Pennsylvania State Parks Facilities will be closed for 14 days effective Tuesday, March 17 to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As part of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, all buildings at the parks, including park offices and restrooms, will be closed, and all events and public educational programs will be canceled. The public will still be able to access trails, lakes, rivers, forests, roads, and parking areas for passive and dispersed recreation, such as hiking. All overnight and day use rental facilities will be closed. While these park facilities are closed, state park rangers and park managers will continue to work to ensure security and that public safety is protected.
Delaware Canal State Park will be closed for 14 days effective Sunday, March 15th to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. ( The towpath trail may be used.) As part of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, all of the parking lots and buildings at the parks, including park offices and restrooms, will be closed, and all events and public educational programs will be canceled. While this park is closed, state park rangers and park managers will continue to work to ensure security and that public safety is protected. The towpath trail may be used during this time.
From the Friends of the Delaware Canal:
As part of the Park, the Locktender’s House in New Hope will also be closed. We will be working remotely, so don’t hesitate to e-mail friends@fodc.org. You may also call 215-862-2021, but a response could take a bit longer. Both the Friends’ Lunch and Walk scheduled for March 28th and Canal Clean-Up Day scheduled for April 4th have been canceled.
Beginning February 1, a significant portion of the Nockamixon Cliffs area of the park will be closed to all activity, including ice climbing. As in previous years, the closure is in effect for the protection of endangered species. Visitors to the area may still park in the roadside lots and use the towpath. Closed areas are posted with signage.
Ice Climber on Nockamixon Cliffs
The annual practice of closing the cliff area between February 1 and July 31 began in 2016. The Nockamixon Cliffs are a designated Natural Area and are home to unique and rare sub-alpine vegetation and other species. Protecting the cliffs ensures the future viability of the area, so recreational activities like rock climbing are prohibited.
Ice climbing is allowed when conditions permit, outside of the closure time, because fragile vegetation is protected under the ice from human activity. During the closure, some established climbing routes on either end of the closed area will remain open, including “Dead Deer Gully” and “45 MPH”.
If you have any questions, please call the Delaware Canal State Park office at 610-982-5560.
