The Delaware River — the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi — runs along Monroe County’s eastern edge through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and it’s one of the region’s defining features. For many buyers, being close enough to paddle on a summer evening is a real part of the appeal of living here.

Outfitters in the Delaware Water Gap Area

Edge of the Woods Outfitters — based right in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, offering self-guided canoe, kayak, and raft trips ranging from a 2-hour, 4-mile stretch to a full-day, 4–7-hour paddle through the Water Gap itself, plus bike rentals.

Adventure Sports — offers canoeing, kayaking, and rafting trips through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, with access to swimming, picnicking, and hiking along the way.

Chamberlain Canoes — a family-owned outfitter operating since 1968, offering canoe, kayak, raft, and tube trips, including day trips and overnights.

Shawnee River Trips — based near the Shawnee Inn, offering canoe, kayak, and tube floats through the same stretch of river that borders the Shawnee golf course.

Further north, toward Pike County, outfitters like Kittatinny Canoes and Indian Head Canoes & Rafts serve the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River — a gentler, more remote stretch worth knowing about if you’re also considering property further up the river.

What the River Trips Are Actually Like

Most Delaware Water Gap trips run through Class I and II rapids — genuinely beginner- and family-friendly, not whitewater in the aggressive sense. Trip lengths from local outfitters typically range from about 2 hours (a 4-mile stretch) up to a full 6–7 hour day covering the most scenic section through the Water Gap itself, with options for canoes, kayaks, rafts, or simple tubing.

Living Near the River

The towns closest to this stretch of river are Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg, both a short drive from the Delaware Water Gap and the outfitters above. If river access is a genuine priority — not just a nice-to-have — it’s worth telling me directly, since some listings are close enough to walk or bike to a put-in point, and that’s not something you’ll see reflected in a standard listing description. Get in touch and I can help you find it, or start browsing listings in the area.

Sources: individual outfitter websites (watergapadventure.com, adventuresport.com, chamberlaincanoes.com), National Park Service Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area information. Trip offerings, pricing, and hours change seasonally — confirm directly with each outfitter before planning a trip.