on horseback through the Water Gap, which allowed entry to the lands beyond.[8]

A northern deciduous forest cloaks the slopes of the Delaware Water Gap. Hardwood species comprising the forest include various oaks, hickories, maples, ash, elm, cherry, walnut, birch, sycamore, and beech. Coniferous species include Eastern White Pine, Pitch Pine, Eastern Red Cedar, and Eastern Hemlock.

Black bear, white-tailed deer, gray squirrels, red squirrels, raccoons, gray fox, fisher, and chipmunks are some of the forest species of the area. Hunting of deer, turkey, and small game is permitted, following NJ Fish & Wildlife regulations, but is not permitted at any of the campsites.[9]

Shad migrate up the river through the gap in the spring. Other fish include bass, trout, carp, and walleye. Dunnfield Creek has been designated a "Wild Trout Stream" because of its natural brook trout fishery.[10]

Timber rattlesnakes and copperheads also inhabit the rocky areas of the mountain. Salamanders are found in the moist areas of the forest. Eastern prickly pear cactus also grows on the mountain near the red dot trail on the south eastern facing slope halfway up the mountain.

## Transportation

[edit]

Delaware Water Gap as seen from Knowlton Township, New Jersey in Warren County

Steep rock walls prohibited foot travel through the gap until a road was built on the Pennsylvania side of the river in 1793. In 1830, a road was built on the New Jersey side through the gap and north toward Pahaquarry. Interstate 80 passes through the gap on the New Jersey side as of the early 1970s via the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge, and occupies the former right-of-way of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway.

The Pennsylvania portion of the New Jersey Cut-Off mainline of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad comes into Slateford, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority owns the trackage in the Water Gap area. Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad operates the lines that run through the gap. Pennsylvania Route 611 occupies the right-of-way of a former trolley line.

Martz Trailways has a bus station within the municipal boundaries of Delaware Water Gap. There are also numerous jitneys that stop there on their route between New York City and towns further areas such as Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton.

## Tocks Island and the National Park Service

[edit]

In 1962, the Congress authorized the building of a dam across the Delaware River at Tocks Island, upstream of the water gap. Meant to control hurricane-related flooding, it was never built. The land for the proposed reservoir, which had already been purchased, was used to create the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in 1965.[11]

There are two visitor centers, one in New Jersey near the Delaware River bridge and the other in Dingman's Ferry, Pennsylvania. Headquarters is located on River Road in Pennsylvania. The New Jersey side of the gap is also protected within Worthington State Forest, a forest wholly contained within the recreation area.

## Hiking trails

[edit]

Trail  | Length (one-way)  | Elevation Change  | Difficulty  | Blaze

|
|
|
|

Mt. Tammany  | 1.2 miles (1.9 km)  | 1,201 feet (366 m)  | Difficult  |  Red
Pahaquarry  | 1.7 miles (2.7 km)  | 1,201 feet (366 m)  | Difficult  |  Blue
Dunnfield Creek  | 3.5 miles (5.6 km)  | 966 feet (294 m)  | Moderate  |  Green

### Mount Tammany Trail

[edit]

One of two trails leading up 1,200 vertical feet to the summit of Mt. Tammany. Once completed, one can see views of Mt. Minsi in Pennsylvania on the other side of the gap.[12]

### Pahaquarry Trail

[edit]

The second trail to the top of Mt. Tammany. The most challenging hike in the park is to combine the Red Dot and Blue Blaze trails into a 3 mi (4.8 km) loop. Park Services suggest ascending the Red Dot and descending the Blue Blaze, and the Blue trail is less steep.[13]

### Dunnfield Creek Trail

[edit]

Dunnfield Creek Trail departs from the Appalachian Trail above the Delaware River, follows the creek for two-thirds of its length with numerous stream crossings. The trail then climbs a ravine to rejoin the Appalachian Trail at Sunfish Pond.[14][15][16]

### Appalachian Trail

[edit]

The trails at Mt. Tammany near Kittatinny Point, NJ

Running from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine, the Appalachian Trail enters the Delaware Water Gap at the Delaware River on the Route 80 Bridge. It goes to Sunfish Pond, and continues northeast to Stokes State Forest. The trail crosses Route 206 and continues along the ridgeline of the Kittatinny Mountains to High Point State Park, eventually entering New York. Of the 2,174 miles (3,499 km) of trail, 28 miles (45 km) are within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.[17]

Additional trails also traverse through the area.

## Rock climbing

[edit]

The gap is a popular place to rock-climb in New Jersey. The climbs are 150 to 300 ft (46 to 91 m). Most climbing is done on the New Jersey side due to easier access. There are about one hundred climbs on the New Jersey side. Climbs range from 5.1 to 5.14 on the Yosemite Decimal System scale. Climbers follow the gray dot trail along Route 80, then pass the large rock face, then go up the path to the route they choose.

