Guide to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Growing up in New Jersey, I was one of the few people who didn't care about going to the shore every summer - most of my friends went, but I didn't until I was 17. Even today I've only been to the Jersey Shore three times. My preferred destination in the state is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

On the border of northern New Jersey and Pennsylvania the park is easily accessible via I-80 on both sides of the state border-it is the last exit before exiting the state. Unlike shore destination that require driving toll roads such as the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike, visitors to the Delaware Water Gap only have to pay a 75 cent toll if they cross into Pennsylvania. It was also only 45 minutes away from my parents' house, as opposed to an hour and a half or more to the popular shore destinations. On the Pennsylvania side of the park, most visitors stop at Bushkill Falls, which offers beautiful nature trails along the streams and waterfalls. Unfortunately, Bushkill Falls is a private enterprise and requires an entrance fee. The area that is part of the National Parks Service is less crowded and free to enter.

The Delaware Water Gap was designated a national recreation area on Sept. 1, 1965, in order to preserve the natural landscape from encroaching resort developers. Now, this 70,000-acre park receives approximately 3 million annual visitors who mostly enjoy rafting, hiking, fishing, and picnicking. However, there is also significant history in the region.

There are a total of 90 sites in park that are on or eligible for the National Register, though many are not easy to spot on a journey through the area. Along Old Mine Road through the park, visitors can stop at the Abraham Van Campen house, which is supposedly the oldest house in Warren County and served as a fort during the French and Indian War. There are also a few cemeteries that date back to the Revolutionary War. An easier to find site is Millbrook Village, a re-created 19^th century village that provides an educational experience for visitors. Most of the buildings in Millbrook Village are replicas, but some of the original structures have survived and are well kept by the Millbrook Village Society.

In 1960, the Army Corps of Engineers planned to build a dam just north of the Delaware Water Gap. Fifteen thousand people were displaced and more than 3,000 homes demolished in the process. However, in 1978, the project was abandoned and the land was handed over to the National Parks Service.

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a great experience for a variety of visitors. Local history buffs can enjoy the Colonial and Post-Colonial history that is hidden in the hills, and adventurers can enjoy the natural beauty that has been preserved. It is also a destination to escape the heat of a New Jersey summer with streams and waterfalls to cool off in.