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Registration Open for the 2025 Delaware River Sojourn: June 14-20
Celebrating 30 Years Paddling the Delaware, the 2025 Pennsylvania River of the Year

For Immediate Release

April 23, 2025

(West Trenton, N.J.) -- Paddlers of all ages and experience levels are invited to register for the 30th Delaware River Sojourn taking place June 14-20.

The Sojourn is a guided paddling and camping trip, combining on-water experiences and educational learning opportunities. Rental equipment is provided, and river guides teach basic instruction and help keep paddlers safe while on the water. Participants may sign up for the entire trip or for the day(s) of their choice.

"As we celebrate 30 years of the Delaware River Sojourn, we invite paddlers of all experience levels to join us in June to honor this remarkable river and the community that protects it," said Mark Zakutansky, Director of Conservation Policy Engagement for the Appalachian Mountain Club and Chair of the Sojourn Steering Committee. "The Delaware is a shining example of what's possible when people come together to care for a shared resource — and there’s no better way to inspire that stewardship than by experiencing the river firsthand."

Over 70 miles of the Delaware River will be paddled in 2025, split into daily trips averaging ten miles:


"The Sojourn is an outdoor adventure geared to all, a wonderful way to learn about and connect with the Delaware River," said Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, a repeat sojourner. "We are excited to celebrate 30 years of the Sojourn and the Delaware being named the 2025 Pennsylvania River of the Year. This honor highlights the river's importance to the over 14 million people who depend on its shared waters for multiple uses and recognizes the significant improvements and protections achieved through the cooperative actions of many."

Pennsylvania's River of the Year Program helps raise awareness about the significance of rivers, their conservation needs, unique history and their recreational and economic impact on watershed communities. The 2025 win by public vote marks the third time the Delaware River has received this distinction.

Registration fees for the 2025 Delaware River Sojourn are $100 per day for adults and $70 per day for children (ages 15 and under). Registration fees cover the guided river trip, kayak and equipment rental, shuttle transportation, educational programs, most meals and optional overnight camping sites.

Members of the all-volunteer National Canoe Safety Patrol comprise the safety team, and NEWE runs the kayak rental and livery service. Camping this year will be at NEWE's campsite (Equinunk, Pa.) and Driftstone Campground (Mt. Bethel, Pa.). Konrad's Kitchen (Yulan, N.Y.) and Humpty Junior's (Columbia, N.J.) will provide catering, and We Transport (Sparrowbush, N.Y.) will provide shuttle service.

For registration and information, including itineraries, safety guidelines and River of the Year details, visit https://delawareriversojourn.com/.

The Delaware River Sojourn appreciates the support of its donors and grantors. ShopRite, the regional grocery cooperative, has sponsored the Delaware River Sojourn annually since 2013 and individual donors also provide valuable support. The Sojourn receives grant funding from the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, the Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic Rivers Program and PPL, helping keep registration costs low and supporting the Sojourn's educational programming and reduced fees for youth paddlers.

First held in 1995, the Delaware River Sojourn is one of the longest-running programs of its kind. The non-profit, annual event is planned by a steering committee with representatives from federal, state and local agencies, local businesses, non-profit organizations and individual volunteers. The DRBC has helped plan the event since its early years; Communications Specialist Kate Schmidt has served as the Commission's representative since 2006.

The DRBC is a federal-interstate government agency responsible for managing the water resources within the 13,539 square-mile Delaware River Basin without regard to political boundaries. The five Commission members are the governors of the Basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania) and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' North Atlantic Division, who represents the federal government. Learn more at www.drbc.gov. 

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Contact: 

Kate Schmidt, Kate.Schmidt@drbc.gov

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[Delaware River Sojourn and River of the Year logos and Sojourn photos available upon request]