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2026 Delaware River Sojourn: Celebrating 31 Years Paddling "Our Nation's River"

One of the best ways to learn about a river is to get on it. Interested, but not sure how? Participate in a river sojourn!

The boats are all lined up and ready for the start of the 2026 Delaware River Sojourn. Photo by the DRBC.
The boats are all lined up and ready for the start of the
2026 Delaware River Sojourn. Photo by the DRBC.

What is a Sojourn?

Sojourns are guided paddling and camping trips, combining on-water experiences and educational learning opportunities. They are suited for folks of all skill levels; equipment is provided, and river guides teach basic instruction and help keep paddlers safe while on the water. Folks can join for a day, several or the whole thing, making sojourns the perfect first experience with paddling.

Since 1995, the Delaware River Sojourn has been bringing paddlers of all ages and experience levels on the Delaware River, promoting safe, responsible river recreation and creating new stewards of this precious resource. Getting out on the river provides a direct connection to and appreciation for the water, and to do so in a safe, welcoming and fun environment helps foster that feeling for a lifetime.


Delaware River Sojourn 2026

Typically held in June, the 2026 Delaware River Sojourn took place June 20-26. This year, ~75 miles of the Delaware River were paddled, including three days on the upper Delaware River, one day on the middle Delaware, two days on the lower Delaware River and one day on the tidewaters.

This year's theme was "Our Nation's River," a nod to the integral role the Delaware River had in the founding of our nation, as well as its importance to communities today. Check out the logo, designed by Pike County Planning & Mapping (and Sojourn Steering Committee Member) Jessica Yoder.

 

 

  • Learn more about the Delaware Sojourn

  • View DRBC News Release Announcing the 2026 Delaware River Sojourn (May 2026)

Safety & Equipment, Camping, Catering, Shuttling & River Access

The Delaware River Sojourn is ever grateful for our partners at the National Canoe Safety Patrol (NCSP) for providing safety and land support and at Northeast Wilderness Experience (NEWE) for providing boat shuttle and full rental services.

Each year, the NCSP provides volunteers to lead and participate on the on-water safety team, as well as volunteers for our land support crew. This year's low water & variable weather each held unique challenges, and the teams kept us safe and healthy on water and on land, ensuring folks an enjoyable river trip and plenty to keep them hydrated and fueled. The NCSP is an all-volunteer organization, and in addition to its work on the Sojourn, its members are out on the upper Delaware River each summer weekend helping people stay safe when recreating on the river. Learn more about the organization at the above link – they are always looking for new members!

Similarly, each year we work with the fine folks at NEWE, who provide rental equipment - kayaks, paddles and life jackets - for Sojourners, as well as handle, shuttle and care for all private boats on the Sojourn. NEWE is fully committed to the Sojourn and its mission, and it is a pleasure working with their team each year. NEWE provides recreational opportunities for people year-round in the upper Delaware; check them out at the above link.

Thanks, too, to our camping locations Camp Keowa at Ten Mile River (Narrowsburg, N.Y.), Worthington State Forest (Columbia, N.J.) and Washington Crossing State Park (Titusville, N.J.) and our bus shuttle We Transport (Sparrowbush, N.Y.).

Catering was provided by Konrad's Kitchen (Yulan, N.Y.), Humpty Junior's (Columbia, N.J.), Dominicks of Washington Crossing (Washington Crossingn, Pa.), Colonial Farms (Washington Crossing, Pa.), Cathedral Kitchen (Camden, N.J.) and John’s Water Ice (Philadelphia, Pa.) – thank you!

Special thanks also go to the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, NPS Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Kittatinny Canoes, Matamoras, Pa., Knowlton Township, N.J., Lower Mt. Bethel Township, Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, Pa. DCNR Washington Crossing Historic Park, Pa. DCNR Neshaminy State Park, Pa. Fish and Boat Commission and the City of Philadelphia for partnering with us on river access and facilities usage.


2026 Sojourn Programming

In addition to celebrating America's 250th Anniversary, programming also highlighted important partner organizations, stewardship efforts throughout the watershed and the ongoing work being done to improve the Delaware River and preserve its environment and rich history.

Program highlights included:


2025 High Admiral Honorees

Each year, the Sojourn honors people and organizations who are doing important work for the river and its watershed as High Admirals. The name is taken from the story of Daniel Skinner, a timber rafter from the late 1800s who was known as the Lord High Admiral of the Delaware River for successfully navigating timber rafts down the river each spring.

2026 honorees included:

  • Bill Walters, National Canoe Safety Patrol, for his decades of service to the Sojourn and NCSP

  • Nathan Reigner, PA Dir. of Outdoor Recreation, for his commitment to increasing outdoor access, promoting conservation and promoting the outdoor economy within the Commonwealth

  • Brit Kondravy, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, for her leadership in connecting partners and implementing preservation and restoration work in the Lehigh Valley

  • Annette Earling, Washington Crossing Parks Association, for her efforts to improve the facilities and programming at Washington Crossing State Park, especially for her efforts with the new Visitor's Museum

  • Emilia Crotty, Pennsylvania Environmental Council – accepted on behalf of PEC and POWR for their efforts to support recreation and trails projects in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth

Sojourn Funding

The Sojourn is a not-for-profit event and is ever appreciative of the generous support it receives. The regional supermarket cooperative ShopRite has sponsored the Delaware River Sojourn annually since 2013. Individual donors and corporate matches also provide valuable support. The American Canoe Association is the Sojourn's insurance partner.

