News Release

National Park Service Will Reopen Sites 4/14, Start Charging Fees 4/17

Date: April 13, 2023
Contact: Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Specialist, [phone]

BUSHKILL, PA- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area announced today that sites that were closed for the winter will officially re-open on Friday, April 14, though some were opened earlier due to favorable conditions. Expanded amenity fees will go into effect on Monday, April 17 and will be collected until mid-October. 

Expanded Amenity Fees
Fees are charged at Smithfield Beach, Bushkill Boat Launch, Dingmans Boat Launch, Milford Beach, and Turtle Beach. Elizabeth Winslow, fee program manager, points out that “What you pay here, will stay here.” Most revenue generated from fees collected in the park stays in the park and is used to fund projects and services that have a direct visitor benefit including facility and trail maintenance, restrooms, boat and canoe launches, and picnic areas.

Daily fees are $10 per vehicle (up to 7 occupants) and $2 for additional passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Where fee attendants are not on duty, visitors should deposit the daily fee in a self-registration envelope provided at the entrance to the fee areas, put it in the designated secured drop box, and place the receipt on the vehicle’s dashboard.

Annual passes are a convenient way to access the fee areas for the entire season. The passes are $45 per vehicle. Discounts apply for multiple purchases from the same household. Please visit https://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/fees.htm for further information and requirements.

Facility Openings
The following areas will officially re-open for the 2023 season on April 14:

• all river access points;
• the access roads to Dingmans Falls (open daily during daylight hours); and
• Old Mine Road from the Worthington State Forest boundary to Millbrook Village and the dirt section of Old Mine Road near Van Campen Inn.
• Mountain Road in Walpack, NJ will be open to vehicles between the Walpack Cemetery and the Haneys Mill Bridge. The road is closed to vehicles beyond the bridge and from the south end at Haneys Mill due to the closure of the state-owned section of the road for repairs.
• Crater Lake, including Skyline Drive and the upper section of Blue Mountain Lakes Road, will re-open to vehicles daily until late-May when it will be closed to vehicles Friday evenings through Monday afternoons until mid-October. The road will remain closed to vehicles on federal holidays that fall on Mondays. 

As a reminder, the following area closures go into effect on May 1 and remain in effect until September 30 annually:

• Adams Creek Trail and parking areas, including the drainage, from the Sproul Road and Long Meadow Road Parking Areas downstream to US Route 209;
• White Pines McDade Trail parking area; and
• Raymondskill Creek drainage, from the base of the lower falls, including the pool area, downstream to the confluence of the Delaware River, including the Schanno House (former) parking area and grounds on the west side of US Route 209 at Raymondskill Creek. This closure does not include the McDade Recreational Trail or the Raymondskill Falls Trail.

River Camping Fees and Reservations
Reservations are required for use of the primitive river campsites and group campsites along the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River and a $16 fee is charged. Visit  Recreation.gov to make a reservation and pay the fee. Payment of fees and making reservations cannot be done in person.