Pennsylvania’s Indian Orchard River Access on Lackawaxen River open

Honesdale, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission recently joined Wayne County commissioners, the Lackawaxen River Trails group and others to celebrate the opening of the new Indian Orchard River Access in Texas Township, Wayne County.

The access area features a concrete boat launch for canoes and kayaks, a paved access road and parking area, restroom, walking trail, and picnic areas for nature viewing along the Lackawaxen River.

“With the completion of this project, we celebrate the results of the incredible momentum that started several years ago, when a special group of partners committed to delivering improved public access to the Lackawaxen River and throughout the Delaware River Watershed,” said Tim Schaeffer, commission executive director.

“Continuing what has become an October tradition as predictable as Halloween, we are gathering again to cut the ribbon on a third new boat access, with Indian Orchard being the final piece to complete the Lackawaxen River Trail.”

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Schaeffer thanked the agency’s partners in Wayne County for seizing the opportunity to connect communities through recreation and make the Lackawaxen more accessible.

Funding for the Indian Orchard River Access project was provided to Wayne County through the Fish & Boat Commission’s Boating Facility Grant Program in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and local fundraising.

“This river trail is quickly becoming one of the jewels of Wayne County,” said Wayne County Commissioner Brian Smith.

“We wanted these access points created along the Lackawaxen to be for everyone, so we’re glad to see the handicapped accessible features at both Sycamore Point and White Mills.”

Molly Rodgers, spokeswoman for the Lackawaxen River Trails group, noted that this project was first envisioned a decade ago. 

“Starting with about a dozen enthusiastic volunteers, we earned the buy-in from our county commissioners, found public support evidenced in a trail-feasibility study, secured grants, and welcomed donations of all sizes to help make it happen,” she said.

“What we celebrate today is the combined effort of so many different people who have helped make the river trail a reality.”

Indian Orchard is the midpoint of the 10-mile-long river trail from Honesdale to Hawley and is the last of several recently constructed boat-access projects that have been funded by an approximately $1 million investment through both commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant programs and local partners.

In addition to Indian Orchard, the commission and DCNR provided funding to establish the White Mills River Access Park in Texas Township in 2023, and Sycamore Point Park in Honesdale in 2024. 

When awarding funding through its Boating Facility Grant Program in 2021 and 2022, the commission placed special emphasis on projects within the Delaware River Watershed. 

Thanks to additional grant funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, a combined $559,672 was dedicated to the three projects in Wayne County.

State elected officials representing Wayne County reiterated the importance of continued local, state, and federal partnerships and encouraged local residents and visitors to take advantage of the unique features of each new access area along the river trail.