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    Round Valley Recreation Area

    3.9 (53 reviews)

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    Visiting Vulture
    John K.

    I've now been here twice. It's well worth a look . I did a little hiking and looked at the lake. In season , you can go swimming and there's boating. If you're in the area and have the time, give it a shot.

    The pic is overview of the trail I walked 5-18-2024. From parking lot to campsite #48. 5.75 miles from parking lot to camp site #48.

    Spent one night at camp site #48. Site was clean, picnic bench not broken, did not use fire pit due to rain. I'd say only two usable flat spots for tents. Very short walk to privy a big plus. No camp site to left of #48 and # 49 is about 70 yards away. Trail is well marked, well maintained, almost no exposure to the sun. Only negative was the path to the water from camp site was too muddy to use....so I couldn't get to the water. You will need to search to find fire wood. Easy to reserve a spot on line. If u r an experienced hiker and in shape hiker you would say trail is moderate/ easy. If u r out of shape or hike very little you would say trail is moderate/hard. Have fun.

    Lake
    Tinyee H.

    For the boat launch area. 5 stars I brought my inflatable kayak and all you need is a fishing license to enter for free. The day I went, the waterline was much lower than the docking piers, so there was a lot of space for people to launch their kayaks, motor boats, paddle boards, etc. Once you get into the water, it's quite calm except for the occasional motor boat. The water is super clear and not that cold (July). My kids loved sliding out of the kayak and swim in the open water. Afterwards, we drove to the main area and saw that there is a $10 fee for NJ residents. We didn't get a chance to visit as it was getting late, but will definitely come back for an all-day activity. For the beach area: 4 stars If you're visiting during the summer, you have to consider arriving before 9 am. We arrived around 9:30, and the picnic areas are filled with many people, and most were already starting their grills. The beach, however, doesn't open until 10am. That's when the lifeguards come out. They slowly open section by section. By 11, the whole beach area is open. The sand is decent and clean, but the water is full of algae and not as clear as the main lake. If you look at the map, the lake with the beach is actually separated from all the boat traffic. Although social distancing is observed on the beach, it is not in the water. The the bathrooms are open but there isn't any showers. Make sure you bring an umbrella and sunscreen.

    Rich R.

    I have been quite a bit through the years. It is beautiful and peaceful. It gets very crowded in the summer months. You can bbq, go in the water, boat, kayak, paddle board, fish, whatever you pleasure is. If you are looking for a spot to enjoy nature do not be afraid to come here.

    Teresa S.

    I met some friends at this recreation area over the summer and had an amazing time. We spent the day and enjoyed the beautiful weather. However, I was disappointed I had to pay $20 since I was an out of state resident. Next time I will carpool to save some $. The funny thing is they will close the entrance down once they reach the parking capacities. Some of the girls I was meeting were from NJ and gave us the heads up. It was supposed to be 8 of us meeting but only two of us made it before they started turning people away. Me and my friend liked our location we had picked out under a tree near shade but stilll visible towards the water. My other friends settled to another location close by but we had already paid our fees to this park and decided to chill. The park was crowded as people BBQ'd, played in the water or just chilled with family and friends. There was a small police presence for security, We brought our own picnic based meal and snacks. Overall I enjoyed the recreation area and would venture out here again to enjoy some fun in the sun.

    Jimmy K.

    Round Valley is a beautiful place to go and connect with nature. There is a beach, power boat launch, kayak launch, picnic areas, hiking trails and a campground. The campground is only accessible by boat or hiking. The park is free from Labor Day to Memorial Day. If you go during the summer months there is a fee and make sure to get there early. It fills up quick and they close the park.

    Uneka H.

    I've been coming here for yearssss ever since I was a baby and I have to say it's gone down a bit. The recreation area still seems clean which is great! I only seen one person working the kitchen area which was fine because it was during a week day so it wasn't much point in having a large staff. However, it seems like the beach area was a little dirty. There were no garbage cans around; the goal was "trash in trash out" however this makes it very inconvenient for carrying garbage in the car. There were also a lot of mosquitos on the actual beach area which was very surprising. It was a somewhat gloomy/sunny/rainy day which is probably the reason for the high mosquito population. The water isn't the cleanest, however it is a lake. This is/was a favorite childhood past time so I'm sure I will continue to come back as long as I live in the area. There could just be some upgrades done such as having garbage cans. Maybe it was only like that during the week.

