Delaware Water Gap

For years I’ve driven through the Delaware Water Gap, that tremendous cut that the Delaware River flows through between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I’d always meant to stop and walk around a little, but I was always with the family either just starting, or just ending, a long trip; it never worked out.

So today on my way to a conference in Pennsylvania I took an hour or so to walk around. It’s actually pretty hard to get to where the great views are, because the interstate runs right through it. A shame really; the Gap is one of the great scenic landmarks of the eastern United States, and of all the narrow places to run Interstate 80 through, this is where they chose. So the magnificent view is overlain with the constant hum of auto and semi traffic.

From the eastbound lanes of I-80 you can get over to the riverbank, where there’s a beach and the chance for some pictures of the gap itself. From the westbound lanes, you can get onto trails leading up the mountain (if you’re that adventurous) or onto the Appalachian Trail.

The river today was crystal clear. Here with the help of a polarizing lens you can see through four or five feet of water to the rocky bottom.

Families were enjoying the hot weather by lounging on the shore or swimming out. There was also a dad and his two small kids fishing. I asked them what they were catching, and he said, “I don’t know … it’s my first time here! I’m just taking the kids out for a little fun.” I can sign on to that idea. I mentioned to the little boy that some times of year there are lots of shad. His eyes got really wide, and said “what are shad?!”

Further upstream from the picnickers, the beach narrowed down and the river wound away into the hazy afternoon.