The National Park Service facility revised a number of restrictions for 2016.
Day-use hours have a new, shorter definition at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and are included among new rules announced for the federal park spanning the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border.
The new limits are included in the park's "Superintendent's Compendium of Designations, Closures, Permit Requirements, and Other Restrictions," revised for 2016.
John J. Donahue, superintendent for the national recreation area, announced the changes in a news release Friday afternoon.
"There are several changes in our regulations this year that the public should be aware of before planning a visit," he stated in the announcement. "We expect that these changes will result in better and safer experiences for our visitors and improved protection of park resources."
Changes for 2016, according to the announcement, include:
Hours of operation: All "day use" recreation sites that were previously open from 6 am to 10 pm are now open from sunrise to sunset. Milford Beach, Smithfield Beach and Turtle Beach swimming and picnic areas are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. George W. Childs Recreation Site and the Dingmans Falls Visitor Center parking area will be open at 8 am and will close at sunset. A complete list of day use sites subject to the new hours of operation is available in the compendium. Exceptions include those who are actively engaged in fishing or hunting, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, or on an authorized overnight river trip.
Picnicking: Groups of 20 or more people must use a designated picnic area designed to accommodate large groups. Groups of 30 or more require a permit. Designated picnic areas for large groups include: Turtle Beach, Namanock Recreation Site and Watergate Recreation Site in New Jersey and Milford Beach, Smithfield Beach, Toms Creek Picnic Area and Hialeah Picnic Area in Pennsylvania.
Glass containers: Are prohibited at the following locations: Adams Creek, George W. Childs Recreation Site, Hacker's Falls, Indian Ladders/Hornbecks Creek, Raymondskill Falls (from the park boundary to the confluence with the Delaware River) and Tumbling Waters/Mill Creek in Pennsylvania and Van Campens Glen and Karamac in New Jersey.
Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages: Several sites have been added to the list of areas where the consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. A full listing of these locations is available in the compendium.
Swimming and wading: Swimming and wading are prohibited (unless actively fishing) at the following locations: Van Campens Brook, Big Flatbrook Creek from Blewitt Tract to the Delaware River and along the river at Kittatinny Point in New Jersey and at George W. Childs Recreation Site, Adams Creek, Toms Creek and the portion of Dingmans Creek lying between a point about 100 feet upstream of Dingmans Falls and the Dingmans Falls Visitor Center parking lot in Pennsylvania.
In addition, swimming is prohibited in the Delaware River within 50 feet of designated motorized and non-motorized vessel launch and retrieval sites at Smithfield Beach, Dingmans Launch, Kittatinny Point Launch and Bushkill Launch; within 50 feet of the top of any waterfall; and when conditions are determined to be unsafe in the Delaware River.
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Fires and cooking: Ground fires are prohibited throughout the park except in designated areas such as authorized campgrounds and in fire grates at river campsites. Lighting personally owned grills, stoves, lanterns or other food heating/preparation devices is prohibited throughout the park except at designated picnic sites where such devices and activities are allowed. Those areas include: Milford Beach; Toms Creek Picnic Area; Bushkill General Store Picnic Area; Smithfield Beach; and Hialeah Picnic Area in Pennsylvania; Turtle Beach; Watergate Recreation Site; Blue Mountain Lake (Dam Area); Crater Lake (Picnic Area Only); and Namanock Recreation Site in New Jersey.
Personally owned camping stoves are permitted to be used along the Appalachian Trail in accordance with regulations. Lighting or maintaining a ground fire, grill, stove, lantern or other food heating/ preparation device is prohibited at Kittatinny Point in New Jersey and at George W. Childs Recreation Site in Pennsylvania.
Adams Creek closure: The Adams Creek drainage, from the lower waterfall pool upstream to the park boundary, including the Sproul Road and Long Meadow Road trailheads, is closed due to public hazard from May 1 to Sept. 30. This includes the upper waterfall and pool.
River camping: Camping is permitted in designated areas for boaters who are on an authorized overnight river trip. Camping is limited to one night per site. Campers must vacate sites by 11 a.m.; sites are limited to 10 people and five tents; and tents must be set up within 50 feet of the fire grates. Alosa River Campsites are available by reservation only. A list of authorized one-, two- and three-day river trips can be found in the compendium.
Commercial vehicles: Commercial vehicles are prohibited on all park roads, with one exception: Commercial vehicles can travel on Route 209 north to the intersection with Bushkill Falls Road and south from Milford to the intersection with the Route 206 (Milford) toll bridge. Legislation allowing some specific commercial traffic exemptions on Route 209 is pending.
Fishing: The use of crayfish, clams, mussels, reptiles or amphibians as fish bait is prohibited unless it is a commercially produced, preserved and packaged product.
Parking: Parking is permitted in designated parking areas while vehicle occupants are participating in a recognized recreational activity within the park. Parking outside of designated parking areas is prohibited with some exceptions outlined in the compendium. Parking at Johnny Bee Road off of Route 209 near Dingmans Falls is limited to four hours while vehicle occupants engage in recognized recreational activities in the park. Illegally parked vehicles will be ticketed and towed.
Climbing, jumping or diving: These activities are prohibited at all waterfalls and waterfall pools and the Karamac bridge abutments.
Visit the park's website at nps.gov/dewa for more information, including maps of areas for public assemblies, demonstrations and gatherings; alcoholic beverage closures and hunting restrictions on the Pennsylvania side.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area regulations