• Winter sunrise, Kittatinny Ridge

    Delaware Water Gap

    National Recreation Area NJ,PA

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  • Season Starts!

    Childs Park opens Thursday, May 23. Dingmans Falls Visitor Center opens Saturday May 25, and will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday the rest of the summer. The road to Dingmans Falls is open but is single lane at one point and NO BUSES or RVs ARE ALLOWED More »

Drinking the Water

Small course of water streaming from between two rocks

Holly Spring,Worthington State Forest NJ

The water in this part of the Delaware is very clean, but that does not mean it is ready for humans to drink. Intestinal ailments, such as giardiasis can strike days or weeks after drinking "raw" water. Persons with mmune deficiencies or taking immune-suppressant drugs are at even greater risk.

If a wild animal drinks from a water source, that does not mean that the water is safe for humans to drink.

 
A metal water pump in a wooded area

Water pump on the AT at Blue Mt. Lakes Rd. NJ

Respect the park!
Respect those who follow you!

• To protect others, when backcountry camping, bury all fecal material, including pet waste, at last 8 inches in the ground, and 100 ft. from any water source.
• When camping at river campsites, if there are no latrines at the site, bury all fecal material, including pet waste, at last 8 inches in the ground, and 300 ft. from water.

 
Prevention
• On day hikes and short hikes, bring water from home.
• Always assume that surface water must be treated, even if wildlife are drinking it.
• All surface water should be boiled for three minutes, or otherwise treated before it is consumed. (See Fact Sheet below)
• If you become ill after drinking untreated water, let your doctor know.
 

Fact Sheets

Safe Drinking Water and Giardia from the National Park Service Public Health Program.

 

Did You Know?

The "AT" symbol routed on a wood sign on a tree.

... that the Appalachian Trail (AT) runs more than 25 miles through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The AT crosses the Delaware River and the Water Gap on a walkway on the Interstate-80 bridge. With bus service to New York and Philadelphia nearby, a hike on the AT is only a ride and a backpack away! More...