Are motor boats allowed on Upper Delaware River?

You may bring your own boat and equipment and use public river accesses. A valid registration is required for all motorized vessels on the river. Personal watercraft “Jet Skis” are not permitted on the Upper Delaware and use of large motor boats is not feasible.



Motorized boats are technically allowed on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, but their use is heavily restricted and often impractical due to the river's shallow and rocky nature. A valid registration from either New York or Pennsylvania is required for any motorized vessel. Furthermore, operators must often hold a boating safety certificate depending on state laws. Personal Watercraft (PWC), such as Jet Skis, are strictly prohibited throughout the entire Upper Delaware segment. For larger motorboats, the river's average depth of 4 to 5 feet—combined with frequent "Class I and II" rapids and boulders—makes navigation extremely difficult for anything other than small, shallow-draft motors or drift boats used for fishing. Most recreation on this river is centered on non-motorized craft like canoes, kayaks, and tubes. Those using motors must adhere to a "flat wake speed" within 100 feet of shorelines, docks, and swimmers to preserve the river's ecological integrity.

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