Beginning in 2010, the Pennsylvania side has been periodically closed to climbing during the nesting season for the endangered peregrine falcons.[18][19][20]

## Boy Scout camps

[edit]

The Easton Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America operated Weygadt Scout Reservation at the base of Mount Tammany from 1931 until 1968.[21] The Reservation was originally home to two Scout camps—the Easton Council's Camp Weygadt on the southern part of the reservation and the Minsi Trails Council's Camp Minsi on the northern section of the reservation.[21][22] In the later part of the 1930s, the Bethlehem Council moved their camp to the Poconos, and the entire reservation in the Water Gap became Camp Weygadt. Camp Minsi is now located in Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania, on the shores of Stillwater Lake.

Pahaquarra Boy Scout Camp was located on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap on Old Mine Road at the abandoned Pahaquarry Copper Mine. The camp served Boy Scouts from the George Washington Council. Just north of this camp was Camp Cowaw Boy Scout Camp which served Raritan Council Boy Scouts.

## See also

[edit]

* Mount Tammany Fire Road
* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Delaware Water Gap". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
2. ^ "NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
3. ^ Bushkill, Mailing Address: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area P. O. Box 2; Us, PA 18324 Phone: 570 426-2452 Contact. "Basic Information - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
4. ^ "Delaware Water Gap". Appalachian Trail Conservancy |. June 28, 2019. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
5. ^ "Delaware water Gap National Recreation Area, The geology of the Delaware Water Gap" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
6. ^ "Wisconsin Glacial Stage | Time, Map, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
7. ^ Guide to the Gap (nps.gov)
8. ^ The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire and the birth of an obsession, by Andrea Wulf. Publisher Alfred A. Knopf New York 2009. Pg 77
9. ^ "NJDEP | Worthington State Forest | New Jersey State Park Service". nj.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
10. ^ "NJDEP | Worthington State Forest | New Jersey State Park Service". nj.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
11. ^ Bushkill, Mailing Address: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area P. O. Box 2; Us, PA 18324 Phone: 570 426-2452 Contact. "History & Culture - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved January 11, 2024.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
12. ^ Bushkill, Mailing Address: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area P. O. Box 2; Us, PA 18324 Phone: 570 426-2452 Contact. "Mt. Tammany Trail (Red Dot) - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
13. ^ Bushkill, Mailing Address: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area P. O. Box 2; Us, PA 18324 Phone: 570 426-2452 Contact. "Pahaquarry Trail (Blue Blaze) - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
14. ^ "NJDEP | Worthington State Forest | New Jersey State Park Service". nj.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
15. ^ "Dunnfield Creek Natural Area - Kids Outdoors". kids.outdoors.org. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
16. ^ Bushkill, Mailing Address: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area P. O. Box 2; Us, PA 18324 Phone: 570 426-2452 Contact. "Dunnfield Creek Trail - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
17. ^ Bushkill, Mailing Address: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area P. O. Box 2; Us, PA 18324 Phone: 570 426-2452 Contact. "Appalachian National Scenic Trail - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
18. ^ Staff Writer. "Rare falcons nest in Delaware Water Gap". New Jersey Herald. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
19. ^ "Falcons close popular hiking, climbing trail in Pennsylvania". NORTHEAST EXPLORER. January 28, 2016. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
20. ^ "Area Off Limits for Falcons in the Poconos". wnep.com. February 26, 2018. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
21. ^ a b "NPS.GOV - History of the Delaware Watergap" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
22. ^ "Camp Weygadt History Website". Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2010.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Delaware Water Gap.

* Camp Cowaw Archived 2016-01-11 at the Wayback Machine
* Pahaquarry Abandoned Mine at Delaware Water Gap
* "Delaware Water Gap" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.

* v
* t
* e

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Points of interest|

* Delaware Water Gap
* Delaware River
* Appalachian Trail
* Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge
* Dingman's Ferry Bridge
* Milford–Montague Toll Bridge
* Minisink
* Minisink Archaeological Site
* Waterfalls

| New Jersey|

* Bevans
* Foster–Armstrong House
* Kittatinny Mountain
* Mount Tammany
* Military Road
* Millbrook
* Old Mine Road Historic District
* Cornelius Gunn House
* Old Mine Road
* Pahaquarry Copper Mine
* Van Campen's Inn
* Wallpack Ridge
* Brau Kettle
* Wallpack Valley
* Flat Brook
* Flatbrookville
* Wallpack Center
* Worthington State Forest
* Mount Tammany Fire Road
* Sunfish Pond

|

Pennsylvania|

* Big Bushkill Creek
* Blue Mountain
* Mount Minsi
* Brodhead Creek
* Brodhead Farm
* Bushkill
* Callahan House
* Capt. Jacob Shoemaker House
* Conashaugh
* Cold Spring Farm Springhouse
* Delaware Water Gap station
* Eshback
* Fort Hyndshaw
* John Michael Farm
* John Turn Farm
* Marie Zimmermann Farm
* Metz Ice Plant
* Nyce Farm
* Schoonover Mountain House
* Zion Lutheran Church

