Lock 14 of the Delaware Canal sits at Point Pleasant, a short walk from the counter where a lot of Bucks County residents rent their first kayak. Bucks County River Country has been launching tubes and boats from that bend in River Road for decades, and it is still the only large full-service outfitter on the Pennsylvania bank. Everything else here, the lakes, the creeks, the towpath, the launch permits, works outward from that stretch.
The outfitters
Bucks County River Country, Point Pleasant
2 Walters Lane, Point Pleasant PA 18950, 215-297-5000. They post river conditions every morning by 8 a.m., which is the single most useful thing on their site. Prices are posted as starting rates and vary by boat.
| Trip | From | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tubing | $36 | Two float options, 3 miles or 4.5 miles, same price. Minimum age 4, weight limit 275 lbs. |
| Kayaking | $70 | About 6 miles, 2 to 4 hours, priced per boat |
| Canoeing | $90 | About 6 miles, 2 to 3 hours, up to 3 people |
| Rafting | $126 | About 6 miles, 3 to 4 hours, minimum group of 3 |
| Season pass | $187 | Ask what it covers before you buy |
Kayaks are priced by hull: Otter sit-in $70, Loon $73, Hula sit-on-top $73, Moku $78, tandem sit-in $146, Festiva tandem $158. Bring your own boat and use their landing and the fee is $20. Minimum age is 16 for a single kayak, 13 for a tandem paddled with an experienced adult. Canoes and rafts require paddlers to be at least 13. On tubes the minimum age is 4, kids 10 and under get tethered to an adult, and everyone 12 and under wears a life jacket.
One operational rule catches groups out every season. You cannot combine a tubing trip with a boating trip, because tubes and boats launch from different put-ins. A party that wants half tubes and half kayaks has to split up and meet later.
The rules list is strict and they enforce it. Alcohol is forbidden on the premises, in vehicles, at drop-off points and on the equipment. No glass containers or bottles. No backpacks. No disposable plastic bottles. Small Playmate-size coolers only, and only on canoe, raft and kayak trips. Water shoes or old sneakers, not flip-flops. Dogs are allowed on canoe trips only, leashed, and are not permitted on tubes, rafts or kayaks, which is worth knowing if you read our dog-friendly Bucks County guide and assumed the whole river was open to them.
Season dates are not posted anywhere. Call.
Delaware River Pedal and Paddle
A shuttle-based operation serving Frenchtown NJ, New Hope, Lambertville, Upper Black Eddy and Milford, with drops at Tinicum Park, Lock 19, Riegelsville and Frenchtown. The price includes a PFD, paddle and shuttle.
| Run | Distance | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Riegelsville to Tinicum Park | 11 miles, 3 to 4 hours | $80 single / $100 tandem |
| Upper Black Eddy to Tinicum Park | 4.5 miles, 1.5 to 2 hours | $60 single / $80 tandem |
They also rent towpath bikes, $40 for one day, $70 for two, $90 for three, including helmet, lock, map and delivery. That makes a bike-one-way, paddle-back day workable without two cars.
Delaware River Tubing, Milford NJ
778 Frenchtown Road, Milford NJ 08848, 908-996-5386. New Jersey side, but plenty of Bucks residents use it. The float runs 5 to 6 miles over 3 to 4 hours with a complimentary BBQ stop midway at Adventure Island, run by the Famous River Hot Dog Man. Their website copy is stale, so call for current pricing and season instead of trusting what is printed there.
Registration or launch permit: you need one, not both
This is the question people get wrong most often. Unpowered boats, meaning kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, rowboats and sailboats without motors, must be registered or display a launch permit to use Fish and Boat Commission lakes and access areas or state park and state forest access areas. Either one satisfies the requirement. You do not need both.
| Option | Cost | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Unpowered boat registration | $22 | 2 years |
| PFBC or DCNR launch permit | $22 | 1-year or 2-year options |
Buy either at HuntFish.PA.gov, from a licensing agent, or at a Fish and Boat Commission office. Registration carries a few advantages over the permit. You get renewal reminders, it is recognized by other states, and your contact information sits in the Commission database if the boat goes missing. The side-by-side comparison is short and worth reading once.
The requirement attaches to PFBC and DCNR access areas, which covers essentially every public launch in Bucks County. The safe rule: if you are launching from a state park, a state forest or a Fish and Boat Commission access, you need one of the two.
