Our recommendation
Visit Upper Delaware in June
June offers best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight. For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~2.9× the average month) and December is the quietest.
Annual visits
380K
2025
Busiest month
Jul
2.9× avg
Quietest month
Dec
0.2× avg
10-yr trend
rising
+34.9%
How crowded is Upper Delaware by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1980–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 42 Poor | 33°F / 15°F | 9.3 h |
| February | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 37°F / 17°F | 10.4 h |
| March | Very quiet | 49 Fair | 46°F / 24°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Very quiet | 63 Good | 59°F / 35°F | 13.1 h |
| May | Average | 67 Good | 71°F / 45°F | 14.3 h |
| June★ best | Busy | 69 Good | 78°F / 54°F | 15.0 h |
| July | Very busy | 49 Fair | 82°F / 59°F | 14.7 h |
| August | Very busy | 53 Fair | 80°F / 57°F | 13.7 h |
| September | Very busy | 56 Fair | 74°F / 49°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Quiet | 59 Fair | 62°F / 39°F | 10.8 h |
| November | Very quiet | 49 Fair | 49°F / 29°F | 9.6 h |
| December | Very quiet | 42 Poor | 38°F / 21°F | 9.0 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00365738, ~1.5 mi away).
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About visiting Upper Delaware
Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River is a Scenic & Recreational River in NY, PA and a relatively quiet park, drawing about 380,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has climbed over the past decade, up roughly 34.9%, so crowds are trending heavier each year. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 2.9× the park's average month, while December is the calmest at roughly 0.2× — a 15-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 59% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 70°F in July down to about 24°F in January, with the wettest stretch in June. About 6 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is June: best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight. Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the July rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.0 hours in midwinter to 15.0 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1980–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
Canoe through rapids and quiet pools as the Delaware River winds its way through a valley of swiftly changing scenery or fish amid rolling hills and riverfront villages in one of the finest fishing rivers in the northeastern United States. The clean water of the Delaware, the last major undammed river in the eastern United States, supports a healthy ecosystem and offers tranquility and excitement.
Weather & conditions
Spring: Temperatures usually range from lows of 26°F to highs of 80°F with average rainfall of 5 inches. Summer: Temperatures usually range from lows of 55°F to highs of 85°F with average rainfall of 4 inches. Fall: Temperatures usually range from lows of 30°F to highs of 83°F. Fall foliage is at its peak sometime in October as daily mountain temperatures vary frequently and influence the change. Winter: Temperatures usually range from lows of 15°F to highs of 49°F.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Upper Delaware
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River — live availability and prices to plan your trip. June is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Upper Delaware
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Getting to Upper Delaware
The nearest airport is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), about 58 mi (1 hr 31 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Upper Delaware by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
June offers best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight at Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River. The park is busiest in July (about 2.9× the average month) and quietest in December.
July is the busiest month at Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, running roughly 2.9 times the park's average monthly visitation.
December is the quietest month at Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, at about 0.2× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River recorded about 380,245 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been rising over the past decade (+34.9%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River averages about 70°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) is the closest airport to Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, about 58 mi (1 hr 31 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Upper Delaware
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Swamp Pond water qualityGrade — · 5 mi · NY
- Anawanda Lake water qualityGrade — · 14 mi · NY
- Somerset Lake water qualityGrade — · 20 mi · NY
- Lake Wallenpaupack water qualityGrade — · 20 mi · PA
- Pleasure Lake water qualityGrade — · 21 mi · NY
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1980–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.