Latest News
UDC Welcomes Public on August 6 Raft Trip
MATAMORAS, PA – The 35th Annual Family Raft Trip sponsored by the Upper Delaware Council will take place on Sunday, August 6. Public reservations are due by Friday, July 28.
The 2023 river section to be paddled is a scenic six-mile stretch from the Staircase Access in the Town of Lumberland, NY to Kittatinny Canoes’ Matamoras Base in Westfall Township, PA.
Kittatinny Canoes will provide the rafts, paddles, life jackets, safety instructions, and shuttle transportation.
Plan to arrive between 9-10 a.m. at 1147 Delaware Drive in Matamoras to park and check-in. Guests will be shuttled up to the Staircase Access to launch.
The average length for this trip is 3.5 hours, depending on the water level and the group’s desired pace. This segment of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River offers Class 1 & 2 rapids, with stretches of quiet pools. There are multiple sets of rapids at Staircase, Mongaup, Butlers Rift and Mill Rift. Participants will paddle beneath cliffs and spectacular rock formations, through lush vegetation then reach the dramatic gorge known as the Hawks Nest and go under the No. 2 Railroad Bridge.
The UDC’s deeply discounted group rate is $29 for ages 13 and up, and $19 for ages 4-12. Advance payment (cash, check, or Paypal) is requested by July 28 with the reservation to include complete contact information, all guest names, and the ages of any minor children under 18.
Minimum occupancy per raft is four people. Parties of less than four will be matched at the UDC’s discretion. Participants should be in good physical condition. Children must weigh a minimum of 40 lbs. and be able to swim.
For optimum safety, all UDC participants (children and adults) will be required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device when they are on the water for the duration of the trip.
Pack a picnic lunch and plenty of drinking water. Dress to get wet, wear sunscreen and foot protection, and avoid bringing valuables. Small coolers and waterproof bags for items such as cameras and keys may be tied into the raft.
Please see the registration flyer posted at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org, which also includes the PayPal link. Call (845) 252-3022 or laurie@upperdelawarecouncil.org to reserve or find out more information.
The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) is a non-profit organization working since 1988 in partnership with the National Park Service to conserve the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River for the benefit of present and future generations.
Its voting members are the local New York towns and Pennsylvania townships which border on the river, as well as the State of New York, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Delaware River Basin Commission in a non-voting capacity.
