Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

10/05/2026

Today’s homework: thank a teacher.

National parks are places where students can learn about history by standing where it happened, explore science by observing nature, and discover stories that help us better understand the people and places that shaped our world.

Behind those experiences are teachers helping students ask questions, make connections, and learn about the world around them.

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and remind us that learning can happen just about anywhere. (Including places with a really good view.)

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

NPS Image

10/05/2026

Every day from October 12 to November 5, 2026, visit Mission San José's granary during park hours (9am-5pm) to view the mission descendant community's family ofrendas.

Ofrendas are an essential part of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called "altares" or altars, but not for worship. These altars are not only full of family pictures, but of symbols and meaning, honoring the ancestors who have passed, and offering them items of the celebration such a "pan de mu**to" and marigold flowers.

NPS Photo

10/05/2026

What does the phrase "Write Where We Stand" mean to you? 📝

On Saturday September 26, educators from across the region discussed this topic with National Park staff and members of the Pocono Writing Project at a teacher professional development event.

Together, we explored the stories of this area, practiced place-based writing, engaged with a local author, and discovered new ways to help students connect with nature through writing.

If you enjoy writing or encouraging others to write, check out the resources available for WriteOut, which begins on October 11: https://writeout.nwp.org/


NPS Photo/ A. Grismer

10/04/2026

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

And we’re rather glad there are national parks to experience them in. Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular spectacle (say that five times fast) of changing leaves. There is plenty of room for imagination when you find yourself surrounded by forests painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. In our experience, you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. So consider this your invitation to find a little wonder, a little enchantment, and perhaps a kindred spirit among the trees.

Forests, woods, and shrublands in national parks put on their autumn colors from September through December. There’s a whole world of beauty waiting to be explored!

Image 1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Image 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP
Image 3: Great Sand Dunes NPP
Image 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Image 5: TheodoreRooseveltNPS

10/03/2026

“On October 3rd, he asked what day it was.” — Cady Heron

It’s October 3rd.

October is kind of a big deal around here. The autumn months splash many national parks with a rich array of fall colors, while cooler temperatures have wildlife getting ready for winter. Some are migrating. Some are gathering food. Some are putting on extra layers.

Same, honestly.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the wildlife, or simply to judge the leaves on their color palette, national parks are a pretty fetch place to experience fall. Fetch? We’re making it happen.

And if you want to keep up with what’s happening in parks this season, you can find more ways to connect with your national parks at the link below.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/fall-season.htm

Image: Red Osier Dogwood leaves stand out against aspen trunks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. NPS/Patrick Myers

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Wherever military life takes you, there’s likely a park adventure nearby.

Active-duty military members, Veterans, and Gold Star families can get a free America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.

Active-duty military families can also find free events, nearby outdoor opportunities, and resources for exploring national parks, public lands, and waterways through the Military Families Outdoors Program, wherever military life takes them. Visit: go.nps.gov/mfo

Whether you’re PCSing, exploring near your duty station, or looking for a weekend adventure, your next park visit may be closer than you think.

NPS Photo: Rangers at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park recently teamed up with Blue Star Families and community partners for a day of fishing, outdoor fun, and family time at Fletchers Cove.

Blue Star Families Defense Public Health

10/01/2026

Fat Bear Week has officially lumbered to a close.

What a week. As they say, a journey of roughly 3,000 to 4,500 calories begins with a single salmon. Something like that. There might be some steps involved too.

In the end, 16 bears entered. Bear 89 “Backpack” became champion. Talk about the hunger games. And several ate their way into our hearts. Figuratively. And thousands of us humans spent an unreasonable amount of time judging bears for being excellent at being, well, bears.

It was a week of big bellies, bigger appetites, and absolutely no regrets. We shared some science, learned about the Alaskan ecosystem, stood around for hours watching large mammals eat, and found multiple way to incorporate “chonk” in everyday vocabulary.

Now the bears have more important things to do, such as eating then sleeping, a bit more eating, sleeping, and finally preparing to sleep after eating. As for the rest of us, we all return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Must we?

We must.

We will miss you, Fat Bear Week. Until next year: stay chunky, stay hungry, and remember: there’s always room for one more salmon.

NPS Images

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, it's time for Chunky Puppy Day! Tune in to the Puppy Cam tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 2pm AK time to find out how big the America's Best Idea litter got this summer.

How much do you think they weigh now? Share your guesses in the comments below.

NPS Photo: Graupel from the Weather litter during a weigh-in last year.

10/01/2026

We are excited to be recipients of an Open Outdoors for Kids grant for the 2026-2027 school year!

The National Park Foundation grant will help us connect with local schools and students through field trips and educational curriculum and provide teachers with professional development opportunities.

09/30/2026

This is the ideal marmot body. You may not like it. You may not understand it. But this is what peak performance looks like.

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled programming: other fat mammals.

The tundra-dwelling yellow-bellied marmots have been preparing for hibernation for the last couple of months. Since marmots spend more than half their lives hibernating, they’ve developed some impressive adaptations for surviving the winter:

✅ First, they’ve been building up healthy fat reserves (sound familiar? Bears. Us too, but that’s another post) to sustain them for up to eight months. Basically, a nice winter savings account.

✅ When they finally enter hibernation, they become true hibernators, slowing their heart rate from around 200 beats per minute to as low as 30. It’s an impressive energy-saving strategy.

✅ Speaking of saving, they also save on utilities by cuddling up with the colony in a communal burrow. Because heating is expensive, and roommates are the answer. Was that on the lease?

NPS Photo: A rotund marmot standing on a rock at Rocky Mountain National Park

09/30/2026

It's a Wild Card Wednesday 🃏 Let's test your knowledge of the park!

