Delaware River Sojourn

07/24/2026

Let's do another flashback to the 2026 Delaware River Sojourn! On the final two days of this paddling and camping adventure, folks paddled the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River and the Delaware's tidewaters in Northeast Philadelphia.

On Day 6, folks got to paddle where George Washington famously crossed the Delaware River, Christmas Night 1776! Paddling this section allowed for a stop at
Washington Crossing Historic Park for lunch and programming with reenactors who took Sojourners back to colonial times and the Revolutionary War. Programming continued on the N.J. side in camp at Washington Crossing State Park (WCSP) with WCSP Staff and folks from the Washington Crossing Park Association, Inc. (WCPA). The Sojourn honored WCPA Executive Director Annette Earling with the High Admiral Award this day for her work on the new Park Museum and improving park programs.

On the Sojourn's final day, folks met at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation's Pleasant Hill Park and paddled upriver with the tide to Neshaminy State Park for lunch and programs. Programming included the walk-through watershed tunnel by the
Center for Aquatic Sciences and remarks from Pennsbury Manor's Doug Miller and
Pennsylvania Environmental Council's (PEC) Emilia Crotty. The Sojourn honored Crotty with the High Admiral Award, which she accepted on behalf of PEC and the
PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers for all their work to increase community access to recreation opportunities. After lunch, Sojourners paddled the final leg of the 2026 journey back to Pleasant Hill Park with the tide. Folks enjoyed water (wooder) ice and a raffle - congrats to paddle winner John Powers!

Camping was at Washington Crossing State Park (Titusville, N.J.), catering was by
Colonial Farms (Washington Crossing, Pa.), Cathedral Kitchen (Camden, N.J.) and
John's Water Ice (Philadelphia, Pa.) and bus shuttling was by WE Transport Inc. (Sparrowbush, N.Y.). We thank these partners, as well as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Washington Crossing Historic Park, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Neshaminy State Park for river access for these paddles.

Huge thanks to the Sojourn Steering Committee that plans the annual event, to
NEWE for livery services and to the National Canoe Safety Patrol for providing safety guides and the land support team. Thanks, too, to our grantors, sponsors and donors! The Sojourn is a lot of work to plan, but the smiles on folks' faces make it worth it. Here's to the 2027 Sojourn!

Check out the links in the comments to a WHYY story about Day 6 and to Bucks County Courier Times' photos & story from Day 7!

07/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1UpaCUpgKj/

The Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania will paddle the Delaware River and hold signings of the Treaty of Renewed Friendship during the sixth quadrennial Rising Nation River Journey August 1st - 15th, 2026, Damascus PA to Cape May NJ.
The event raises awareness and support of Indigenous culture and environmental stewardship of the Delaware River and Watershed.
Nine days of paddling, nine Treaty Signing events, and a special concert at Cape May Point Arts and Science Center featuring Grammy winner Bill Miller, multi-award nominee Jim Beer, and Native American drum Stoney's Boys.

The public is invited to join the us for one day or all!

07/17/2026

Paddle for Beginners still has openings - Sunday, July 19! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/191jFDrJRz/

We still have several spots remaining for the 'Paddle for Beginners' at the Giving Pond w/ the FODC (Friends of Delaware Canal) this Sunday, July 19th!

More info & registration here:
https://fodc.org/paddle-the-pond-july-19/

07/17/2026

Flashback to the Delaware River Sojourn! Enjoy these photos from Days 4 and 5, when folks paddled stretches of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA) and the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River, respectively.

On Day 4 (pics 1-4), the Sojourn honored Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Nathan Reigner with its High Admiral Award for his commitment to increasing outdoor access, promoting conservation and promoting PA's outdoor economy. In addition to remarks from Dr. Reigner, the day's programs also included storytelling at lunch from Shelley DePaul,
Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania and an evening mini-fest featuring local groups that included the Friends of Delaware Water Gap N.R.A., Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, Musconetcong Watershed Association, Worthington State Forest, Explore Warren County Tourism Partnership and the Sussex County Bird Club.

On Day 5 (pics 5-10), the Sojourn paddled from Knowlton Township (N.J.) to Lower Mount Bethel Township (Pa.). Programming at Lower Mt. Bethel Twp. highlighted several of the agencies and organizations focused on parks, trails and conservation work in Northampton County: Northampton County Parks & Recreation,
Northampton County Conservation District, 9/11 National Memorial Trail and Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L). The Sojourn honored D&L's Brit Kondravy with the High Admiral Award for her leadership in connecting partners and implementing preservation and restoration work in the Lehigh Valley.

Day 5 ended with a DRBC-sponsored dinner and program at
Washington Crossing State Park (N.J.), where folks learned a bit about DRBC's water quality and resilience work, enjoyed a game of Quizzo and heard from Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Andy Desko and A Paddler's Guide to the Delaware River author Gary Letcher. Congrats to the Quizzo winners - The Honeymooners (pic 9)! Kudos too to our second place team - Sunburned and Tired (pic 10)!

Camping was at Worthington State Forest (Columbia, N.J.) &
Washington Crossing State Park (Titusville, N.J.), catering was by
Humpty Jr's (Columbia, N.J.) & Original Dominick's Pizza of Washington Crossing (Pa.) and bus shuttling was by WE Transport Inc. (Sparrowbush, N.Y.). We thank these partners, as well as the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Knowlton Township (N.J.) and Lower Mount Bethel Township (Pa.) for river access for these paddles.

Huge thanks to the Sojourn Steering Committee that plans the annual event, to NEWE for livery services, to Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards for volunteer help and to the
National Canoe Safety Patrol for providing safety guides and the land support team. Thanks, too, to our grantors, sponsors and donors! As you can see, it truly takes a village to put on the Sojourn - teamwork at its finest!

07/16/2026

The Delaware River Sojourn is an affiliate of and insured by the American Canoe Association, but did you know that they offer paddle courses and lots of other educational resources? Check out https://americancanoe.org/education/take-a-paddling-class/ to learn more!

07/10/2026

Check this out! BRCTV-13 coverage of our Day 5 takeout:

Originally aired 6-25-26 on BRCTV13's News Hour.

07/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1V3QaE6oaE/

07/03/2026

Thanks to Bucks County Courier Times for covering the final day of the Sojourn last Friday!

Participants take part in the Delaware River Sojourn through Lower Bucks County and northern Philadelphia on June 26, 2026.

07/03/2026

How has it been a week since the end of the Sojourn already? We'll be sharing pics from all days - stay tuned!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D7pZdQuuQ/

06/27/2026

Thank you all for an amazing and fun Delaware River Sojourn! We're still processing thoughts and photos, but here's a WHYY piece about our stop at Washington Crossing Historic Park on Thursday! Thanks to all who chatted with Zoe!

The annual Delaware River Sojourn has been drawing kayakers and canoers to the Delaware River for 31 years.