    Lake
    Kayla C.

    This location is okay since there are not many cool areas to go in NJ for one. I always go on the weekend but I was kinda surprised they ACTUALLY charge on the weekdays ? It's not the worth the money. I'd say it's good since it goes to upkeep but it looks like they rarely do any. There's a lot of areas kinda broken down and there's trash in many spots. I also think it's kinda strange they close at 4 pm when sunset doesn't happen until 5-6 which is kinda unfortunate. It doesn't even get dark at those hours.

    View from beach area.  This is a bay off the large lake.  The hills around the lake make the area a dramatic place to visit.

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    It was okay. The hike was sort of boring. View of the reservoir was nice. Camp site was primitive- glad it is hike-in only

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Round Valley Recreation Area

    Can you swim in the lake?

    There is a small swimming area in the park. Other parts are protected area

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes they are allowed throughout most of Round Valley. I do not think they are allowed on the swimming beach though. I take my dog to the hiking trails regularly. There are always dogs swimming within the boating area.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Round Valley Recreation Area

    So make sure you find out first where in relation to your campsite you park before you head out there and avoid the long walk if you can help it.

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    Edge of the Woods Outfitters

    Edge of the Woods Outfitters

    4.7
    (118 reviews)
    29.1 mi
    $$

    Fun time kayaking on the Delaware River with a group of 13! The serenity of the river and nature…read morewas incredible. The water is warm even though it was only 70 ish degreees.

    (This was a few months ago so the details could be a bit iffy.)…read more This was a very impromptu trip and everything at Edge of the Woods makes doing that easy. Head to the website, book the date & time you want and you're done. www.watergapadventure.com/river-trips A few things worth noting: They offer multiple trip lengths. The standard 4-, 6- and 10-mile trip (Smithfield to Portland) are all booked generically and then when you get there you tell them what you want to do. All pricing is the same which believe me compared to others companies, that's very different - in a good way. They do offer two other longer trips but those require calls to the main office I assume to assess river conditions; your own competency and shuttle availability. The main office in Delaware Water Gap is very easy to find and there was plenty of parking on a quiet post-Labor Day Monday. You check in, you're handed a laminated map, life jacket and given a brief route explanation and then you're off in the van. One problem arose and it was kind of a PIA but it was worked around. Most companies have different types/sizes/models of kayaks and quite often, will ask you what you prefer. Not here. When we left the office, the guy driving didn't say a word to me until we get to Smithfield Beach to unload. He had a few kayaks pre-loaded in the carrier but definitely did not look at them before we left. One of them had a broken foot pedal that he said couldn't be used, another was very much designed for a smaller individual (i.e. if you're taller and/or taller & larger it ain't happening safely) which only left two tandem models. Using a tandem as a single individual is not the end of the world but especially when the seats are still left in the two person configuration (i.e. one front and one back versus the rear one being placed more towards the middle), it's a PIA to maneuver the craft and you are paddling harder to get the job done compared to a single. The scenery along the route was decent. You could see a bit of the Shawnee Resort and Golf Course, an old stone bridge abutment in the middle of the river, under and along 80 and then when you get into the Water Gap itself with the high cliff sides. Very picturesque. Once you go under the old train viaduct in Portland, you give the office a call for the shuttle to meet you at the out point which is at the Portland Pedestrian Bridge. The whole experience was about four hours door to door to cover the ten miles on the water plus the shuttle to & from the pick up and drop off points. Lots of nice scenery, due to the low water level there wasn't much in the way of current except for the area around viaduqt in Portland and even that wasn't bad. I'm not a big fan of the equipment here but I wouldn't let that deter me from coming back in the future for one of their northern longer trips.