| Dingmans Ferry|

* Dingmans Falls
* Dingman's Ferry Dutch Reformed Church
* George W. Childs Recreation Site
* Deer Leap Falls
* Fulmer Falls
* Silverthread Falls

|

History|

* Tocks Island Dam controversy

* v
* t
* e

Delaware River and Delaware Bay

Geography|

* Crossings
* Municipalities
* Tributaries

| Regions|

* Delaware
* Delaware Valley
* Delaware River Region
* Lenapehoking
* Minisink
* Skylands Region

|

Parks|

* Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
* Cape Henlopen State Park
* Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
* Delaware Canal State Park
* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
* Fort Delaware State Park
* Fort Delaware
* Fort DuPont
* Fort Mott
* Fox Point State Park
* Glen Foerd
* Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
* Neshaminy State Park
* Penn Treaty Park
* Pennsbury Manor
* Pennypack Park
* Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
* Spruce Street Harbor Park
* Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
* Washington's Crossing
* Washington Crossing Historic Park
* Washington Crossing State Park
* Zane Grey Museum

Canals|

* Cape May Canal
* Chesapeake & Delaware Canal
* Delaware Canal
* Delaware and Hudson Canal
* Delaware and Raritan Canal
* Intracoastal Waterway
* Lehigh Canal
* Leiper Canal
* Lewes and Rehoboth Canal
* Morris Canal

Islands|

* Artificial Island
* Bull's Island
* Burlington Island
* Carpenter's Island
* Hendrick Island
* Little Tinicum Island
* Petty Island
* Pea Patch Island
* Reedy Island
* Shawnee Island
* Treasure Island

Landmarks|

* Camden Waterfront
* Cape Henlopen
* Cape May
* Delaware Water Gap
* Finns Point
* Foul Rift
* Hawk's Nest
* Penn's Landing
* Port of Camden
* Port of Paulsboro
* Port of Philadelphia
* Port of Salem
* Port of Wilmington
* SS United States
* Tri-States Monument

Road and rail|

* Belvidere and Delaware River Railway
* Columbus Boulevard
* Delaware River Scenic Byway
* New York State Route 97
* Old Mine Road
* Pennsylvania Route 32
* River Line

History and culture|

* 2006 Mid-Atlantic United States flood
* Baseball rubbing mud
* Battle of Delaware Bay
* Delaware Colony
* Delaware languages
* Delaware River Drive
* Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works
* Durham boat
* Harbor Defenses of the Delaware
* Hurricane Diane
* Lenape
* New Jersey v. Delaware
* New Netherland
* New Sweden
* George Washington's crossing
* Salt Water Barrier
* Tocks Island Dam controversy
* Walking Purchase

Organizations|

* Burlington County Bridge Commission
* Delaware River and Bay Authority
* Delaware River Basin Commission
* Delaware River Greenway Partnership
* Delaware River Port Authority
* Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
* New York–Pennsylvania Joint Interstate Bridge Commission
* Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
* Philadelphia Water Department
* Pilots' Association For The Bay & River Delaware

* v
* t
* e

Gaps of the Appalachian Mountains

Water gaps|

* Cumberland Narrows
* Brocks Gap
* Delaware Water Gap
* Gaps of the Allegheny
* Blair Gap
* Kittanning Gap
* Goshen Pass
* Hillsboro Gap
* James River Gorge
* Lehigh Gap
* Loysburg Gap
* Mechanicsburg Gap
* Moccasin Gap
* The Narrows
* Potomac Water Gap
* Reeds Gap
* Schuylkill Gap
* Swatara Gap
* Thoroughfare Gap

Wind gaps|

* Ashby Gap
* Buford's Gap
* Carmans Notch
* Chester Gap
* Crampton's Gap
* Cumberland Gap
* Deep Notch
* Diamond Notch
* Fishers Gap
* Fox's Gap
* Jarman Gap
* Keyes Gap
* Maggoty Gap
* Manassas Gap
* McCormick Gap
* New Market Gap
* Pound Gap
* Rockfish Gap
* Snickers Gap
* Swift Run Gap
* Thornton Gap
* Turner's Gap
* Wilson Gap

Passes|

* Appalachian Gap
* Balsam Gap
* Brock Gap
* Buck Creek Gap
* Bull Gap
* Carter Notch
* Cowee Gap
* Craven Gap
* Crawford Notch
* Deals Gap
* Dixville Notch
* Evans Notch
* Franconia Notch
* Gillespie Gap
* Grafton Notch
* Grandmother Gap
* Granville Notch
* Hazen's Notch
* Hobart Gap
* Kinsman Notch
* Lincoln Gap
* Mahoosuc Notch
* Middlebury Gap
* Monterey Pass
* Newfound Gap
* Pinkham Notch
* Sherburne Pass
* Skinners Gap
* Smugglers Notch
* Soco Gap
* Stony Clove Notch
* Swannanoa Gap
* Zealand Notch

Artificial cuts|

* Clarke's Gap

Authority control databases: National |

* United States
* Israel

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template