How deep is the Delaware River? What to know before you go

If you plan on boating, fishing or enjoying any water recreation on the Delaware River, you need to be mindful of its depths, which could vary depending on where you enter the water.

Here's what you need to know.

How deep is the Delaware River?

According to the Delaware River Basin Commission, the deepest point of the Delaware River is at the Big Eddy in Narrowsburg, New York, where it reaches 113 feet.

"But the depth of the river varies depending on the location. River depth may be between 4-6 feet along the shorelines, but drop off steeply to an average of 30-40 feet away from the shore," read the Alliance for Watershed Education's website on the Delaware River. "The main transportation port of the Delaware River — a 103-mile stretch from Philadelphia and Camden to the Delaware Bay — was part of a decades-long deepening project that changed the depth of the river from 40 feet to 45 feet.

The project wrapped up in 2018.

How long is the Delaware River?

The Delaware River is 330 miles long and runs through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

"These headwaters originate in the Catskill Mountains and eventually flow into Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean," noted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website. "The Delaware River, and a portion of the West Branch, serve as the border between New York and Pennsylvania."

Is the Delaware River safe?

The Delaware River is deemed generally safe for water activities, but the National Park Service notes that currents and steep drop-offs pose some risks.

As such, the National Park Service published a Delaware River safety guide with ten safety tips to know before entering the Delaware River.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.