This year, the Sojourn was sponsored by the DRBC, Northampton County Parks, Recreation and Conservation and Explore Warren County Tourism. The Sojourn received funding from the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic Rivers Program and PPL. These funds help keep costs as low as possible for participants and support the Sojourn's educational programs and its reduced fees for youth.


2026 Sojourn In the News


The DRBC & the Delaware Sojourn

The DRBC has been involved with the Delaware River Sojourn since the late 1990s. Currently, DRBC's Kate Schmidt serves as chair of the Delaware River Sojourn Steering Committee, which plans the annual event. The committee is comprised of government agency representatives, non-profit organizations, local businesses and individual volunteers, all of whom share the same goals of introducing people to paddling and helping teach about our waterways in a safe, guided and fun environment. 

This year, DRBC is proud to be a sponsor of the Sojourn, and staff enjoys participating in this paddling adventure and providing programming. Getting out on the river, meeting other paddlers and talking about what we do to manage, protect and improve the Basin's water resources helps connect us with our partners, community members and stakeholders.

This year, DRBC staff supported two Sojourn programs. On Sunday evening at Camp Keowa, DRBC's Kristen Bowman Kavanagh presented Upper Delaware River Management alongside Upper Delaware Council's (UDC) Kerry Engelhardt. Kristen and Kerry discussed how flow is managed and water quality protected in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, as well as the history of the UDC and its role today. DRBC also sponsored dinner and programming on Wednesday at Washington Crossing State Park; folks got to meet and learn from staff about some of our water quality and water resources resilience work. The evening's programming also included a rousing game of Quizzo and remarks from Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Andy Desko and "Paddler's Guide to the Delaware River" author Gary Letcher. 


The Sojourn Mission

Sojourns enable people to get real-life exposure to our region's waterways, advance environmental education and conservation and highlight partners' watershed work. They are a great way to engage in river recreation, learn about our rivers and connect with river communities and other paddlers. The goal is that these experiences will create new stewards of our waters, making people more aware of the impacts their actions and daily habits have on the environment and of what they can do to help protect our shared water resources. 

The DRBC thanks everyone who helps make a river sojourn possible! Planning these events is a lot of hard work, but seeing the smiles on paddlers' faces at the end of the day makes it all worth it.

We hope to see you on a river sojourn next year!

View More Photos Here!

