UPPER DELAWARE REGION — Author Gary Letcher has released an update to the fourth edition of his popular “Paddlers’ Guide to the Delaware River,” just in time for the 2025 river season. 

“There have been changes on the river in the two years since the fourth edition came out that called for a refresh,” Letcher told the River Reporter. “New or improved access at Cadosia, Long Eddy and Highland, loss of the Skinners Falls Bridge and the passing of ‘Queen of the Delaware’ Ruth Jones had to be recognized.” 

Additional historic place names, some other clarifications and corrections are also noted. Letcher said that the 2023 edition remains accurate, but that books purchased going forward will include the updates. 

Letcher published the first edition of “Paddlers’ Guide” in 1985, after years of organizing trips from Port Jervis to the Water Gap with Stokes State Forest’s Youth Conservation Corps. 

“Back then, the Water Gap National Recreation Area had just been established. There were hardly any facilities, and no good guidebook to help paddlers understand the landscape and history they were going through,” he said. 

Subsequent versions were published in 1999 and 2012 before the completely overhauled fourth edition was released in 2023. The fourth edition includes river maps specially prepared from a paddler’s point of view, identifying most rapids and eddies by their historic names, with a waterproof version of the maps available. A companion website, www.DelawareRiverGuide.com, offers access details, color-coded real-time river conditions and links to outfitters and important contacts. 

“Paddlers’ Guide to the Delaware River” is available at online booksellers, National Park Service shops, river outfitters and other retailers and at www.DelawareRiverGuide.com.