Philadelphia is surrounded by forests and waterways, making boating a great way to see the city. There are plenty of boating adventures in Philadelphia, and you can basically rent a kayak or canoe for a very affordable price.
Here are ten boating-friendly waterways in and around Philadelphia, suitable for beginners and advanced players alike, featuring both urban scenery and natural beauty such as forests, swamps, and lakes.
1. Schuylkill Banks
The Schuylkill River passes through the center of Philadelphia. Along the way, there are not only urban landscapes of high-rise buildings, but also large verdant green landscapes of green parks, and the water surface here is relatively flat for a long time, which is very suitable for beginners to play.
You can disembark from the Walnut Street Dock in the afternoon, cruise along the calm waters, and come ashore in time for a free outdoor movie nearby in the evening.
Address: 2501 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
2. Wissahickon Creek
This stream is a tributary of the Schuylkill River, located in Wissahickon Valley Park, and has a variety of water conditions, ranging in depth and rapids. Boating here is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and along the way is a large natural park scene, lush forests and flowers create the beauty of your journey.
The waters here are more complex than the Sigu River, so higher skill is required to better enjoy boating here. Experts advise to watch out for shallow water, where rocks may scrape the bottom of the boat. But in general, boating here is not difficult and suitable for boaters of all levels.
Address: 4900 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19127
3. Cedar Creek
This stream will take you through the beauty of cedar forest and marshland. However, there is a relatively volatile current here, which is more suitable for people with certain boating experience.
You can come over for a weekend camping vacation with family and friends. There's a well-run campground where you can drive over and pitch a tent, the camp itself has kayaks for rent, and there are beautiful forest trails for you to hike in the fresh air and embrace nature.
Address: 1052 Atlantic City Blvd, Bayville, NJ 08721
4. Marsh Creek State Park
Marsh Creek is a lake with very calm waters surrounding a tree-lined coastline and sandy beaches. It is best to come here on a weekend afternoon with family and friends. If you're lucky, you might even see someone doing aqua yoga here.
Address: 675 Park Rd, Downingtown, PA 19335
5. Penn’s Landing
Penn's Landing is located near the stylish Spruce Street Harbor Park and the Hilton Hotel. This is a safe harbor area for parents to bring their children to experience and learn to row.
Address: 211 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106
6. Nockamixon State Park
Nockamixon State Forest is one of Pennsylvania's most precious natural forests. Whether it's spring, summer, fall, or winter, it has its own unique beauty. You can swim in the forest along the water.
There is a huge lake in the forest, in which all kinds of fish live, which also attracts many people to go boating and fishing.
Address: 1542 Mountain View Dr, Quakertown, PA 18951
7. Core Creek Park
This park is perfect for a weekend getaway, you can paddle on the flat lake, enjoy nature on a trail hike, or hang out with family and friends in the picnic area.
Address: 901 Bridgetown Pike, Langhorne, PA 19047
8. Delaware River
The Delaware River, which separates Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is a long river with many tributaries and a variety of wildlife and campgrounds along the way.
There are many different launching points throughout the Delaware River, but it's best to launch in this section of the river near Route 209 by Adventure Sports and paddle all the way to the extreme.
The Delaware River is especially suitable for long boating, even multi-day trips, boating on the river during the day, camping from one camping area to the next, and enjoying the fun of the journey slowly.
Address: 398 Seven Bridge Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
9. Darby Creek
Darby Creek is connected to the Delaware River, and the water flow is relatively gentle, which is suitable for beginners to play, but there are also some tributaries with complicated water conditions, which are suitable for advanced players to challenge. There's plenty to explore along the stream, such as the Swedish Cabin from 1650 or the Blue Bell Inn from 1760, and even the first wildlife created in America Reserve - John Heinz Wildlife Refuge.
Address: 401 Swarthmore Ave, Ridley Park, PA 19078
10. Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest is a challenge for the truly experienced rower, as the rough terrain and rushing waters of the river are not suitable for beginners looking for a thrill.
Relative to the risk, you can experience the beautiful scenery of narrow and winding creeks, swamps, ponds, lakes, and other terrains at one time along the way. This is relatively rare in other waters.
Address: 3107 County Rd 563, Chatsworth, NJ 08019
