Pocono Kayaking & River Trips

The resort maintains a beautiful Sandy Beach and Private Boat Launch. Overnight guests of The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort enjoy exclusive access to Shawnee’s Sandy Beach and Private Boat Launch. The general public, locals, friends, and guests of Wyndham Timeshare Units do not have access to Shawnee’s Sandy Beach or Private Boat Launch. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area operates a public river access called “Smithfield Beach” approximately 3-miles north of Shawnee on River Road. The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort recommends that the general public, locals, friends, and guests of Wyndham Timeshare Units access the Delaware River at Smithfield Beach.

The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort is located on the banks of the nationally designated Wild and Scenic Delaware River. Guests of the resort have exclusive access to our pristine location and private river access. The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort is the only canoe, kayak and raft livery on the Delaware River that offers 3-mile trips. While we also offer longer trips, most guests prefer 3-mile river trips. 3-mile trips can take anywhere between 45-minutes and 3-hours to complete – based on how vigorously you paddle. We are able to offer 3-mile river trips because the resort operates a private river access. Guests of the Shawnee Inn only need to be transported once! This is an incredibly pleasing benefit for our guests. It saves so much time! Spend less time waiting to go and be picked up and more time on the river. Guests of Shawnee are transported upstream and pull out at the resort.

The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort rents canoes, kayaks and rafts in the Poconos. The Shawnee Inn operates a private livery on the Delaware River.

It depends on the experience you desire. A kayak is ideal for a single paddler. Kayaks are swift and easily maneuverable. The kayaks we rent at Shawnee are very stable. They are more stable than canoes, but less stable than rafts. A kayak is the perfect craft for a paddler who is confident in their skills and desires more independence. A canoe requires two paddlers. Canoes are very fast but less maneuverable than kayaks. While the canoes we rent at Shawnee are very stable, they can tip and it is important that passengers do not stand or lean too far in canoes. Canoes are larger vessels and can store more items than a kayak. Canoes are great for parties of 2 or 3 who prefer to share a watercraft and desire to have more maneuverability and speed than a raft. A raft is perfect for parties four or greater. Rafts at The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort accommodate 4 – 8 paddlers. Rafts are incredibly stable. While it is easy to maneuver a raft, it is less maneuverable than a canoe or kayak. Rafts are also the slowest vessel we rent at Shawnee. Families and groups of friends love rafts. Rafts are perfect for youth paddlers.

Shawnee’s section of the Delaware River is calm and serene. There are is no whitewater and our class of rapids do not exceed level one. While the Delaware River near Shawnee is tranquil, it is important to respect the potential risks that are inherent to any water sport activity. Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jacket while canoeing, kayaking or rafting on the Delaware River. If you choose to swim in the Delaware River, it is strongly recommended that you do so with a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jacket. Never consume controlled substances or alcoholic beverages while recreating on the Delaware River.

The section of the Delaware River near Shawnee is classified as exceptional high quality for its cleanliness. There are federal protections that protect the Delaware River from certain pollutants and development that often degrades the quality of a waterway. Two designations that ensures the Delaware River stays pristine is the “Special Protection Waters” and “Wild and Scenic” programs. In short, the Delaware River near Shawnee is exceptionally clean.