Life jackets, including the rule that surprises people
Every person aboard needs a wearable Coast Guard-approved life jacket of the correct type, size and fit. Children 12 and under must wear one while underway on boats 20 feet or less and on all canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, year round.
Here is the one that catches experienced paddlers. From November 1 through April 30, every person aboard must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket on any boat under 16 feet and on all canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Not carry. Wear. That covers the entire shoulder-season and winter paddling window, and the Fish and Boat Commission rule page spells it out.
- A sound-producing device is required on unpowered boats. An athletic coach whistle counts.
- A hand-held light is required between sunset and sunrise.
- Operating any watercraft under the influence is illegal.
Where to put in on the Delaware
Delaware Canal State Park runs 58.89 miles from Easton to Bristol, tracking PA Routes 611 and 32. It takes in many miles of river shoreline, 11 river islands and the 50-acre Giving Pond. Park office: 11 Lodi Hill Road, Upper Black Eddy PA 18972, 610-982-5560.
Access points used regularly by paddlers in and around the county:
- Upper Black Eddy, a Fish and Boat Commission hard ramp
- Virginia Forrest Recreation Area
- Point Pleasant River Access
- Tinicum Park, Erwinna. A 126-acre county park on River Road (Route 32), about 17 miles north of New Hope, with boating, camping, fishing, a playground, pavilions and restrooms. Open dawn to dusk.
- Washington Crossing Historic Park, lower section, 1112 River Road. Non-motorized launching. Grounds are free, sunrise to sunset every day.
- Yardley Boat Ramp
- Neshaminy State Park Marina, Bensalem, on the tidal Delaware
- Giving Pond Recreation Area. Electric motors only, slow no-wake.
Facilities vary site to site and they change. Rather than trust a list, check the Fish and Boat Commission county boat access map and the DCNR park maps before you commit to a shuttle plan. If you are still working out which end of the county to base yourself in, our towns index is a reasonable starting point, and the New Hope tag collects most of the river-adjacent coverage.
The towpath, for flatwater days and shuttles
The canal towpath is 59 miles point to point, rated easiest, with a gentle grade, mile markers and ADA-accessible sections. It is part of the 165-mile Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Trailhead amenities include modern restrooms, potable water, picnic tables and benches. The Locktender House in New Hope is a historic education center and a good bail-out point on a hot afternoon.
DCNR notes that unlimited horsepower is permitted on the Delaware River itself, so a quiet canal walk and a loud river afternoon can be happening a hundred feet apart. Scenic highlights the park calls out are the river islands and the Nockamixon Cliffs, and the corridor is a major migratory route for raptors, waterfowl and songbirds. DCNR safety language is blunt and worth repeating: the river poses natural hazards and visitors should use caution on and around the river.
Lake Nockamixon
Nockamixon State Park covers 5,286 acres, with the 1,450-acre Lake Nockamixon at its center. 1542 Mountain View Drive, Quakertown PA 18951, 215-529-7300. Motors are limited to 20 hp or 15 kWh, so this is a sailing, paddling and small-outboard lake.
Five public launching areas are open 24 hours. The Marina and Tohickon launches handle sailboats, catamarans and windsurfing. Three Mile Run and Haycock serve motorboats, kayaks and inflatables. The marina docks 648 boats up to 24 feet, with 120 dry storage spaces and 12 trailer spaces. There is a waiting list, though short-term slip rentals are available.
Nockamixon Boat Rental, 215-538-1340, rents canoes, motorboats, rowboats, paddleboats, kayaks and paddleboards in summer. Rates are not published, so call.
Whitewater releases on Tohickon Creek happen the first full weekend of November and the third weekend in March. Ten modern cabins sit on the south side, open year-round, two-bedroom units sleeping 6 and three-bedroom units sleeping 8. Cabins 1, 2, 3 and 6 allow dogs.
Peace Valley and Core Creek
Peace Valley Park is 1,500 acres around Lake Galena, 264 Creek Road, New Britain Township PA 18901, open dawn to dusk. The boat rental at 215-345-1097 handles rowboats, canoes, pedal boats and kayaks. Mooring is competitive: 160 dry and 6 wet spots, allocated by annual lottery, with registration open January 1 through February 1.