Paddlers launch on Day 1 from NY's Ten Mile River Access. Photo by the DRBC. Paddlers enjoy their first day of paddling on the Delaware River. Photo courtesy of Marge O'Hare. Paddlers approach the Zane Grey Access & Roebling Bridge. Photo by the DRBC. DRBC's Elizabeth Brown (L), Kate Schmidt and Kristen Bowman Kavanagh (R) on Day 2 of the Sojourn. Photo by the DRBC.
Paddlers launch on Day 1
from NY's Ten Mile River
Access. Photo by the DRBC.		 Paddlers enjoy their first day
of paddling on the Delaware
River. Photo courtesy of Marge O'Hare.		 Paddlers approach the Zane
Grey Access & Roebling
Bridge. Photo by the DRBC.		 DRBC's Elizabeth Brown (L), Kate Schmidt and Kristen Bowman Kavanagh (R) on Day 2 of the Sojourn. Photo by the DRBC.
Sojourners approach the Narrowsburg Bridge on Day 2. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners paddle underneath the Narrowsburg Bridge. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners listen to the presenters of Day 2's evening program. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners prep to launch from NY's Sparrowbush Access on Day 3. Photo courtesy of Marge O'Hare.
Sojourners approach the Narrowsburg Bridge on Day 2. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners paddle underneath the Narrowsburg Bridge. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners listen to the presenters of Day 2's evening program. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners prep to launch
from NY's Sparrowbush Access on Day 3. Photo courtesy of Marge O'Hare.
Elizabeth Brown (L), PA Director of Outdoor Recreation Dr. Nathan Reigner (center) and DRBC's Kate Schmidt (R) pose for a photo after honoring Dr. Reigner with the High Admiral Award. Photo courtesy of Thomas Gilbert, Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Sojourn Safety Lead and National Canoe Safety Patrol member Jerry Donati is all smiles before the start of Day 4. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners approach the Delaware Water Gap on Day 4. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners stop at Kittatinny Point for lunch on Day 4. Photo courtesy of Karen Keenan.
Elizabeth Brown (L), PA Director of Outdoor Recreation Dr. Nathan Reigner (center) and DRBC's Kate Schmidt (R) pose for a photo after honoring Dr. Reigner with the High Admiral Award. Photo courtesy of Thomas Gilbert, Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Sojourn Safety Lead and National Canoe Safety Patrol member Jerry Donati is all smiles before the start of Day 4. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners approach the Delaware Water Gap on Day 4. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners stop at Kittatinny Point for lunch on Day 4. Photo courtesy of Karen Keenan.
Sojourners paddle under the Portland Bridge on Day 4. Photo courtesy of Allison Heinsohn. Sojourners prepare to launch from Knowlton Township, NJ's Delaware Beach on Day 5. Photo courtesy of Karen Keenan. Sojourners arrive at Lower Mt. Bethel Township, PA for lunch on Day 5. Photo courtesy of Allison Heinsohn. DRBC hosted dinner & quizzo at NJ's Washington Crossing State Park on Day 5. Photo by the DRBC.
Sojourners paddle under the Portland Bridge on Day 4. Photo courtesy of Allison Heinsohn. Sojourners prepare to launch from Knowlton Township, NJ's Delaware Beach on Day 5. Photo courtesy of Karen Keenan. Sojourners arrive at Lower Mt. Bethel Township, PA for lunch on Day 5. Photo courtesy of Allison Heinsohn. DRBC hosted dinner & quizzo at NJ's Washington Crossing State Park on Day 5. Photo by the DRBC.
Some of the DRBC crew at the Day 5 dinner: (from L) Jake Bransky, Namsoo Suk, Sarah Beganskas, Carl Bargery, Elaine Panuccio and Kristen Bowman Kavanagh. Photo by the DRBC. First Place Team in Quizzo: The Honeymooners pose with DRBC's Kristen Bowman Kavanagh (top R) and Elizabeth Brown (top L). Photo by the DRBC. Second Place Team in Quizzo: Sunburned and Tired pose with DRBC's Kristen Bowman Kavanagh (L) and Elizabeth Brown (R). Photo by the DRBC. DRBC's Elizabeth Brown (L), Delaware River Greenway Partnership's Cindy Kunnas and Washington Crossing Park Association's Annette Earling (R) pose for a photo on Day 6. Earling was just honored with the Sojourn's High Admiral Award. Photo by the DRBC.
Some of the DRBC crew at the Day 5 dinner: (from L) Jake Bransky, Namsoo Suk, Sarah Beganskas, Carl Bargery, Elaine Panuccio and Kristen Bowman Kavanagh. Photo by the DRBC. First Place Team in Quizzo: The Honeymooners pose with DRBC's Kristen Bowman Kavanagh (top R) and Elizabeth Brown (top L). Photo by the DRBC.  
Second Place Team in Quizzo: Sunburned and Tired pose with DRBC's Kristen Bowman Kavanagh (L) and Elizabeth Brown (R). Photo by the DRBC.		 DRBC's Elizabeth Brown (L), Delaware River Greenway Partnership's Cindy Kunnas and Washington Crossing Park Association's Annette Earling (R) pose for a photo on Day 6. Earling was just honored with the Sojourn's High Admiral Award. Photo by the DRBC.
Sojourners paddle the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River on Day 6. Photo by the DRBC. The DRBC crew paddling Day 6: (from L) Elizabeth Brown, Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, Brittany Gigliotti and Pam Bush. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners arrive at PA's Washington Crossing Historic Park for lunch. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners arrive at Yardley, Pa. on Day 6. Photo by the DRBC.
Sojourners paddle the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River on Day 6. Photo by the DRBC. The DRBC crew paddling Day 6: (from L) Elizabeth Brown, Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, Brittany Gigliotti and Pam Bush. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners arrive at PA's Washington Crossing Historic Park for lunch. Photo by the DRBC. Sojourners arrive at Yardley, Pa. on Day 6. Photo by the DRBC.
Sojourners paddle upriver with the tide on Day 7. Photo by the DRBC. This year, the Sojourn had its first through-tripper (paddled all 7 days) on a paddleboard! Here, Sojourners paddle back towards Philadelphia's Pleasant Hill Park. Photo by the DRBC. On Day 7, Sojourners paddle with the Philadelphia skyline in the background. Photo courtesy of Prem Trivedi, Riverways Collaboration. Sojourner John Powers (L) won the 2026 Sojourn paddle in the raffle. Paddle designer Sandy Schultz is pictured with him (R). Photo courtesy of Rachel Burmeister.
Sojourners paddle upriver with the tide on Day 7. Photo by the DRBC. This year, the Sojourn had its first through-tripper (paddled all 7 days) on a paddleboard! Here, Sojourners paddle back towards Philadelphia's Pleasant Hill Park. Photo by the DRBC. On Day 7, Sojourners paddle with the Philadelphia skyline in the background. Photo courtesy of Prem Trivedi, Riverways Collaboration. Sojourner John Powers (L) won the 2026 Sojourn paddle in the raffle. Paddle designer Sandy Schultz is pictured with him (R). Photo courtesy of Rachel Burmeister.