    Photos
    Two person kayak fun.
    Two person kayak fun.
    Edge of the Woods Outfitters
    Edge of the Woods Outfitters

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    Delaware River Tubing

    Delaware River Tubing

    2.6
    (245 reviews)
    12.6 mi

    Our family has enjoyed tubing on the delaware every summer for years. It's a great way to spend an…read moreafternoon in nature

    Honestly, I don't know why this place got such few stars? The four stars that I've assigned as well…read moredeserved. I visited on a weekday and perhaps that made all the difference in the world. My experience form beginning to end was fantastic. I think one thing that seems to bother most people is the BBQ lunch. The BBQ lunch was apart of my package and when I arrived they were just loading the buns to be taken out on the river. I'm getting a little ahead of myself here but you'll understand in a minute. When I arrived, there were already several eager adventurous folks checking in, buying waterproof items for sale, collecting their water rafts and some even already on the water. I checked in with my Groupon and as directed, I left my keys - collected my Kayak and proceeded to the bus. Please note, the rule is, everyone must wear a mask until you're actually on the water; great rule as it gets crowded in the shop as well as on the bus. It keeps everyone safe. I chose the kayak experience which was awesome but the real fun is in a tube. After my journey down the river, I immediately purchase another Groupon just so that I could come back and have a tubing experience. So, back to the BBQ lunch. By the time I paddles my way down (a few signs for the waters edge for direction) to the BBQ shack on the water, they were still setting up. I guess I paddle too fast. I decided to keep moseying down the river as I had already packed a lunch just in case after reading the reviews about the BBQ shack not being up and running. Oh well, next time I'll enjoy a burger. Again, this is the perfect mid week escape. The ride outside of NY is quick and there's plenty of parking. Although it says Delaware tubing it's actually located in New Jersey; well at least the border between the two. I would recommend going early and taking as much time as you like in a tube with family and friends. I would also recommend bringing children as they will develop a lifelong love of being on the water. I'm a big fan now and I can't wait to return in a few weeks. P.S. I was told by my bus driver, they offer a fall foliage experience where they only allow kayaks on the river.

    Photos
    Delaware River Tubing
    Delaware River Tubing
    Delaware River Tubing
    Delaware River Tubing
    Delaware River Tubing

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    Delaware River Tubing
    Kittatinny Canoes

    Kittatinny Canoes

    2.3
    (95 reviews)
    59.2 mi

    Full transparency, I have limited camping experience, and we booked our stay for Memorial Day…read moreweekend, which is typically a cold and rainy time, so we didn't get the chance to fully enjoy or experience the amenities. The staff was friendly and welcoming. The campsites are well-spaced, and each spot comes with a picnic table. The bathrooms were well-maintained and clean, and the water temperature was warm enough for a comfortable shower. The camp also has a small store with all the essentials, and there's a Walmart and McDonald's nearby for anything you may need beyond that. They keep the area tidy, with clean trash bins and bags provided, and the trash is picked up in the morning. The only downside was the lack of night patrol. There were several loud parties making it difficult to sleep, though I understand this is more of an issue with guests not being considerate. Additionally, the site next to ours had a notably loud snorer, which made things a bit more challenging. Overall, I had a pleasant stay and would recommend Kittatinny K-Camp.

    does not have security for most of the year. So at night people are free to do whatever they…read moreplease. We had a group of 40 people on a retreat next to us who had nonstop music with a DJ speaker and bass playing at all hours of the day and night. Screaming and yelling and absolute chaos. After the first night of experiencing this, we said something to the staff at the desk. They were extremely nice and they did go over and say something to the people about them being too loud. Unfortunately, because there is nobody here at night, Nothing could be done and it Continued the next night. We ended up leaving the campground a day early because of this. Not getting any sleep or rest in the entire weekend that we had booked. I had sent two emails to Kittatinty NY after, and nobody has responded to me. Absolutely terrible customer service and I would never stay here again. Please beware if you were looking for peace and quiet and a nice campground. You were not going to find it here. People are absolutely out of control.