Core Creek Park is 1,200 acres around Lake Luxembourg, 901 Bridgetown Pike, Langhorne PA 19047. Boat rental is 215-757-1225.
Both county lakes require a county boat launch permit, which is separate from the state registration or launch permit described above.
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Bucks County resident | $15 |
| Senior, first permit | Free |
| Senior, additional permit | $15 |
| Non-resident | $30 |
| Non-resident senior | $20 |
Buy at the parks office Monday to Friday, 8 to 5, at the boat rental, or online.
Tyler State Park
Tyler State Park is 1,711 acres at 101 Swamp Road, Newtown PA 18940, 215-968-2021, roughly 33 miles from Center City. Neshaminy Creek splits the park. Electric motors only, slow no-wake.
Driftwood Water Adventures rents canoes, single and double kayaks and paddleboards from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last rental going out at 5 p.m. Half-day and full-day rates, group discounts for parties of five or more on weekdays. 267-994-1319.
Ralph Stover and the Tohickon
Ralph Stover State Park is small, 45 acres, at 6011 State Park Road, Pipersville PA 18947, two miles north of Point Pleasant. It is administered through Delaware Canal State Park, so the phone number is 610-982-5560. Tohickon Creek runs through it. Whitewater boating, the High Rocks overlook and rock climbing are the draws, and the park is carry-in, carry-out.
Worth noting: the DCNR formal whitewater boating rules page covers Ohiopyle, Lehigh Gorge and McConnells Mill, not Ralph Stover. Do not assume those specific regulations transfer here. Call the office.
Cold water, low-head dams, and checking levels
The Fish and Boat Commission is direct about cold water shock, a hazard any time the water temperature is below 70 degrees F. It causes an involuntary gasp that often results in aspiration of water, then hyperventilation, breathlessness and a reduced ability to control breathing and swim. The Commission also notes that a disproportionate number of Pennsylvania boating fatalities occur November through April, with coldwater immersion a primary cause. That is exactly the window the mandatory-wear rule covers, and the two facts are not a coincidence.
Low-head dams are the other killer. They pull boats in from above and create strong recirculating currents below that are very hard to escape.
For levels, the gauge to watch is USGS 01457500, Delaware River at Riegelsville NJ, directly across from upper Bucks. It carries continuous gage height and discharge, a live camera, and peak records going back to 1841.
One caution about numbers you will find online. The gage-height thresholds that circulate on paddling forums (under 6 feet is shallow, 8 to 14.9 feet triggers mandatory life jackets, over 15 feet closes the river, 25 feet is flood stage) belong to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, well upstream. Those are the Water Gap thresholds, not Bucks County thresholds. Do not apply them here.
Some context for the stretch you are paddling: the Lower Delaware is the largest free-flowing river in the eastern United States, and key segments joined the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 2000 as a National Park System unit, which includes the Bucks County reach.
Alcohol and glass
The answer changes depending on who manages the land, so sort this out before you pack a cooler.
- Bucks County parks. Alcohol is prohibited without a Director permit. Ordinance 170, as amended by 174, states that no person shall consume or possess an alcoholic beverage while in or upon property within the Park System unless a permit has been issued by the Director. Glass and metal containers are prohibited at any swim area.
- Bucks County River Country. Alcohol strictly forbidden, glass not permitted. No exceptions.
- Pennsylvania waters generally. Operating any watercraft under the influence is illegal.
- Pennsylvania state parks. The governing document is Title 17, and we could not verify the current text, so ask the specific park office rather than guessing.
Sources and Further Reading
- Bucks County River Country, Point Pleasant, for pricing, policies and daily river conditions
- PFBC: Launch Permit vs. Unpowered Boat Registration
- PFBC: Buy a Launch Permit
- PFBC: Cold Weather Life Jacket Regulation
- PFBC: Boating Safety
- PFBC County Guide boat access map
- DCNR: Delaware Canal State Park
- DCNR: Nockamixon State Park
- DCNR: Tyler State Park
- DCNR: Ralph Stover State Park
- USGS gauge 01457500, Delaware River at Riegelsville NJ
Prices, hours and park rules change without much warning. River conditions change daily, so check levels and call ahead before you load the car. Spot something out of date here? Send us a correction and we will fix it.