On which body of water was this gazebo located?

Think you know the answer? Feel free to comment, "got it!" but keep the answer to yourself. We will update the post with the answer tomorrow so you can check your knowledge.

🔍 Need a hint? There used to be a few resorts nearby during the Victorian vacation era.

Answer: This gazebo was on the edge of Lake Lenape in the Delaware Water Gap.

Image: Taken from a 1900's postcard. Photo/ Detriot Photographic Co.

09/29/2026

Due to the inclement weather last weekend, the National Public Lands Day event at Milford Beach is being held this Saturday, October 3🪴🧤

If you are interested in participating, please sign up by emailing [email protected].

Volunteers will help spruce up the Milford Beach plaza from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Some duties will include weeding, mulching, pulling invasive plants, planting, and other landscaping duties. Light paperwork will be filled out before the event.

This event is limited to 15 participants.

Please bring plenty of water! Food will NOT be provided at the event, so bring snacks or a lunch.
Dress properly for outdoor work with closed-toe shoes, long sleeves and long pants. All ages are welcome.

09/28/2026

Update: Old Mine Rd has been reopened.
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Old Mine Road is closed in Worthington in the area of Mile 5 due to wires down.

This post will be updated when the road reopens.

09/24/2026

"A cormorant? What an auspicious sign."

Double-crested cormorants are considered good luck for people who fish, as they are typically present near waters where fish are abundant. These waterbirds' native range spans most of North America. Some populations, such as the ones who breed in the interior and northern areas, are migratory birds. They spend their summers in the northern and interior regions, traveling to southern areas and warm coastlines for winter. The populations in the warmer regions do not migrate.

Cormorants eat mostly fish, which means spending much of their time in and around large bodies of water, scanning for prey from rocks, trees, power/telephone lines, or other airy perches. They watch for the movement of fish under the water, diving down to snag their meal with their hooked beaks.

These birds are easy to find while on or near the Delaware River, so keep an eye out on your next paddle trip!

NPS Photo/ K. Kircher

09/23/2026

Every landscape has a story, and we can read it if we know what clues to look for! 🔍🌳🐾

Learn to interpret the forest around you and uncover its history at the Forest Forensics Ranger Hike.

Details:
Millbrook Village
Sunday, September 27
1pm

Bring hiking gear and wear sturdy footwear. Be prepared to hike up to a mile over moderate, uneven terrain. The program will last about one hour.

For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.


NPS Photo/ J. Cammerota

09/22/2026

Leaf peeping season is around the corner! 🍂👀

Make sure you are prepared for a visit to the park by visiting www.nps.gov/dewa and following these tips:

🗺️ Pack a Plan B: Parking areas for popular trails fill up quickly and early. Make sure you have a backup plan in case the site you want to visit is full when you arrive. If parking is full, then it is full. There are no alternative parking areas for many sites, and parking outside of designated parking spots is not permitted.

🧥 Dress to Impress: Temperature fluctuations between the morning and afternoon can be upwards of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Dressing in comfortable layers will ensure you are properly dressed for the temperature change.

👜 Pack like a Park Ranger: Bring enough water for everyone, including pets. You can still get dehydrated even if the temperatures are cool. Wear the proper footwear, pack the ten essentials, and make sure you are well prepared.

🐞 Ticks give us the Ick: Take preventative measures to protect yourself from ticks and the illnesses they carry by:
- Treating your clothing with bug spray
- Tucking your pants into your socks
- Changing immediately after returning home
- Showering as soon as possible after spending time outside

🐻 Be Bear Aware: Make sure to give all wildlife, especially mothers and young, space and the right of way. All wildlife can become aggressive if they feel trapped or threatened.

Stop by a park visitor center for information, planning tips, trail maps, and more!


NPS Photo/J. Grier

09/21/2026

Update: Due to the inclement weather, National Public Lands Day has been postponed until Saturday, October 2.

If you are interested in attending, please sign up by emailing [email protected].

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National Public Lands Day is this weekend! Join Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River on Saturday, September 26th for National Public Lands Day! 🪴🧤

Volunteers will help spruce up the Milford Beach plaza from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Some duties will include weeding, mulching, pulling invasive plants, planting, and other landscaping duties.

Please RSVP on Volunteer.gov by searching "Milford Beach" and selecting the "2026 National Public Lands Day Cleanup" or follow this link: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ00000PkS2vYAF/2026-national-public-lands-day-cleanup. Light paperwork will be filled out before the event.

This event is limited to 15 participants.

Please bring plenty of water! Food will NOT be provided at the event, so bring snacks or a lunch.

Dress properly for outdoor work with closed-toe shoes, long sleeves and long pants. All ages are welcome.

09/19/2026

“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” - Helen Dyer

Last Sunday, September 13, was the annual Volunteer Appreciation Event! The park, in partnership with the Friends of Delaware Water Gap N.R.A. hosts this event to thank the people who give their time, energy, and passion year after year.

This event provides an opportunity for volunteers to catch up with park staff, chat with each other, and feel appreciated for what they do. Each year, the park recognizes the volunteers who have gone above and beyond to improve visitor experience or park operations.

Parks could not do what they do without volunteers. So, thank you to everyone who spends free time supporting the National Park Service mission — we appreciate you!



Image 1: NPS Photo/ J.Grier
Image 2: NPS Photo/ J. Ratchford
Image 3: NPS Photo/ J. Grier
Image 4: NPS Photo/ A. Grismer
Image 5: NPS Photo/ J. Grier
Image 6: NPS Photo/ J. Ratchford