    Photos
    Friends and Family
    Friends and Family
    Riverside
    Riverside
    Kittatinny Canoes

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    Kittatinny Canoes - Dingman’s Base

    Kittatinny Canoes - Dingman’s Base

    2.9
    (37 reviews)
    41.0 mi

    You lost out on $900 this season, and annually. Agree with the recent reviews. Take the Dingman's…read moreparking option and route off your website entirely. Emails and calls for months, constantly got the run around and was told on the phone I need a group of 30 in order to park there and be taken to River Beach and float down, instead of the 14 that I was bringing to your company. Gladly chose Adventure Sports for $200 less and canoeing the lower river. Will actively use other outfitters going forward for our annual reunion trips. You tried to undo last years trip and sorry I gave the benefit of the doubt that a group would be honored this year.

    I believe this is one of the greatest places to go for kayaking in PA. This company offers 17 miles…read more(one of the few), 10 miles, and 6 miles kayaking. If you are looking for a good workout then 17 miles is definitely the option to go for. My group and I kayaked a year or two ago and it took approx. 5 hrs nonstop to get it done. Thus, you may need to show up early to the place around 9 am to account for resting and other delays. Also, the company closes at 6pm and if you return the equipment past 6pm then you will be charged of some penalty... Anyways, my group and I also kayaked 10 miles and it took approx. 3 hrs to be finished. The water in this river is very calm with some currents that may be able to help you out to gain speed from time to time. There is nothing dangerous at this river so you can easily enjoy and have an amazing time with your group. There is a cliff that you can climb almost at the end of the ride where you get to jump down into the water. The height can be approx. 10-15 feet high. The feeling that you get from jumping down can be amazing!

    Photos
    Delaware water gap
    Delaware water gap
    Enjoying the outdoors in a hammock.
    Enjoying the outdoors in a hammock.
    Kittatinny Canoes - Dingman’s Base

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    Whitewater Challengers

    Whitewater Challengers

    3.9
    (186 reviews)
    54.7 mi

    Seamless trip - easy to ensure that you are fully equipped for the trip with wetsuit rental and…read morelunch grab bags. River guides always on hand for any 'involuntary out of raft experiences' or if anyone got stuck. Perfect balance of feeling adventurous for the kids and safe for the adults.

    What a disaster. I have gone twice with Girl Scouts and again with boy scouts. My first adventure…read morewith the girl scouts was generally enjoyable. Nothing notable to report but not overwhelmingly great either. The last time I went with the Boy Scouts was one of the worst weekends of my life. There was some river guide who named himself "zombie". He has the worst chip on this shoulder ever. First, he got nearly naked on the bus clearly wanting to show off all his tattoos. Inappropriate in front of a bunch of kids. If he was discreet then fine. He was showboating and it was gross. Then while on the river, I splashed with a paddle. It is indeed against the rules and I was wrong for that. However I knew I messed up the second I did it. A reminder would have been sufficient. Oh no. Zombie came over immediately and berated me loudly in front of everyone (including the kids). Yikes. I said "understood, I'm sorry". He then continued saying he was "gonna hike me out of 'his' trip" if he saw it again. What? He was going to evict me from the boat in the middle of nowhere and walk me home? Alone? What the hell is wrong with this guy? I don't care how capable or good of a river guide he is. If he's going to talk to customers who paid for the trip like garbage, then he doesn't belong there (especially around kids). Major jerk. Then we camped there overnight. Some camp site decided to have a rager party. Like thumping music turned up to full volume that could be heard for miles. No one came to quiet them down. At midnight I had to walk over myself and ask if they could please let us sleep. They said no and it kept going. I called the campsite phone # and got a voicemail. No one was there to help. Needless to say we didn't sleep at all. Just a generally unpleasant experience. You need to get rid of this zombie person. You can't call yourself "zombie" then demand to be taken seriously. Give me a break. You need someone who can patrol the campsite and keep order and the campers safe. Don't go here and waste your money.

    Photos
    July 2008
    July 2008
    Waiting
    Waiting
    Whitewater Challengers

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    Round Valley Recreation Area - campgrounds - Updated July 2026

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